SAILING/America's Cup:Alinghi beat Team New Zealand by 19 seconds in one of the most dramatic races of the America's Cup yesterday to take a 3-2 lead in the best-of-nine series.

The Kiwis crossed the line first and led up the first beat to turn the top mark 12 seconds ahead.

But as they were heading downwind, they spotted a hole in their bright red spinnaker. Just as they were getting ready to hoist a new kite, the 500-square-metre spinnaker ripped in two and flew into the air. The second spinnaker turned out not to be tied on properly so as it went up, it also flicked out, fluttering from the top of the mast like a flag.

Number three came out but as they hoisted it, this one got tangled halfway up, turning into a big "wineglass". They eventually untwisted the third spinnaker and cut the other two free, dropping them in the water, but all to no avail.