AMERICA'S CUP: Britain's Challenge and French team Le Defi Areva were eliminated from the America's Cup challengers' series yesterday after suffering disappointing losses in sudden-death quarter-final races.
GBR, Britain's first Cup challenge in 15 years, were soundly beaten by Team Dennis Conner by one minute and 42 seconds.
Conner's Americans claimed the best-of-seven race series 4-1 to reach the quarter-finals repechage, which begins on Saturday.
Sweden's Victory Challenge won their quarter-final by the same margin when they outclassed Le Defi by two minutes and 34 seconds in the only other race yesterday.
Conner's team dominated their quarter-final after deciding to use their favoured boat, Stars & Stripes USA-77.
Helmsman Ken Read said the boat was slightly faster than the one they had used during the two qualifying round robins.
"It's obvious that our new boat has given us a new lease of life and . . . we now have the confidence in its capabilities to take full advantage," Read said.
"However, we really haven't accomplished anything yet. We still have a long way to go before we hoist that cup over our heads."
GBR and Le Defi endured a miserable day on the Hauraki Gulf off New Zealand's largest city, with gear breakages and other mishaps contributing to their defeats.
Conner's team led from the start and widened their lead when GBR had trouble raising their spinnaker on the fourth leg of the six-leg race and needed to hoist a new sail.
Read earlier outfoxed opposite numbers Ian Walker and Andy Beadsworth in the important pre-start manoeuvres after a long delay and one aborted start. The Americans led by 42 seconds at the end of the first leg and were in control until the finish.
Le Defi, who won only three of 21 races, had an even worse day despite skipper Philippe Presti winning the start over Victory's Jesper Bank. Victory quickly overtook the fluorescent green French boat and steadily built a commanding lead as Le Defi suffered one mishap after another.
Le Defi had trouble with a stay attached to their mast and then their spinnaker pole on the fourth leg and later blew out a spinnaker as they sailed for home.
As winners from the seeded 5-8 "single chance" quarter-final group, Team Dennis Conner and Victory join US team OneWorld and Italy's Prada, the defending Louis Vuitton Cup challengers champions, in the repechage.
Italy's Mascalzone Latino were the first team eliminated at the end of two qualifying round robins.
The winners of the Louis Vuitton Cup will sail against holders Team New Zealand in the America's Cup in February 2003.
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