GBR Challenge lower Conner's colours

6.00pm

GBR Challenge of Britain won the first race of their best-of-seven Louis Vuitton challenger yachting quarter final series with Team Dennis Conner on the Hauraki Gulf today by one minute.

Team Dennis Conner, racing in the challenger series with their Stars and Stripes boat USA-77 for the first time, led for much of the race, holding a 55-second advantage at the third mark.

But the British came back at them during the second half of the race, taking the lead on the final of six legs, downwind, to the finish line.

Stars and Stripes also had to complete a penalty turn, after an infringement during prestart manoeuvring.

- NZPA

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