Sailing: Wind conditions have silver lining for British

The Mediterraneans from Italy showed how to take chances in the light and treacherous conditions of the Louis Vuitton Cup series, but only one of them could bank a point at the end of a frustrating day. For which the British were grateful as they had been staring at defeat to one of the least fancied of the nine challengers for the America's Cup, the Naples-based Mascalzone Latino.

Only the struggling giants from Italy, Prada, gleaned any satisfaction as they took a tactical gamble to overturn the big lead that had been established against them by Sweden's Victory Challenge, saw the breeze hold just long enough to allow them to finish within the time limit, and score only their second win in five outings.

GBR Challenge were out of it after a horror show of a pre-start, which left Wight Lightning rooted to the spot. The Italians were 14 seconds ahead rounding the first upwind mark and there followed some fairly ambitious rolls of the tactical dice, some of which put Britain in front, some of which left them out of touch and behind when the race was abandoned. The Britishalso had gear failure again – this time it was the spinnaker halyard winch – but paid a double price through injury to Jonathan Taylor. Bruising to his right hand and left rib cage may well keep him off the boat today.