Challenge for America’s Cup
Emirates Team New Zealand clinched a place in the semifinals of the Louis Vuitton Cup on Sunday with a victory over China Team in Valencia, Spain. BMW Oracle Racing of the U.S. and Luna Rossa of Italy have also ensured a place in the last four. The Louis Vuitton Cup will decide which challenger will sail against America’s Cup champion Alinghi in the finals from June 23 to July 4.
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Highlights: Fourth-place Desafio Espanol moved to within one victory of clinching the final spot in the semifinals, which run from May 14 to 24, by beating United Internet Team Germany on the northern “Romeo” course by 1 minute 8 seconds. Desafio Espanol takes on fifth-place Victory Challenge of Sweden today.
* Lowlights: The Desafio Espanol win eliminated Mascalzone Latino of Italy, which lost at the finish line to Shosholoza of South Africa.
* Oracle: BMW Oracle Racing of the U.S. stayed at the top of the America’s Cup challengers series with a victory over +39 Challenge of Italy by 53 seconds on the southern “Juliet” course.
* What’s ahead: The New Zealanders must win their last three races, including one against the Americans, to finish first in this early series.
* Quote of the day: “It was quite nice to have a relatively easy day today going into the big money races in the next few days. It would be quite an advantage to be number one -- to get to choose your opposition is obviously a nice place to be in,” said Ray Davies, strategist of the Emirates Team New Zealand, on the importance of the top spot.
*--* STANDINGS Boat Pts 1. BMW Oracle Racing 33 2. Emirates Team New Zealand 32 3. Luna Rossa Challenge 31 4. Desafio Espanol 2007 29 5. Victory Challenge 24 6. Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia 20 7. Team Shosholoza 18
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Source: Associated Press