Alinghi takes 4-1 series lead

AUCKLAND, New Zealand — Switzerland's Alinghi moved within a victory of advancing to the America's Cup final, erasing Oracle's early lead and winning by 13 seconds yesterday.

The victory gave Alinghi a 4-1 lead over the yacht from San Francisco in the best-of-nine Louis Vuitton Cup. The winner faces New Zealand for the championship in the world's most prestigious sailing event. The Swiss boat could advance as soon as tomorrow, when the sixth race is contested.

Alinghi's pit man, American Josh Belsky, said the crew was confident despite trailing after the opening leg.

"The leadership on our boat is one of never get upset, never think we're out of it," he said. "Those guys don't quit, and what they do is they give us a feeling of confidence that if we keep sailing as hard as we can we know we're never out of it."

Late in the race, it became apparent that the crew would not be forced to analyze defeat.

"We're going really well here," Alinghi's skipper, Russell Coutts, said as his yacht sliced through the water and headed for victory.

"It's rock and roll," tactician Brad Butterworth said.

Although Alinghi won the start, Oracle led after the first mark by 28 seconds. But Alinghi eroded one second off that margin after the second leg and trailed by 10 seconds at the midway point of the 18.5-nautical-mile race.

Alinghi took the lead during the fourth of six legs, a downwind run that should have favored Oracle. The Swiss yacht was ahead by nine seconds after that leg and 16 seconds after the next one.

Oracle was able to reduce the advantage by only three seconds in the final segment.

Peter Holmberg had Oracle's wheel for the third straight race, and syndicate head Larry Ellison, scheduled as 17th man, came off the boat for the second consecutive day because of light winds.