BBC SPORT | Other Sports | Sailing | America's Cup yacht sinks

Dennis Conner saw his America's Cup preparations dealt a massive blow when his newest boat sank while training one mile off the California coast on Tuesday.

The rudder broke on Conner's $5m Stars & Stripes USA-77, leaving a hole that was too big for pumps and air bags to plug.

This is an edgy game, and there are going to be setbacks like this

Michael Levitt
NY Yacht Club

Conner was not on board but was at the site helping the recovery operation, and all 15 crew were rescued.

"We feel extremely fortunate that no one was hurt," said Conner.

The 80-foot yacht sank around 1310 local time (2010 GMT) in 17m of water.

The crew was training off Long Beach ahead of the America's Cup trials, which begin on 1 October in Auckland, New Zealand.

Dennis Conner
Conner insists the boat is not badly damaged
"Of course this is a setback," said Michael Levitt, a spokesman for the New York Yacht Club, which is backing Conner.

"Fortunately there is some time available. This is an edgy game, and there are going to be setbacks like this."

And Conner was typically bullish, insisting that the plan to ship both his boats to New Zealand next month would not be altered.

"The hull appears to be in good shape and the mast is fully tensioned and does not appear to be damaged," said Conner.

"Both boats will be shipped to New Zealand separately during the first two weeks of August."

Conner, 59, has won the America's Cup four times, but not since 1988.


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