'Mascalzone Latino' leads Key West regatta in Florida

Two-time world champion Mascalzone Latino, owned by Vincenzo Onorato of Italy, seized the overall lead in the Farr 40 class during the first day of the Acura Key West Regatta on Tuesday.

Onorato Mascalzone to two seconds and a third-place finish in three races. Barking Mad, owned by Jim Richardson of the US, and Mean Machine, owned by Peter de Ridder of Monaco, are tied for second.

"Leading after the first day means nothing," Onorato said. "Obviously, we want to lead after the last day."

Defending Farr 40 class winner Ernesto Bertarelli, who also won the America's Cup in July, had a disastrous day of racing in Alinghi and is in 13th place with seven more races remaining through tomorrow.

Sailing Nanoq, Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark is 11th overall in the 25-boat Farr 40 class.

■ AMERICA'S CUP

AP, VALENCIA, SPAIN

Team Origin has proposed a solution to a drawn-out feud over the next America's Cup, with its own yacht being named the new official challenger to Alinghi.

The Royal Thames Yacht Club said on Tuesday it had lodged an official challenge with the Societe Nautique de Geneve -- home club of Swiss syndicate Alinghi -- looking to replace BMW Oracle Racing if the American syndicate loses a court appeal being heard in the US.

New York State Supreme Court justice Herman Cahn was expected to rule yesterday on whether the terms of Golden Gate Yacht Club's challenge are valid. The San Francisco-based club replaced official challenger Desafio Espanol after a court ruled that the Spanish bid was invalid.

"We believe that a real window of opportunity exists to end this situation positively and quickly," Origin head Keith Mills said in a statement. "To ignore this opportunity would result in further untold damage and could lead to a potentially hollow victory, completely debasing the value of the America's Cup as the pinnacle of the sport of sailing and stunting its ability to further develop in the future."

Origin it wants to work with both Alinghi and BMW Oracle Racing in setting up a new deal that would see the 33rd edition sailed in Valencia in 2011 under the existing class of boats. Alinghi and Desafio Espanol had proposed radical changes to the yacht's design.

Alinghi Emirates Team New Zealand in July to retain the Auld Mug in what was considered one of the most exciting America's Cups in recent history.