Americas Cup challenge Race Day 6 - Morning Report: A Strange Morning:
Brought to you courtesy of www.louisvuittoncup.com

Round Robin 1 - Race 10 - The Spanish Challenge
A long delay, and then a strange morning of racing in the Louis Vuitton Cup. First, race director Vince Cooke delayed the races as winds hovered in the 20 knot range.

During the delay, Young America suffered damage, and retreated back to base for repairs, requesting a 45 minute delay. At the conclusion of all the postponements, first Nippon, and then America True requested and were granted, short delays.

Round Robin 1 - Race 10 - Young America
The first pair to actually get off were Team Dennis Conner and Young America. But Young America was still being towed out to the race course after effecting repairs. Stars and Stripes ended up sailing the race a full leg ahead of Young America to pick up an easy point - giving Young America its first loss of the series.

The next start involved two boats sailing races unopposed. Prada Challenge, and Spain started and raced the course together, but not against each other. Their respective opponents, the French Le Defi, and the Swiss Fast 2000, did not come out for racing. Both Prada and Spain received points for their efforts.

Round Robin 1 - Race 10 - America True
The only real race of the morning involved America True against Nippon. The Japanese won the start, and held on to win. America True surfed to the finish at 14 knots, and nearly caught Nippon, but Japan crossed one second ahead of the surging Americans.

Scheduled matches involving AmericaOne are postponed until Thursday.

Stars & Stripes Beats Young America - Delta 19:08
The first pair to get a start gun was Stars & Stripes (USA-55) and Young America (USA-53). But Young America was still being towed out to the race course after effecting repairs.

Stars & Stripes raced a full leg ahead of Young America to pick up an easy point. It did not fly a headsail for the first upwind, and never raised a spinnaker. Team Dennis Conner didn't even gybe, preferring to tack around a full circle in the heavy winds.

Young America did sail the course, in hope of a breakage aboard Stars & Stripes, but the effort was in vain.

Nippon Beats America True - Delta 00:01
John Cutler on America True (USA-51) forced Peter Gilmour on Asura (JPN-44) to split away at the start but Gilmour picked up speed to start strongly with a six boat length (17 second) advantage while America True laboured to pick up speed.

Gilmour built a comfortable lead until he failed to cover America True in the closing stages of the last run. The American boat, on the opposite gybe, surfed into the finish line to cross just one second astern of Asura. This was the closest finish time in the Louis Vuitton Cup so far.

Luna Rossa Wins, Le Defi Does Not Start
Le Defi Bouygues Telecom-Transiciel (FRA-46) is ashore preparing for changes after the end of the Round Robin and did not sail. Luna Rossa (ITA-45) sailed the course to claim its point for winning.

Bravo Espana Wins, Be Happy Does Not Start
Be hAPpy (SUI-59) has not completed repairs to its runner support bulkhead and did not race today. Bravo Espana (ESP- 47) sailed the course to claim its point for winning.

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