The controversial three-boat defender finals in the America's Cup produced an unexpected result.
Instead of building on its lead in the standings, Young America was the victim of an impressive race by America3's Mighty Mary in the opening race Monday.Mighty Mary pulled ahead early and never relinquished the lead in taking a 48-second victory.
Mighty Mary, sailed by 15 women and one man, tied Young America at 2-2 in the unusual three-boat finals that will decide which yacht defends the America's Cup.
As part of an agreement between the defense syndicates last week, PACT 95's Young America entered the finals with two bonus points and Mighty Mary one by virtue of its victory over Dennis Conner's Stars & Stripes in the last race of the semifinals.
"We're very thrilled to have won this race to be even with PACT," Mighty Mary skipper Leslie Egnot said. "It's the first time in a while now that we've had an even score with them, and to be two up on Dennis is very nice, as well."
Young America, which had been the front-runner in the U.S. fleet, got close each time the yachts sailed upwind. But Mighty Mary used its lead position to force two extra tacks by Young America on the first two windward legs and also benefited from two equipment problems aboard Young America.
Monday's victory was important because officials from all three syndicates have said Mighty Mary might be the fastest boat on the defender course. But because it wasn't launched until mid-February, it hasn't been completely brought up to speed.
Young America won seven of eight races in the semifinals, losing only to Mighty Mary when it broke a spinnaker pole.
Monday's west wind built from 7 knots at the start to 12 at the finish.
Mighty Mary won the start by one second, but Young America gained from a wind shift on the right side of the course and was ahead by about three-quarters of a length the first time the boats crossed on opposite tacks.
Instead of covering Mighty Mary's wind, Young America continued out to the left side of the course. Mighty Mary went to the right side, gained from a 20-degree wind shift and had the lead the next time the 75-foot yachts converged.
"We were very surprised they didn't tack to cover us," Egnot said. "I'm sure they're regretting it now."
"We should have done it," Young America skipper Kevin Mahaney said. "We made a mistake."
After forcing Young America to make two extra time-consuming tacks, Mighty Mary rounded the first mark 35 seconds ahead.
Although Young America got close two more times, it had a problem with its spinnaker pole on the second leg and tore its jib on the fifth leg and was slow in hoisting a new sail.
Young America could retake the lead in the Citizen Cup standings with a victory over Stars & Stripes today.
Today is also the first race of the best-of-9 Louis Vuitton Cup finals for challengers between Team New Zealand's Black Magic 1 and the overhauled oneAustralia. Team New Zealand has yet to lose on the water with either of its Black Magic boats.
OneAustralia, pressed into service when the syndicate's newest yacht sank on March 5, went into the repair shed after clinching a finals spot March 31. It didn't make its first shakedown cruise until Monday.
OneAustralia is skippered by 1983 America's Cup winner John Bertrand.