Race 2 of America’s Cup under way with Alinghi penalized for being in start box early
By Bernie Wilson, APSunday, February 14, 2010
Race 2 of America’s Cup starts with Swiss penalty
VALENCIA, Spain — Race 2 of the America’s Cup has started, and challenger BMW Oracle got an instant boost when two-time defending champion Alinghi of Switzerland was penalized for being in the starting box before the 5-minute gun sounded.
BMW Oracle won the first race in the best-of-three series, and a victory Sunday would bring the oldest trophy in international sports back to the United States.
The Americans won Race 1 by 15 minutes, 28 seconds on Friday. Race 2 is to be sailed over a triangle course measuring 39 nautical miles, with the first 13-mile leg into the wind and the other two legs across the wind.
The race started after organizers waited 6½ hours for a steady breeze.
Software tycoon Larry Ellison was aboard BMW Oracle. He took himself off the boat before Race 1, anticipating light winds.
