The match between Sweden's Victory Challenge and Team Dennis Conner of the New York Yacht Club was highly anticipated because everyone wanted to see the relative speed of Victory's Örn (SWE-63) against Stars & Stripes (USA-66), which had won its first two races with Ken Read at the helm.
Conner fancied the black Swedish boat before the regatta and, it turns out, with good reason.
Örn handily defeated the ultra-narrow Stars & Stripes by 33 seconds.
This match was decided on the first beat. Örn came off the start line to windward of Stars & Stripes and then rode the American yacht to the port layline.
Each boat tacked just once on the beat and Jesper Bank, steering Örn, led by 19 seconds at the windward mark.
Showing good speed and perhaps sailing deeper angles, the Swedes then doubled their lead on the first run to 38 seconds.
Örn lost 30 seconds on the final run, but controlled the match throughout.
Winds: S 16-22k
Winning margin: 00.33
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Racing schedule, results and standings
Victory Challenge gives Conner his first defeat
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