Japan gain first America's Cup World win

Light winds again wreaked havoc on the America's Cup World Series races in Chicago, but Team Japan had the satisfaction of seeing their first win go up on the board.

The Japanese team, skippered by Dean Barker, won the "substitute race" sailed on Friday, and with the winds too light and unstable to support Saturday's planned schedule officials scored it as the first official race of the Chicago stop.

"It's a shame we couldn't get racing started on time today, but it's nice to turn the good work from Friday into a win on the scoreboard today," Barker said. "We've been working hard to improve our performance... Friday was a good day and we take a lot of confidence from that."

Artemis Racing of Sweden scored second and Team France was third.

On the other side of the ledger was Team USA, who capsized in the substitute race on Friday and who now must carry that last place finish on the scoreboard.

With thousands of eager fans again gathered on the shore of Lake Michigan, one race was completed Saturday and dubbed a "substitute race" -- to be added to the official scores only if conditions again prohibit racing on Sunday.

Emirates Team New Zealand were the top team on Saturday, finishing ahead of Oracle and Artemis.

Overall ranking position in the America's Cup World Series, which features the spectacular AC45 foiled catamarans, will determine the starting points score of the teams in the America's Cup qualifiers in 2017.

Five challengers are vying for the chance to take on America's Cup holders Team USA in the America's Cup final in Bermuda next year.

With one Chicago race scored, Team New Zealand topped the standings with 251 points ahead of Team USA ON 241, BAR of Britain on 233, Team Japan on 213, Artemis on 210 and Team France on 202.
Source :AFP