[Archives 2]

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND -- "There was fantastic communications in our afterguard today," said Stars & Stripes helmsman Ken Read. "It was our afterguard -- Peter Holmberg, Tom Whidden and Peter Isler -- who won the race for us. When they are working that smoothly together in the back of the boat, it's easy for me to focus on doing my job. In fact it makes it easier for the whole crew, and it showed."

"The break between rounds has helped all aspects of our program," added Peter Holmberg. "The sail-handling has certainly improved. Being able to watch the videotapes of the early races, and then talk through our sail-handling techniques has made a big difference."

Stars & Stripes met a highly modified French Le Défi BTT boat in 10 - 20 knots of breeze today. French skipper Bertrand Pace' got the better of them on the starting line. However, Team Dennis Conner won something that proved to be much more important -- the right side of the course. "We were expecting a right shift," Read acknowledged. "When it came in, it got us right back into the hunt."

Stars & Stripes was in front at the first crossing and that's when the afterguard took over. By pushing the French boat out beyond the port layline, they opened a lead that was never surrendered.

Stars & Stripes rounded the top mark in front by 24 seconds - a margin that they nearly doubled by the end of the race.

Standings

1.

Prada

11 - 0

14

2.

Young America

9 - 2

12

3.

AmericaOne

9 - 2

12

4.

Nippon

7 - 4

9.5*

5.

Stars & Stripes

6 - 5

8.5*

6.

American True

6 - 5

6

7.

Spain

5 - 6

5

8.

Abracadabra

4 - 7

4

9.

Le Defi Btt

2 - 9

2

10.

Young Australia

1 - 9

1

11.

FAST 2000

0 - 11

0

* 1/2 point penalty imposed for contract

CREW LIST

Ken Read

Helmsman

Peter Holmberg

Afterguard

Tom Whidden

Afterguard

Peter Isler

Afterguard

Chuck Brown

Runners

Eric Doyle

Main Trimmer

Jim Cannon

Main Caddy

Bill Trenkle

Port Trimmer

Mike Toppa

Starboard Trimmer

Stu Felker

Grinder

Larry Mialik

Grinder

Jeff Dionne

Grinder

Robbie Young

Pit

Matt Smith

Mast

Rob Myles

Sewer

Giordie Shaver

Bow

17th person - Clark Straw, Executive Vice President, Hitachi Data Systems