1.
GV Southern Cross in F/G and France in B/G at start
0.06

2.
SV Spectators on launch
0.10

3.
GV Yachts leaving the start
0.16

4.
SV Crew of French trawler waving
0.21

5.
GV Southern Cross pulls in front of France
0.27

6.
GV ZOOM FROM Boats following race TO yatchts on the horizon
0.45

7.
SV French trawler
0.50

8.
GV Yachts approach marker buoy
0.54

9.
SV Spectators on launch
0.58

10.
GV Southern Cross rounding buoy
1.07

11.
SV Spectators on launch
1.10

12.
GV France rounding buoy ZOOM OUT TO SHOW southern Cross in lead
1.39



Initials BB/0240 RS/AW/BB/0300


SPORT: YACHT RACING

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Southern Cross, Australia's hope of taking the America's Cup away from the United for the first time, took a 2-0 lead on Friday (23 August) in the best of seven series against France for the right to challenge the United States for the trophy.

The Australian 12-metre aluminium-hulled yacht led all the way in light wind and showers.

At the end of the six leg 24.3 mile (39 kms) course off Newport Rhode Island the margin between the two vessels was 3 minutes 37 seconds.

The closest Baron Bich's wooden-hulled France got to Southern Cross was 55 seconds at the end of the second leg.

Southern Cross skippered by Jim Hardy pulled out to a lead of 2 minutes 31 seconds on the third leg and steadily increased it.

The wind was too light to suit the French yacht.

As in the first race Hardy beat French skipper Jean-Marie Le Guillou on the start and got off in a better position.

The winner of the France-Australia series will challenge the United States for the Cup in a best of seven series starting on September 10.

It's the 22nd challenge since the yacht America won the cup in 1851 in a race against 14 English yachts.

A third race between Southern Cross and France was abandoned because of heavy fog an hour and 40 minutes after it had begun.

In the contest to find the American defender the aluminium-hulled Courageous is leading Intrepid 3 - 1.

SYNOPSIS: Australia's America's Cup challenger Southern Cross in the foreground and the French hope France at the start of Friday's race. It was the second of a best of seven series to decide which yacht will challenge the United States.

In spite of encouragement from a passing French trawler, French skipper Jean-Marie Le Guillou got the worst of the start -- for the second time.

Southern Cross skipper Jim Hardy turned an early slender lead into more than a minute after four miles of racing in light winds off Newport, Rhode Island. Only once when the wind shifted to the south was France able to make an impact.

French supporters had to watch Southern Cross remorselessly open up a wider and wider gap as the Australians had done in the first race on Thursday.

After four of the six legs of the twenty four mile course the twelve metre aluminium-hulled Southern Cross led by three minutes fifteen seconds. The wind was too light for the French yacht.

The winner of the France-Australia series will challenge the United States for the Cup in a seven race series beginning on September the tenth. As Southern Cross sailed to a two nil lead over the French, two American yachts Courageous and intrepid are fighting for the right to defend the Cup. The Americans could face the keenest challenge they've had for many years.