Auckland, NZ -- Stars & Stripes crossed the finish line 1:07 ahead of Italy's Prada Challenge today and sailed to the top of the
Louis Vuitton Cup Semi-Final Series with the only undefeated record.With incredibly shifty and variable wind conditions, USA-55 got ahead of Prada on the first upwind beat by two boatlengths
and the rest was good crew work. "The Stars & Stripes team is rapt over today's victory," said Dennis Conner after his crew beat the favored Italian syndicate." But this is our 8th
America's Cup and we know that things have to be taken day by day. While today's victory was very satisfying and well deserved, there is still a lot of racing ahead of us."
"It's not what you can do for me today -- it's what you can do for me tomorrow that counts," said Conner. "We need to stay focused to beat a fine French team." Jim Clark silently
cheered Stars & Stripes on as the 17th man and America's Cup veteran Bill Koch spent the day on Team Dennis Conner's tender, Daintry II.
Tomorrow's race with the French syndicate, Le defi
Francais, is the first match of the day scheduled to begin at 1:15 p.m. New Zealand time.
Semi-Final Standings as of January 3, 2000:
1 Team Dennis Conner (2 points)
2 America True (1 point)
2 AmericaOne (1 point)
2 Prada Challenge (1 point)
2 Nippon Challenge (1 point)
3 Le defi Francais (0 points)
For more information contact:
Veronica Cahill
Media Relations
Team Dennis Conner
Sailing Compound: 64-09-9799-700
Mobile Phone: 029-99-2013
