Yachting: Cayard seizes helm of semis in dramatic day

By SUZANNE McFADDEN


AmericaOne skipper Paul Cayard is considering the possibility of pulling out of the rest of the America's Cup challenger semifinals to give his crew a rest.

Triumphant after an electrifying battle of screaming and frantic flag-whipping with Prada yesterday, AmericaOne are confident they have clinched their spot in the Louis Vuitton final, which starts in 13 days' time.

Now Cayard is thinking about missing a race or two to give his team a break. It is totally within the rules, but it could throw the tussle for the second final spot into a frenzy.

"I could stop sailing now if I wanted to," Cayard said on the tow back from the Hauraki Gulf after his pulsating 8s win over the Italians.

Realistically, though, AmericaOne needs one more victory to be absolutely certain of sailing in the January 25 final.

They have seven wins from eight races, but Prada and Stars & Stripes could also end up on seven points. If there is a tie, there will be a sail-off to find the top two.

Cayard is still confident, though: "I don't know the mathematical probability, but there's probably a one per cent chance we won't make it under some strange permutation.

"There's something to think about there, though. If racing gets blown out [today], then the semis get pushed even further back towards the finals. So you're not going to get a lot of rest before the finals.

"You can't start modifying your boat until all the semifinal races are finished. We'll need to give our crew a couple of days' rest, because when that modification period starts, we're going to have to work every day to change the boat."

Changes must be made before the common declaration date, when the two finalists and Team New Zealand unveil their boats. That is on January 20 - five days before the finals begin.

If the semis continue without a hitch now, they will finish on Friday. But today's forecast is for 30-40 knot easterlies - well above the racing limit.

All kinds of scenarios come to mind if AmericaOne withdraw from the next two days of racing.

It would hand a free point to both Nippon and Stars & Stripes, who are still in the reckoning with Prada for that last place. Stars & Stripes have three races to go, but will need to win them all to have a chance. Both of their other two fixtures are against their friendly neighbours, America True, who are now out of the reckoning.

So in effect, AmericaOne could have some slight control over who their opponent will be for the best-of-nine finals. It now comes down to the way Cayard calls it.

"Honestly, I haven't had time to think properly about it yet. I'll probably wake up at 1 am and start thinking about it," he said.

He was well aware of talk along the water's edge: that sceptics believe AmericaOne would rather meet the one-boat Stars & Stripes syndicate, known for its strength in heavy airs, than the all-round might of Prada.

Of course he would not be drawn on the subject. But Stars & Stripes tactician Tom Whidden was flattered by the suggestion.

"Cayard and Conner in the challenger final? Now that would be interesting," he said.

"Do you think he fears us in light airs? Just kidding."