Cayard defiant after weekend from hell

By SUZANNE McFADDEN

Paul Cayard says it's okay - AmericaOne don't mind being 1-3 down in the final of the America's Cup challenger showdown.

But how could they be feeling fine after enduring the weekend from hell on the Hauraki Gulf?

After almost breaking three men and a mast on Saturday, they suffered the indignity yesterday of crossing the finish line first, and coming last.

AmericaOne were on the verge of locking up the Louis Vuitton Cup final 2-2 with Prada - until the final minute of the race.

Cayard copped a penalty when he veered too close to Luna Rossa, and even though his boat nosed over the line in front, the Italians were given the winners' flag.

Cayard had no comeback for the penalty - even though he repeated time and again that he did not understand it.

"We all feel pretty cheated," he said. "It was a quick call for a big money race. But we have to live and die with that. And you know we don't give up easily."

Cayard has experienced winning from being 1-3 down - in the challenger final of 1992 against New Zealand. So how can AmericaOne, battered and bruised, do it this time?

"We have to win four races - same as it was this morning. I'm not going to give the crew a ra-ra talk. They are all as tough as I am. But there will be no more Christmas presents for Prada."

The Americans felt a little upbeat, believing they had better speed in the first upwind leg, and downwind in the first and second runs.

But Prada's scorching run home on the last leg has given them the upper hand.

It was a relatively tame start from these two aggressors, AmericaOne getting a sweet little edge over Prada as they began a drag race out to the left.

Cayard pushed Francesco de Angelis over the layline so AmericaOne could round the top mark first, 8s ahead.

As the pair ran down the middle of the course, Prada made a charge. As the two boats converged, AmericaOne's spinnaker exploded - the eighth in this regatta - but it turned out to be not such a bad deal.

Cayard then continuously luffed the Italians, who went into a spin. A runner jammed, locking the steering, they broached and their spinnaker flapped free.

Prada tactician Torben Grael was furious, accusing the Americans of "unseamanlike" behaviour.

"He was very lucky his spinnaker broke - it's easier to luff without it," said Grael. "We risked damaging our boat. If that is not unseamanlike, I don't know what is."

When they got themselves together again, the Prada crew were eight lengths behind the Americans, who made their way to the bottom mark without a kite 39s in front.

AmericaOne played the next three legs smartly, and it seemed only some disaster to their boat could ruin their victory.

But on the final run, with a 41s lead, AmericaOne sailed into what they called a giant hole, while Prada rode up on a line of wind that was three knots stronger.

With the finish 400m away, Luna Rossa drew level and the screaming match from their infamous semifinal encounter resumed.

Cayard yelled that Prada was not keeping its proper course to the line, de Angelis arguing AmericaOne, the windward boat, was sailing too close - AmericaOne's mainsail brushing Prada's spinnaker.

The umpires saw it de Angelis' way. Although AmericaOne crossed the line half a length in front, it was the yellow flag of Prada thrown up on the finish boat.

The devastated Americans waited a while before going back over the line, completing their 270-degree turn and finishing 2m 32s behind.

AmericaOne will have to wait another day for retribution. There is no racing today, with the harbour occupied by the Auckland Anniversary Day regatta fleet.