Everyone expects a close Final

Friday 1st June Emirates Team New Zealand will take on luna Rossa from Italy in the first race in the final of the Louis Vuitton Cup just of the coast of Valencia, which will decide the challenger who will take on Alinghi in the America's Cup starting 23rd June. Emirates Team New Zealand and Luna Rossa will be racing until one team wins five races. This is match racing where the two boats will race for about one and a half hours around fixed marks where they can test their skill and boat speed. The first race is due to start at 15h00 and sea breezes of 10-15 knots are expected.

Emirates Team New Zealand v Luna Rossa in the final

Emirates Team New Zealand claimed the fifth win against Desafio Espanol, so will meet Luna Rossa from Italy in the finals of the Louis Vuitton Cup which starts on the 1st june. This will be the best of nine races, with the winner of the final taking on Alinghi, the cup defender in the America's Cup which starts on the 23rd June.

Luna Rossa knock BMW Oracle racing out of the cup

Luna Rossa are the first team to book a place in the final of the Louis Vuitton Cup. After controlling all the race they beat the challengers from USA by 33 seconds and thus the series by five wins to one. In the other semi final Desafio Espanol kept their hopes alive by beating Emirates new Zealand, the series in now four wins to two in favour of the Kiwi's. Monday is a rest day, racing will contine Tuesday 22nd from 15h00.

Last chance for BMW Oracle and Desafio Espanol

Something really special is happening in Valencia. A general assumption has been that in Americas Cup sailing as in Formula One racing , the team with the biggest budget wins. But we could be in for a huge upset, as in the semi finals of the Louis Vuitton Cup, which is the run up to the Americas Cup, Luna Rossa is beating the mighty BMW Oracle Racing by 4 races to one in the best of nine competition. Just one more victory from the Italians and the San Francisco based team will be sent packing and for a team with an estimated CHF 200 million or virtually limitless budget this is not what is expected. In the other semi final Emirates Team New Zealand overcame Desafio Espanol and also lead by 4 races to 1. Racing continues Sunday 20th from 15h00

Spanish and Italian's shock the favourites

The Louis Vuitton Cup came alive on wednesday afternoon when Desafio Espanol convincingly beat Emirates Team New Zealand (TNZ), for the first time in 10 tries. The score is now two wins to one in favour of TNZ. In the other match, Luna Rossa beat BMW Oracle Racing, out manouvering the American's in the important pre-start, they now lead by two wins to one. The first team to achieve five wins makes it to the final.

BMW Oracle Racing shows its speed

In ideal racing conditions, a 10-14 knot breeze with sunshine, Emirates Team New Zealand confirmed their superiority over Desafio Espanol, after taking an early lead they were never troubled, although the Spanish showed good speed downwind, 40 seconds separated the two teams at the finish. In the second match of the day the BMW Oracle Racing Team came from behind in the last leg, outspeeding the Luna Rossa team who were helpless against superior speed, although they put up a brave fight. Emirates New Zealand lead Desafio Espanol by two wins to Zero. BMW Oracle Racing are equal with Luna Rossa with one win each. The first team to win five matches makes it through to the final of the Louis Vuitton Cup.

Italians impress their boss

Each America's Cup boat is crewed by 17 sailors and an 18th man, who sits at the back, wears a different colour and is not permitted to communicate with the rest of the crew during the race. Yesterday the best seat in town on the Luna Rossa boat was occupied by the boss of Prada, Patrizio Bertelli who perhaps gave the team that extra bit of desire to win. The Italians have already beaten a challenger from the USA before. In the Louis Vuitton Cup final in 2000 in Aukland they beat America One, but went on to lose five races to zero in the America's Cup, against Team New Zealand

Emirates New Zealand and Luna Rossa draw first blood

In very challening race conditions this afternoon in Valencia, with the wind changing directions several times, Emirates Team New Zealand (TNZ) proved too strong for Desafio Espanol winning by 43 seconds the first race of the semi finals. The form book supported a TNZ victory with them winning all their previous seven meetings over the last three years. In the other semi final Luna Rossa surprised some, by convincingly beating BMW Oracle Racing by 2 mins 19 seconds, although the Americans put in a strong final downwind beat it wasnt enough, here the form book is reversed, as in the last two years the BMW oracle racing has a five to one winning record. The teams will meet again tomorrow at 15h00.

Semi Finalists to keep the same boats

The rules state that each team must nominate the boat that they will use for the semi finals 24 hours before the semi final begins ( each of these teams posses two boats) All four teams will keep to the same tried and tested boats. Racing starts at 15h00 Monday 14th, with Emirates Team New Zealand v Desafio Espanol and then BMW Oracle Racing v Luna Rossa. To qualify for the final a team must win five races.The winner of the final will be named "The Challenger" and has the right to take on Alinghi, "The Defender" in the America's Cup which starts on the 23rd June.

Alinghi, watching, learning, but giving nothing away

With 41 days to go until Alinghi start the defence of the America's Cup how are preparations proceeding for the team. Earlier today I caught up with Alinghi general manager, Grant Simmer (who is competing in his 7th America's Cup) and asked him How are things going " Very well, our focus is now on racing as opposed to developing the boat, we spent a couple of years working on the design details on the boat, but now we are racing nearly every day here in Valencia, just getting ready for our race practice so we are ready to take on the challenger"
Are your boats SUI 91 and SUI 100 giving you the results you hoped for when designing them. " Yes, both boats are performing close to our predictions, but speed is not enough alone to win the races, so we have to get our racing techniques honed up to be ready for some tight racing in the match" When will you announce who will be at the helm for the cup defence. " 24 hours before the first race and both helmsmen Ed Baird and Peter Holmberg are performing very well at the moment" When will you announce which boat you will be racing. "24 hours before the racing starts on the 23rd June as required by the rules"

Semi final pairings decided

Not surprisingly Emirates Team New Zealand who topped the louis Vuitton Cup round robin series have chosen to compete in the best of 9 flight (race) semi finals against Desafio Espanol. The Spanish team are seen as the weakest team left in the competition. The other semi final will see BMW Oracle Racing against Luna Rossa. The semi finals start on the 14th May.

Emirates Team New Zealand win the Round Robins

With the round robins now finished, seven teams are on their way home as the dream of winning the America's Cup will now have to wait until next time. Earlier this afternoon in ideal racing conditions Emirates Team New Zealand beat BMW Oracle Racing by over a minute to take the top spot. They now get to choose their opposition in the semi finals which starts on the 14th May. The smart money will be on them picking Desafio Espanol, which will leave BMW Oracle Racing against Luna Rossa from Italy.

Important top spot in the semi decided this afternoon

We now know the four teams that will be competing in the Louis Vuitton Cup semi finals. This afternoon BMW Oracle Racing take on Emirates Team New Zealand, the winner will take the top place in the rankings and will get to choose their opponent in the semi finals. This is important as it is widely agreed that three teams are head and shoulders above the others, the other team being the Spanish entry Desafio Espanol who claimed the last semi final place. In all probability the team that wins today will choose Desafio Espanol in the semi final, the looser having to tackle the highly rated Luna Rossa team from Italy. The semi finals will be raced over the best of nine flights and will start on the 14th May

Spanish team grab the last semi final place

Spanish team Desafio Espanol are the 4th team to book their place in the semi finals of the Louis Vuitton Cup. A few minutes ago Victory challenge from Sweden was beaten by Emirates Team New Zealand, guaranteeing the Spanish Team a 4th place finish in the final rankings.

Who will take the last semi final place

Today the fourth place in the Louis Vuitton Cup could be decided. If Sweden's Victory Challenge lose or Spain's Desafio Espanol win then it will be the Spanish who advance to the semi finals. This afternoon Victory Challenge will take on the Emirates Team New Zealand (A team that they have never beaten) whilst Desafio Espanol will try and beat BMW Oracle Racing (the Spanish won in the 1st round robin) A reminder, two points are awarded for a win, nothing for second place, there are two races remaining and desafio Espanol lead by three points.

Victory Challenge keep their hopes alive

Today started with Sweden's Victory Challenge having to win their three remaining races and Spain's Desafio Espanol having to loose all theirs in order that Victory Challenge could take the 4th and last remining semi final place in the Louis Vuitton Cup. It can still happen, this afternoon in ideal racing conditions (sunshine and a 12 knot breeze), Victory Challenge beat Desafio Espanol by seven seconds in one of the closest races so far. Desafio Espanol still need to face BMW Oracle and Emirates Team New Zealand (the two strongest teams) in their last two races. The 4th place could well go down to the wire.

Last place in the semi finals still available

BMW Oracle Racing , Luna Rossa and Emirates Team New Zealand have all booked their places in the semi finals of the Louis Vuitton Cup which will start on the 14th may. It now looks very likely that the home team Desafio Espanol will claim the 4th place. With three flights remaining they are 5 points ahead of Victory Challenge from Sweden (2 points are awarded per race for a win, nothing for a loss) The Spanish team have come into a fine run of form winning six of their last seven flights.

Double racing today

After yesterdays thunderstorms the teams will be racing twice each today (weather permitting). There are some big races scheduled for this afternoon in the battle for the top slot (they get to choose their opposition in the semi finals of the Louis Vuitton Cup). BWW Oracle Racing take on Luna Rossa, both teams are currently sharing 1st position with 27 points. There are also some must win races in the battle to secure 4th place (gives a semi final place) Mascalsone Latino take on United Internet Team Germany whilst Victory challenge take on +39 Challenge.

Thunder storms stop the racing today

Racing was called off today as rain and thunder storms swept over the courses today. They aren't having much luck in Valencia, this is now the 8th day that has had to be cancelled of the Louis Vuitton Cup. Unless there is a miracle we now know the name of three teams that won't be making it to the semi finals. China Team, United Internet Team Germany and +39 Challenge will all be packing their bags at the end of the second round robin series that is due to finish by the 9th of May.

Pure boat speed makes the difference

Yesterday in light winds (8-10 knots) the BMW Oracle Racing Team twice came from behind to win close races. Firstly they showed they had an extra gear when beating South African challenger Shosholoza then outspeeding Victory Challenge from Sweden overtaking them on the last downwind beat. It looks like the hundreds of millions spent on design are paying off when it really matters. The fourth place battle will go down to the wire with Desafio Espanol holding off Victory challenge with Mascalzone Latino still in the running. The top four teams at the end of Round Robin 2 (decided on the 9th May) will go forward to the semi finals of the Louis Vuitton Cup.

Too much wind so racing cancelled

After losing six days due to a lack of wind (7 knots is necessary), yesterday was cancelled due to too much wind(23 knots maximum allowed) with gusts up to 35 knots more patience is required. The weather conditions are forcast to be more clement today and with only one flight (set of races) scheduled for each day of the round robin 2 there should enough time to catch up the lost races.

Spanish public behind their team

After another two wins Desafio Espanol are now in fourth position in the Louis Vuitton Cup league table(the top four teams at the end of this round will go into the semifinals) Some say that in order that the whole event is a success local support is a must, yesterday the Spanish teams performances made the front pages of their national newspapers, so we are on the right track. Yesterday the winds reached 14 knots which was too much for some of the boats, BMW Oracle had problems with their head sail coming off its attachments (this cost them the race against China Team) and +39 had all sorts of technical problems. But for the spectators this is what we have been waiting for, to see just what these 24 tonne 24 meter long racing machines with 17 super motivated crew are capable of. After two flights of Round Robin 2. BMW Oracle Racing and Luna Rossa share the lead with 23 points, followed by Emirates Team New Zealand with 20 points and Desafio Espanol with 19.