America’s Cup Runneth Down To New Zealand As Conner Goes Under

Whitewashed by a black boat, Dennis Conner lost the America’s Cup for the second time in 12 years - this time in home waters - when Team New Zealand’s Black Magic 1 completed a 5-0 sweep on Saturday.

On an overcast day on the Pacific Ocean that at times matched the color of Black Magic 1’s hull, the America’s Cup changed hands for only the third time since the schooner America - also with a black hull - lifted it off a fleet of British yachts in a race around the Isle of Wight in 1851.

The silver trophy has belonged to the San Diego Yacht Club since 1987, when Conner won it back from Australia. Now it’s headed back Down Under, this time on the other side of the Tasman Sea.

It’s headed for the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron in Auckland, the biggest city in the island nation of 3.5 million residents.

“Congratulations to Team New Zealand,” said Conner, a four-time Cup winner who’s also the only U.S. skipper to lose the trophy.

Black Magic 1 led at all 30 marks in the five races, the worst beating a challenger had given a U.S. yacht.

Team New Zealand, which sailed the newer Black Magic 2 in the first four rounds, finished the four-month regatta with a 42-1 record on the water.