AMERICA’S CUP DAILY REPORT : CHALLENGER TRIALS : Light Winds Make Long Day

How low and how slow did the America’s Cup challenger trials go?

Thursday, they competed in the lightest winds of the trials, starting at 6 knots and decreasing to 2 knots. New Zealand finished 42 minutes 38 seconds ahead of Challenge Australia. But that was respectable compared to the tortoise-and-hare race Nippon waged against Tre Kronor. Nippon won by 1 hour 15 minutes.

Il Moro di Venezia skipper Paul Cayard broke a tie, but not a sweat, as the Italians coasted to a 3:14 victory against Ville de Paris. Il Moro (14-5) moved into sole possession of third place, bumping the French (12-7) to fourth.

Cayard said the race committee should be judicious in starting a race in such light wind, especially with the ensuing round worth so much.

For a sixth consecutive day, Nippon (16-3) and New Zealand (17-2) remained tied at the top of the standings with 66 points each. They race against each other Saturday.

Espana ’92 lost to Spirit of Australia by 11:11, meaning the Spanish syndicate will be eliminated unless it wins its next two races against Il Moro and Ville de Paris.