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Wednesday, October 9
 
Alinghi leads pack with five wins in six starts

Associated Press

AUCKLAND, New Zealand -- Oracle and OneWorld maintained unbeaten records and the Swiss team Alinghi remained atop the standings with five wins in six starts after another weather-interrupted day Thursday at the America's Cup challenger regatta.

Oracle of San Francisco, OneWorld of Seattle, Alinghi of Switzerland and reigning challenger champion Prada of Italy posted wins as racing resumed after four days of weather interruptions.

Thursday's races followed a short delay due to light morning breezes.

OneWorld led around all marks for a 59-second win over Sweden's Victory Challenge, a team expected to advance to the challenger semifinals.

Alinghi, Oracle and OneWorld are widely regarded as the strongest teams among nine syndicates vying to win the Louis Vuitton Cup and the right to challenge Team New Zealand for the oldest trophy in international sports.

Team Dennis Conner's Stars & Stripes went down by 1 minute and 10 seconds to Alinghi, the Swiss syndicate of biotech mogul Ernesto Bertarelli.

Oracle beat Le Defi of France by 2:52 and Prada beat Britain's GBR Challenge by 22 seconds in a close and exciting race.

GBR flew a protest flag throughout the match.

OneWorld now has five wins in five races but has been docked a point for a rules infraction prior to the regatta. Oracle is unbeaten in four races, Alinghi has five wins in six races and Prada has three wins in its six starts.

Friday's matches are between Oracle and Alinghi, GBR and Victory, Le Defi and OneWorld and Italy's Mascalzone Latino and Stars & Stripes.

After four days of disruption caused by light winds and after a two-hour delay Thursday, racing took place in a stable wind of around 16 knots. Had racing again been abandoned Thursday, the challengers would have been forced to race twice daily because all reserve days in the first phase have been filled.





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