Auckland, New Zealand, October 14, 2002 – OneWorld, the Seattle based challenger for the 2003 America’s Cup, completed the first round robin of the Louis Vuitton Cup undefeated with a record of 8-0. After two postponements earlier in the week, the race against San Francisco’s Oracle BMW Racing was sailed on a two lap race format instead of the regular three lap format.

Racing got underway early with hopes of getting two sets of racing in before the end of the day. Winds were more moderate than the two previous days with eighteen knots of breeze at the start. USA 67 entered the starting box on the favored starboard tack and following an aggressive dial-up USA 67 and USA 76 came off the line dead even with OneWorld claiming the favored left side of the course.

[Ed. Note: Spectators were treated to one of the most exciting pre-start sequences to date. Spithill had established control just before the gun with dramatic positioning that forced Oracle to go outside of the start line pin. Peter Holmberg, USA-76 helmsman, executed an bewildering gybe, ducking between OneWorld and the pin end of the starting line, narrowly shaving within millimeters of both on either side of the boat. The tactic, risky and precarious, placed Oracle nearly on even footing with OneWorld. Both boats started on starboard tack with OneWorld a couple of boat lengths to leeward].

The pair of boats sailed on opposite tacks up the first beat, with OneWorld in the lead at the first crossing rounding the first windward mark with a twenty-two second lead. OneWorld extended their lead on the downwind run, and defended their position on the remaining legs crossing the finish line 40 seconds ahead of USA 76.

“At the end of the day, the crew did a great job and we made no major mistakes. I take my hat off to the whole team, the people on and off the water, who made it all work. Our entire sailing team pushed us in the pre-starts and over the last two years for that matter. These early wins belong to each member of the team, but there is a very long way to go and in the next round it is clearly going to get closer as each team has learned a lot facing the competitors,” commented helmsman, James Spithill.

“We are obviously pleased with the success in the first round robin among a crowded field of strong competitors. We dedicate these early wins to the health of the planet and her oceans. All of it seems very secondary to the weightier issues of the day and our hearts go out to those families who have suffered such a terrible loss in the tragedy in Bali,” said skipper, Peter Gilmour.

Starting Line-Up: Peter Gilmour, Skipper; James Spithill, Helmsman; Kevin Hall, Navigator; Richard Dodson, Runner; Ben Durham, Strategist; Charlie McKee, Tactician; Don Cowie, Main Trimmer; Brian Ledbetter, Main Grinder; Tatsuya Wakinaga, Tail; Kevin Shoebridge, Trim; Andrew Taylor, Grinder; Craig Monk, Grinder; Jeremy Scantlebury Pit; Matthew Mason, Mast; Don McCracken, Mid-Bow; Alan Smith, Bow. OneWorld CEO Gary Wright occupied the 17th man seat .

More On The Other Matches . . .

The French le Defi AREVA team match against Team Dennis Conner early in the day was abandoned because the wind exceeded the 23 knot limit for more than 5 minutes. The abandonment came after le Defi suffered a broken forestay. The headstay went limp, overloading the genoa halyard and pulling the halyard winch off the deck as the sail fell in the water. In the afternoon, Stars & Stripes sailed the course alone after le Defi AREVA was disqualified for failing to start the match within 15 minutes of the start time due to their broken forestay.

The British GBR-Challenge beat Mascalzone Latino, despite sailing over their spinnaker at the first leeward mark rounding. Delta 00:54

Oracle BMW sailed against the Victory Challenge late in the afternoon. Victory Challenge's headsail halyard failed early in the match. The Swedish team sailed both upwind legs without a headsail allowing Oracle BMW to sail to an easy win. Delta 10:46

Mascalzone Latino were due to meet Prada Challenge in an all-Italian battle, but the match was postponed because the Latin Rascals suffered damage in their earlier match. Mascalzone’s inboard end spinnaker car became damaged while the team was changing from a full-size symmetric spinnaker to an asymmetric kite. The team sailed with the A-sail tacked to the bobstay. Why did Mascalzone Latino get a reprieve?

The Louis Vuitton Cup Notice of Race and Conditions reads: "Condition 8.3(a)(ii)(a)(ii) allows a boat to be excused from starting its second race if the Umpires are satisfied that the yacht is not in a reasonable state of readiness as a result of unintentional damage."

The match will be re-run at the start of Round Robin 2 October 22.

[Ed. Note: And why, you ask, did Le Defi AREVE get disqualified? Le Defi did not complete the first race.]

Scores To Date: