Yachting: Champion driver stalls in Cup pit-stop again

By Suzanne McFadden

Ill-fated motor-racing star Patrick Tambay has been left high and dry for a second time in this America's Cup.

Tambay, a Formula One grand prix winner of the 1980s, came to Auckland to be 17th man on the Swiss boat Be Happy, but the syndicate pulled out of the Louis Vuitton Cup before he got his ride.

America True came to his rescue, offering him the catbird seat on their boat in the race against Le Defi France.

But then the Trues pulled the plug on the rest of this round, leaving the French driver on land once again.

"C'est la vie," said Tambay, before flying home to Switzerland last night. "America True have given me a raincheck."

If the Trues make the cup match, he could be in luck. Tambay intends to return as a spectator on his way to the Melbourne Grand Prix in March.