America’s Cup Final Expansion Allows Two To Avoid Elimination

A basic tenet of America’s Cup competition is that whoever holds the trophy can change the rules.

There was supposed to be a knockout race Tuesday between Dennis Conner and America3’s mostly women’s team. But both crews were still alive after the race because the three defense syndicates agreed not long before race time that everyone would get into the finals.

America3’s Mighty Mary won the semifinal sailoff by 5 minutes, 59 seconds.

The three defense syndicates, with the blessing of the San Diego Yacht Club’s defense committee, made the change because they felt the controversy over Conner’s mid-round change of a damaged keel had affected the competition.

The deal saved one of two high-profile teams from elimination. Conner is a three-time America’s Cup winner, and America3 started out as the first allwomen’s team in regatta history. America3 replaced tactician J.J. Isler with Dave Dellenbaugh, a member of the Cup-winning team in 1992, prior to the semis.