France 3 Out, Nippon Reaches Next Round
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SAN DIEGO — Nippon is in and France 3 is out, giving the America’s Cup strictly a Pacific Rim flavor.
Nippon claimed the last spot in the challenger semifinals Wednesday by sailing to a 13-second victory over Rioja de Espana. That eliminated France 3, and with it any European presence for the first time since the semifinals began in 1980.
France 3 defeated Sydney 95 by 1:36, but finished three points behind Nippon at the end of the fourth round robin. Rioja de Espana and Sydney 95 were eliminated Monday.
Nippon will join Team New Zealand, NZL-39 and oneAustralia in the semifinals beginning March 18.
On the defender course, Dennis Conner’s Stars & Stripes handily beat the women’s team aboard Mighty Mary by 1:35 to clinch second place going into the defender semifinals. Kevin Mahaney’s Young America already had clinched first place.
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