LONG BEACH, California - Sailing legend Dennis Conner says he is going ahead with his America's Cup challenge despite the sinking of his US$5 million ($10.69 million) yacht off California earlier this week.
Stars and Stripes USA-77, which was christened in May, sank about a mile off Long Beach on Tuesday during routine testing ahead of the Louis Vuitton Cup challengers's regatta which begins in Auckland on October 1.
The 24-metre craft, one of two new yachts that the four times America's Cup champion was planning to use in his campaign for the Cup, sank after its rudder broke off.
None of the 15 crew members aboard was hurt. Conner was not aboard at the time.
The boat has been salvaged and taken back to the Team Dennis Conner training base.
After a lengthy inspection, Conner said the yacht would be repaired in time for the Louis Vuitton Challenger Series.
"Small setbacks like this are the cost of progress and in a high-profile event like the America's Cup, we push the envelope to have the fastest boats and the most innovative designs," Conner, 59, said.
"We are reviewing several different plans for repair, all of which will allow her to be ready to go by the start of the Louis Vuitton Series," he said.
Conner said the hull was in good shape and the mast was fully tensioned and did not appear to be damaged.
"Our training programme will proceed as scheduled...with both boats being shipped to New Zealand during the first two weeks of August," he said.
Conner said he was proud of the efforts of his team to save the vessel which went down in 55 feet of water near Long Beach Harbour.
"They all acted very quickly and did everything in their power to save her but water filled the hull too quickly and she went down," he said.
Conner has competed in the America's Cup eight times and has won it on four occasions, the last time in 1988.
- REUTERS
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Conner says America's Cup challenge still on track
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