PAVAROTTI GREETS LUNA ROSSA

Italy's Prada Americas Cup challenger team has won its tenth match of the Louis Vuitton Cup in Round Robin. Prada beat the French yacht Le Défi by 3 minutes 49 seconds.

The win followed a cheer session between the crew of Luna Rossa and world acclaimed tenor, Luciano Pavarotti.

Pavarotti visited the Prada operations base and followed the preparation of the boat before the morning tow out to the race course.

The race was fought in heavy chop on Auckland's Hauraki Gulf. Francesco de Angelis, skipper and helmsman of Prada's winning yacht, Luna Rossa, crossed the start line at the pin end a few inches from the mark, while Bertrand Pace, Le Défi's skipper, sailed over him at windward.

The two boats, both pitching heavily, sailed together for a few minutes, with de Angelis trying to clear himself from the difficult leeward position.

Luna Rossa managed to get into clear air and edged forward, whilst Pace was forced to tack away. At the first cross de Angelis was leading by about three lengths and he rounded the mark 1 minute 25 seconds ahead of the French. Luna Rossa kept the lead throughout the rest of the race, eventually winning by 3 minutes 49 seconds.

Nippon Challenge and America True sailed a very close and exciting race, with the Americans collecting two penalties in the pre-start and having to complete the first turn immediately; Nippon kept the lead of the race until the last beat upwind when John Cutler, helmsman of America True, sailed left and overtook his rival. In the final downwind leg the two boats fought a close and exciting luffing duel with Cutler inflicting freeing himself from the second penalty turn by inflicting one to the Japanese. America True won the race by 12 seconds.

AmericaOne won over Young Australia 2000, whilst Young America, racing against Team Dennis Conner, asked the Race Committee for a postponement to fix some technical problem on the mast. After signalling they were ready to sail again, Young America crossed the start without the mainsail and retired from the race. Yesterday Young America had already asked for a postponement of their race but the Race Committee did not grant it; as a consequence Baird protested the Committee and was granted by the International Jury a redress of 1 point.
The Swiss of FAST2000 were not racing today because they cracked the carbon fin of the aft keel yesterday; the team will not be racing tomorrow either.
Tomorrow Luna Rossa will race against Abracadabra 2000.

THE RACING TODAY - RACE 10 of Round Robin two
1st Match AmericaOne wins against Young Australia (5 minutes 39 seconds)
2nd Match Prada Challenge wins against Le Défi (3 minutes 49 seconds)
3rd Match America True wins against Nippon Challenge (12 seconds)
4th Match Spanish Challenge wins against FAST 2000 (FAST2000 not racing)
5th Match Team Dennis Conner wins over Young America (Young America retires)
NOT RACING Abracadabra 2000

RESULTS AFTER DAY TEN OF ROUND ROBIN 2 (4 points per win)
42 pts - ITA 45 (Luna Rossa)
34 pts - USA 51 (America True)
28,5 pts - USA 55 (Stars & Stripes)
28 pts - USA 49 (AmericaOne)*
25 pts - USA 53 (Young America)*
21,5 pts - JPN 44 (Asura)*
17 pts - ESP 47 (Bravo Espana)*
14 pts - FRA 46 (6eme Sens)
12 pts - USA 54 (Abracadabra 2000)
9 pts - AUS 31 (Young Australia 2000)*
8 pts - SUI 59 (be hAPpy)
*Have sailed one race less.

THE WEATHER YESTERDAY
The system developing over the Tasman Sea will cross the Auckland region overnight.
N-NE winds, 16-22 knots. The wind will increase a few knots ahead of rain than drop off during and after rain. NE swell 1.5-2.0 metres; sea becoming rough late in the afternoon.

THE RACING TODAY - RACE 11 of Round Robin two
1st Match Nippon Challenge vs FAST 2000
2nd Match Abracadabra 2000 vs Prada Challenge
3rd Match America True vs Spanish Challenge
4th Match Young America vs AmericaOne
5th Match Young Australia vs Team Dennis Conner
NOT RACING Le Dèfi

THE WEATHER TODAY
SW wind 15 knots increasing to 20 in the afternoon. Cloudy with showers.

THE RACE COURSE
Windward-leeward format, 18.5 nautical miles; six legs, three upwind and three downwind; the first and the last legs are 3.25 miles long, the others 3.00 miles.

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