The Seattle-based OneWorld erased their one-point penalty deficit, imposed by the America's Cup arbitration panel yesterday, by beating Italy's Prada by 47sec in their first semifinal race of the Louis Vuitton challenger series.
The Italians were lucky to retain a 3s lead at the secondmark after a messy spinnaker drop that saw the tip of their spinnaker pole being dragged in the water. How it didn't break at that moment was anyone's guess.
It appeared throughout the match that OneWorld were faster upwind and Prada ahead on the downwind stretches. This was apparent in the second beat when OneWorld edged ahead to round the fourth mark 20s ahead.
Disaster then struck for the Italians when their spinnaker pole snapped in two near the end of the fourth leg. Further chaos then occurred when their spinnaker dropped in the water.
Prada were too far back to catch up when the Seattle boat tore its spinnaker rounding the fifth mark.
But the Italians recovered well and rounded the fifth mark 18s behind OneWorld.
Prada helmsman Fransesco de Angelis said he did not think the breaking of ITA-74's spinnaker pole cost his team the race.
They had two opportunities during the race and had not been able to hold on to either, he said.
"OneWorld sailed a very good and consistent race, and we didn't use the opportunity we had."
OneWorld grinder Andrew Taylor ranked his team's downwind speed at six out of 10, and said Prada's had been "excellent".
The penalty point means OneWorld will now have to win another four races instead of three to beat Prada in the semifinals.
