7.30pm
The second round race between GBR and Team Dennis Conner's Stars and Stripes was a tight tussle with the lead changing several times before the British team won by 46 sec.
The race had to be restarted after the first race between the two teams was abandoned shortly before 2.50pm after wind on their course fell to below two knots at times. As a result, the two yachts were unable to complete the fourth leg of their six leg race in the required 45 minutes.
When the race was restarted an hour later, Stars & Stripes USA-66, led by helmsman Ken Read, sped away on the first beat to lead by more than one minute at the first windward mark.
Wight Lightning GBR-70, led by skipper Ian Walker, clawed back on the first run, sailed over the top of Stars & Stripes and led by 17 seconds at the first leeward mark.
Wight Lightning extended that advantage at the beginning of the second run when Stars & Stripes began a furious charge.
Read's American crew overtook Walker's British boys near the bottom of the 3-mile leg. But they were assessed a red-flag penalty for a port-starboard incident outside the three boat length zone of the leeward mark. Stars & Stripes, on port, failed to keep clear of the starboard tack Wight Lightning.
The Umpires gave the Americans a red-flag penalty for gaining a controlling advantage, which must be taken immediately. After Stars & Stripes did its requisite 270-degree turn it fell from a 12-second lead to a 30-second deficit and never recovered.
The result means GBR have now had four wins in succession and move into third equal place with five wins overall.
Winds: light southerlies
Winning margin: 00.46
nzherald.co.nz/americascup
Racing schedule, results and standings
Penalty helps GBR beat Stars and Stripes
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.