SAILING/America's Cup:Holders Alinghi bounced back in the America's Cup yesterday and levelled the best-of-nine series 2-2, beating New Zealand by 30 seconds but then faced a protest from the Kiwis about their boat's rig.

Team New Zealand lodged the protest against Alinghi over the way its mainsail is attached when it is hoisted up the mast.

Earlier, race officials had inspected Alinghi's SUI100 and Team New Zealand's NZL92 as the boats returned to port following a race which Alinghi had led from the start.

"The jury will hear the protest regarding the halyard lock at 11.00 (10.00 Irish time) on Thursday," an America's Cup official said.

The race jury can impose a range of sanctions if a team is found to have violated a technical regulation, ranging from a fine to deducting a point, a resail or ultimately disqualification from the America's Cup.

Today is a "lay" or rest day for the crews, with racing scheduled to resume at noon (Irish time) tomorrow.

The Kiwis had tried everything to get past the defending Swiss-led syndicate of Swiss billionaire Ernesto Bertarelli.

Bertarelli's crew, who had lost two races in a row, had defended their early lead impressively, frustrating Team New Zealand's attempts in an almost flawless demonstration of match racing.

Sailing through choppy waters, the teams were neck and neck on the first windward leg, with the Kiwis matching Alinghi for speed and direction as the early Swiss lead ebbed and flowed.

Alinghi tacked first, with the Kiwis carrying on slightly further to make the first mark. But Alinghi managed to preserve its lead and reached it 20 seconds ahead of NZL92.

At the halfway mark, Alinghi lost speed but still rounded 34 seconds ahead as Team New Zealand went for the left-hand mark.

The two headed off on the second upwind leg in opposite directions but Alinghi tacked to bring the boats on to the same line and into a tacking duel towards the final mark.

This left them to chase down the final downwind leg, criss-crossing the course in search of advantage but unable to replicate the stunning surge they managed on Tuesday to beat Alinghi in the final stages of a classic race.