The British GBR Challenge chalked up their first win of the Louis Vuitton Cup yachting series in Auckland today but only after the French Le Defi carried out a penalty turn on the finish line.
The GBR boat Wight Lightning won by 13 seconds, on a day where racing was delayed
by around 3-1/2 hours due to light winds.
The first of today's four matches did not start until 3.50pm, after officials moved the two courses in the Hauraki Gulf closer to land.
In other races Victory Challenge (Sweden) beat Mascalzone Latino (Italy) by 35 seconds, Alinghi (Switzerland) beat Prada (Italy) by one minute 32sec, and Oracle (United States) beat Team Dennis Conner (also US) by 1min 58sec.
Nine teams in all are competing for the right to challenge Team New Zealand for the America's Cup in February.
Coming into today's races GBR had two losses behind them, and Le Defi, in FRA-69, had lost three times.
Despite their lowly placings in the contest so far, the two European neighbours fought an intense battle.
They were neck and neck across the start line, and stayed that way up to the first mark where Le Defi led by 13sec.
After the first downwind leg the difference was only 6sec, at the third mark it was 12sec, and then 11sec at the fourth. The French managed to pull away slightly on the fifth leg to be 25sec ahead at the turn.
But they had been penalised twice at the first mark, cancelling out one the British had picked up for being late into the starting box, and leaving them one to perform.
The French crossed the line first but then had to go back around the finish marker to complete their penalty turn, and while they were doing that the British slipped past them.
For today's race the French had dropped their skipper and helmsman from the previous races, Luc Pillot, and moved Philippe Presti forward from the tactician's role to the helm.
Throughout the competition so far FRA-69 has shown good boat speed, but their have been questions about the performance by Le Defi's crew.
Winds: light and shifting
Winning margin: 00.13
- NZPA
nzherald.co.nz/americascup
Racing schedule, results and standings
The British GBR Challenge chalked up their first win of the Louis Vuitton Cup yachting series in Auckland today but only after the French Le Defi carried out a penalty turn on the finish line.
The GBR boat Wight Lightning won by 13 seconds, on a day where racing was delayed
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