Yachting: Spinnakers bust out all over

By Suzanne McFadden

Paul Cayard was more disappointed at losing a $60,000 spinnaker than losing a monumental battle with Prada in their first America's Cup showdown.

Just three rugby-fields' distance from the finish-line yesterday, Cayard's AmericaOne blew victory over the untouched Italians when their lime-green spinnaker burst at the head of the mast and floated down to the sea.

The silver Luna Rossa, breathing down the American boat's transom, charged past to remain unbeaten in the first round-robin of the Louis Vuitton Cup challenger series.

Cayard was adamant that he was not sad about his first defeat of the regatta.

"If we had won that race we would have been lucky. And I don't want to use up our luck yet - there will be more important times later when we'll need it," he said. "Prada deserved to win it."

Prada, in fact, had worse luck than the Americans - twice on the second leg they lost their spinnaker. Good crew work kept them in the race, but always in their rival's shadow.

AmericaOne are now a point in arrears of the Italians and Young America, who have kept their no-loss record. Today the two unbeaten boats meet. The two American giants clash on the Hauraki Gulf tomorrow.

Cayard still picks Prada as the favourites right now, based on their longer build-up.

"It's too early for AmericaOne to beat Prada, after everything they have done in the last three years," Cayard said.

Prada skipper Francesco de Angelis began yesterday's encounter with a flourish, pushing AmericaOne outside the starting area seconds before the gun. Cayard recovered in style, spinning and ducking back under the committee boat before crossing the line marginally behind.

Prada kept control on the first leg, rounding the top mark 23s ahead. But soon after the Italians dropped their spinnaker after a shackle unexpectedly broke open.

As Prada raised their new kite, AmericaOne drew level and a drag race broke out. Suddenly Prada lost their spinnaker again - same problem - and Cayard eased in front going around the bottom mark.

The Luna Rossa boat was not lacking in speed, and kept making little gains on AmericaOne upwind. Prada was often no more than half-a-boat-length behind on the run to the finish, but it looked certain that AmericaOne had them covered.

That was until 300m from the line, when the leader's spinnaker sheered off cleanly. The grey boat sailed over the top of the limp sail and the crew wrestled to cut it free.

All the while, Luna Rossa continued to charge to the finish-line, winning by 17s.

Across the gulf, at the wheel of Young America, Ed Baird completely flummoxed his old crewmate John Kolius and Abracadabra. Kolius had to tack away so as not to cross the start-line early, and eventually crossed half a minute after the gun.

There were losses and gains for the Hawaiians, but it was a straightforward 1m 24s win for Baird. America True scored a confidence-boosting win over Dennis Conner's Stars & Stripes - the pair are now tied on points mid-fleet.