60798    The Liberty won the first race by 1 minute 10 seconds and had a 3-1 lead overall, needing four wins for the victory.

60799    With only one more win to go a miracle occurred.

60800    Bertrand picked up the 5th race as carelessness proved fatal for Conner, who had been in the lead.

60801    Bertrand tied the competition in the sixth race by deftly maneuvering the wind, and then won the last race by a mere 41 seconds.

60802    A new challenge began for Conner as he tasted his first defeat.

60803    He came back in the 26th Cup as the skipper of the Stars and Stripes.

60804    He recaptured the America's Cup, winning all four races against the Cup Defender, the Kookaburra III of Australia.

60805    Looking back, Conner declared, "The Cup just took a little journey," but nevertheless Bertrand had been absent from the competition.

60806    Thus, if they clash this time, it will be the deciding battle capping 12 years of rivalry.

60807    Conner of the Stars and Stripes, Bertrand of One Australia.

60808    Of course, first there are the Louis Vuitton and Citizen Cups standing in their way...

60809    Bill Koch, the owner of the victorious America3, became instantly famous in the previous Cup Regatta.

60810    When Koch's name was announced as a challenger in the 1990 Defender's Cup, it did not generate much fear on the part of the other competitors.

60811    Even though he had become famous as an entrepreneur, he was not thought to have what it takes to reach the pinnacle of the America's Cup.

60812    Nevertheless, Koch, believing in the theory that "sailing is science," looked to advanced technology to meet all his needs in his Cup challenge, including the boat, sailing and management.