AMERICA’S CUP DAILY REPORT : CHALLENGER TRIALS : France Holds Off Italy’s Late Charge

In the seventh and final day of Round One of the challengers’ Louis Vuitton Cup, Il Moro di Venezia and Ville de Paris took off on a race that upstaged the 23 others--throw in the 18 defender races as well--that preceded it.

In the closest encounter yet of the challenger trials, underdog France held off Italy’s 20 nautical-mile charge to score a 25-second victory and send the Italians tumbling from the top of the standings.

Going into Round Two, which will start Feb. 13, Nippon and New Zealand have six victories apiece; France and Italy have five each; Spirit of Australia, and Tre Kronor have three, two and one apiece; and Challenge Australia is winless. In Sunday’s only other match, New Zealand scored a 4-minute 34-second victory over Espana.

Skipper Marc Pajot and his crew began celebrating immediately after Ville de Paris crossed the finish line.

“It’s true, today was a good race,” Pajot said. “We learned a lot from tacking . . . but we are also happy today to beat the world champions,” a title the Italians won in San Diego in May.

Said Il Moro skipper Paul Cayard: “We were behind the whole day, and couldn’t quite get around them.”