Left For Dead, Stars & Stripes Jolts Citizen Cup

Leave it to Dennis Conner to stir up the action in the America’s Cup.

Left for dead at the end of the semifinals, Conner’s Stars & Stripes handed PACT 95’s faltering Young America its second straight loss on Tuesday and moved toward tying the three-boat Citizen Cup defender finals.

Stars & Stripes protected the favored right side of the race course at the start and took a lead it never relinquished, winning by 1 minute, 15 seconds.

Conner, a threetime America’s Cup winner, finished the semifinals with three straight losses and survived only because of a compromise among the three defense syndicates.

Stars & Stripes entered the round with no bonus points, but now trails America3’s Mighty Mary and Young America 2-1. If Stars & Stripes beats Mighty Mary on Wednesday, the round will be tied.