Young America sails to win

SAN DIEGO – More than a decade after Australia won the America’s Cup with a boat featuring a winged keel, the U.S. syndicate Pact 95 used a winged rudder on its boat, Young America, to soar ahead of America3’s Mighty Mary on Friday and claim the lead in the defender finals.

The revolutionary rudder design was fitted during Young America’s day off from racing Thursday and made its competitive debut Friday off the coast of San Diego.

Young America led America3’s Mighty Mary at the first cross and stretched its lead upwind around the 18.55-mile course to win by 1 minute, 24 seconds.

The victory lifted Kevin Mahaney’s boat out of a losing streak and into first place in the defender standings. Young America, which began the finals with two bonus points for leading the semifinals, lost its first two races this week and badly needed a victory to remain in touch for a berth in the America’s Cup final next month.

On the challenger course, Team New Zealand continued its domination of the finals with a 2-minute, 26-second victory over oneAustralia.

Efforts by oneAustralia to modify its boat midway through the finals have been rejected by Team New Zealand, which has won three finals races in a row. Team New Zealand needs only two more victories in the remaining six races to secure a spot in the final.

The new rudder may have given Young America the extra edge in Friday’s lumpy seas, featuring 6-foot swells and 12-knot winds. Wings have been fitted to America’s Cup boats since 1983, when Australia II rode a winged keel to victory.

Wings boost performance on upwind legs but tend to slow yachts sailing downwind.

The rudder wings were not revealed when Young America’s keel was displayed publicly last Sunday. The three U.S. teams agreed to allow limited alterations during the finals, which were previously considered a no-change period.

Young America and Mighty Mary were tied at the start but Mahaney steered his boat into the lead on the critical upwind leg and rounded the top mark 52 seconds up.

Downwind, Mighty Mary was a slightly faster boat but, aided by the winged rudder, Young America stretched its lead upwind and finished comfortably ahead.