Sailing: Collision deprives Oracle

In a humdinger of a third race for the Louis Vuitton Cup final, San Francisco's Oracle BMW threw everything at Switzerland's Alinghi. Too much in fact, as an error on the fourth leg of six saw Oracle's bow hit Alinghi's stern. Up went the umpire's penalty flag, and it cost them victory.

The yachts had been close on the second leg, but Russell Coutts had been coolness itself in protecting Alinghi's lead. They were even closer on the second run, the on-board umpires ducking for cover as the powered-up 80ft racing machines diced within inches of each other. After the collision, Oracle, with Peter Holmberg taking over the helming duties from skipper Chris Dickson, finally managed to muscle past and established a 29-second lead.

It was not enough to allow for a 270-degree penalty turn on the finish line and Coutts crossed one second ahead, a margin that was extended to 61secs as Oracle had to do another turn for hitting the buoy which marks the finish.

That puts Alinghi 3-0 up, needing two more wins to become sole challenger to Team New Zealand, which Coutts skippered to victory in the last two America's Cups.

* The Briton Emma Richards was closing in on Tauranga off the coast of Auckland yesterday and poised to finish sixth in the Class 1 category at the end of the third leg of the Around Alone Race from Cape Town.