By SUZANNE McFADDEN
Italian-Kiwi Gavin Brady beat Swiss-Kiwi Murray Jones in the first clash of rival America's Cup yachting syndicates Prada and the Swiss Challenge yesterday.
Brady, who has joined the brains trust of the Italian team, won the inaugural Fremantle international matchracing regatta final 2-0 over former Team New Zealand tactician
Jones.
It was Brady's first matchracing event since March, after concentrating on his Olympic Star campaign.
And for the first few days his lack of matchracing showed, as he collected a swag of on-the-water penalties.
His worst misdemeanour was in his first quarter-final race against American-Kiwi cup skipper Chris Dickson, when he was disqualified from the race for three straight penalties.
But he fought back to win 2-1, then beat Perth-based Frenchman Sebastian Destremau 2-0 in the semifinal.
With the help of a European crew, Jones was the most consistent skipper in the event, losing only one race before the final. He convincingly beat local sailor Simon Sutherland in his semifinal.
But Brady clearly dominated their best-of-three final, sailed in 25-knot winds.
In the second race, the result was virtually decided before the startgun fired, when Brady forced Jones over the line early and then forced a penalty on him.
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