By JULIE ASH
After their loss to Victory Challenge on Saturday, Team Dennis Conner were out today to make amends in the battle against fellow Americans Oracle BMW Racing.
Oracle went into the match with two wins from two races, while Team Dennis Conner, with two wins and a loss, had had a somewhat shaky start to the Louis Vuitton series.
Representing the Golden Gate Yacht Club, Oracle pulled off a stunning start, positioning themselves above Stars and Stripes as the two boats charged towards the left side of the course.
With Swedish match-racing tour champion Peter Holmberg at the helm, Oracle were the first off the start-line by a mere 1s.
Oracle led Team Dennis Conner, representing the New York Yacht Club, around the first windward mark by 35s.
They then gained 34s to extend their lead to 1m 8s at the first leeward mark, and it just got better for the San Francisco team and their Bruce Farr-designed yacht USA76 as they gained a further 21s over Stars and Stripes' USA66 to lead by 1m 29s around the second windward mark.
Stars and Stripes chopped 8s off Oracle's lead at the second leeward mark, but the lean, grey yacht of Oracle powered around the final mark more than 2m ahead and eventually claimed victory.
Winds: light and shifting
Winning margin: 01.58
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Racing schedule, results and standings
Oracle wins comfortably against Conner
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