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(Reuters) - INEOS
Team UK cruised to an 18-second win over Luna Rossa in tough
conditions on Sunday to make it four victories from four starts
in the opening weekend of the Challenger Series, which decides
who face Team New Zealand (TNZ) in the America's Cup.
New York Yacht Club's American Magic were denied their first
points in the series when "Patriot" capsized in the second race
after encountering a massive gust of wind while negotiating a
sharp turn.
A dramatic shift in the wind had earlier forced organisers to
stop the day's opening race with Ben Ainslie's INEOS Team UK
aboard "Britannia" leading after four legs at Waitemata Harbour
in Auckland, New Zealand.
The race was then restarted after the course was realigned.
In conditions vastly different from the light breeze teams
experienced on Saturday, INEOS Team UK excelled to seal the win
and put themselves in a commanding position.
American Magic were leading Luna Rossa when disaster struck as
their vessel went airborne and hit the water before falling on
its side, handing their Italian opponents their second victory
of the series from four races.
All members of the American team were accounted for before
efforts began to save the yacht with the two other teams in the
series as well as TNZ chipping in.
"The team's AC75 racing yacht 'Patriot' was damaged during the
incident and began taking on water," the American team said in a
statement.
"Patriot has been stabilised and is in the process of being
towed slowly back to shore. We'd like to again express our
sincere thanks to our competitors... for immediately coming to
our assistance."
Ainslie said watching the yacht capsize during the manoeuvre was
"horrific".
"You don't want to see that happen to anyone. I think everyone
is OK which is the primary concern," he said.
"We go out there and race hard against each other but this is a
sporting contest and we want everyone to be safe and we want
everyone to be racing... I hope they are able to sort things out
and get back on track."
The third round-robin races begin on Jan. 22 with Ainslie's boat
in a double-header as INEOS Team UK face winless American Magic
first before meeting Luna Rossa.
The winner of the series ending on Feb. 22 will take on holders
TNZ in a series of head-to-head races from March 6 for the
America's Cup, known as the "Auld Mug".
(Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar and Rohith Nair in Bengaluru;
Editing by Himani Sarkar and Ed Osmond)
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