AMERICA'S CUP

Last leg

Associated Press
Hawaii's Abracadabra 2000, rear, was beaten by Nippon today
in the America's Cup challenger series and failed to qualify for
the semifinals. The Japanese yacht was one of six to advance.

French yacht advances

Le Defi Francais won a place in the semifinals of the America's Cup challenger series with a walkover win over an absent opponent today off Auckland, New Zealand, ensuring that Young America would not advance.

With the six semifinal berths already virtually decided, only seven of the original 11 teams took to the water for the last races of the third round-robin.

The French yacht sailed the race course alone because America True, which had already qualified, forfeited. The nine points for the victory clinched the last berth for Le Defi Francais.

The other teams to advance to the semifinals were Italy's Prada, AmericaOne, Japan's Nippon and Stars and Stripes.

Louis Vuitton Cup challenger series

At Auckland, New Zealand
Final races of third round-robin

Spanish challenge def. Stars and Stripes by 35 seconds.

Nippon def. Abracadabra by 42 seconds.

Le Defi Francais def. America True (defaulted).

Young America def. Young Australia (defaulted).

Prada def. Fast 2000 (defaulted).

Bye: AmericaOne.

Standings

Qualified for semifinals: Prada 109, America True 101, AmericaOne 99, Nippon 101.5, Stars and Stripes 81.5, Le Defi Francais 77.

Failed to qualify: Young America 60, Spanish Challenge 53, Abracadabra 2000 43, Young Australia 18, FAST 2000 8.