America II Has Spinnaker Problem, Enabling French Kiss to Win Race

FREMANTLE, Australia —  The yacht French Kiss of France overcame a ripped head sail Sunday to win the second race of the World 12-meter Sailing Championships in blustery weather and rough Indian Ocean seas.

French Kiss, skippered by Marc Pajot, survived 6-foot swells and 24-knot winds which forced two boats to retire and several others to lose their headsails and break gear.

Pajot said that on the third leg a clew on the foresail had broken. It took three minutes to fix and the delay enabled the New York Yacht Club’s America II to get through.

At that point, America II, sailed by John Kolius, appeared certain to beat French Kiss to the finish line on the spinnaker run to the last mark. But with one leg to go, America II’s spinnaker wrapped round the forestay, slowing the boat and costing it the lead.

After sending a man aloft with a knife to try and cut it free, America II dropped back and finally finished seventh.

Australia III, the boat that won the America’s Cup in 1983, finished second, followed by New Zealand KZ5, which took the first heat of the seven-race series Friday. The U.S. yacht Courageous withdrew with broken gear and a bent bow incurred in a collision with South Australia.