Today it put together one of its more poised and tactically sound efforts to defeat Nippon Challenge by 1:33.

Japan's Nippon Challenge, which rallied after a poor start, is fifth.

Stars and Stripes is now in a tie for third place with the Nippon Challenge, which defeated America True by 1:20 today.

This time around, only Japan's Nippon Challenge plans to be in San Diego by winter.

On Sunday, it had beaten Nippon Challenge by nearly a minute in its opening semifinal race.

(The only exception was Nippon Challenge, which did so once in December.)

The other, the Nippon Challenge of Tokyo, has refused.

Fueled by a $40 million budget, the Nippon Challenge has the support of 30 Japanese companies, and some of the best technology in the world.

A fourth team, Japan's Nippon Challenge, protested at the end of the day but was overruled by the event jury.

Eleven challengers are left, including another team from Japan, the Nippon Challenge.