Luna Rossa Challenge and BMW ORACLE Racing tied

Luna Rossa Challenge and BMW ORACLE Racing tied at the top

Valencia, 2 May, 2007 - It took two come-from-behind victories for BMW ORACLE Racing to stay equal with the red hot Luna Rossa Challenge on Wednesday on a double flight day at the Louis Vuitton Cup. The American team first trailed Shosholoza and then Victory Challenge on the first lap of its two races, before making the pass in both contests to score the points.

Luna Rossa Challenge, in contrast, had more straightforward wins over United Internet Team Germany and Shosholoza. The Italians and the Americans are tied at the top of the Louis Vuitton Cup leaderboard, equal on 27 points.

Racing took place after a short postponement in 7 to 11 knots of wind which started as a Southerly, before shifting Southeast. Flight 5 of Round Robin Two is scheduled for Thursday.

FLIGHT 3

In Round Robin One the plucky Team Shosholoza had managed to lead the powerful BMW ORACLE Racing around one lap of the course, and today, after starting equally, by the end of the first leg, Shosholoza had edged into the lead. The two boats rounded the weather mark simultaneously and the fledgling South African team managed to remain unflustered as Chris Dickson and his highly experienced crew hounded them on the run. Shosholoza led around the leeward gate by 9 seconds. However the South Africans allowed BMW ORACLE to take the left hand side and the American team found a favourable shift, pulling into the lead as the two boats came back together. Shosholoza finished the race 43 seconds behind.

The pre-start between James Spithill at the helm of Luna Rossa and triple Olympic medalist Jesper Bank on United Internet Team Germany was lively with Bank receiving a penalty as he failed to keep clear as Spithill was attempting to keep him pinned out on the wrong side of the start line. Once under way Luna Rossa outgunned the German team and extended their lead to finish 1:02 ahead after United Internet completed her penalty turn.

China Team and Victory Challenge's match was one sided as the Chinese suffered problems with their mainsail which they were unable hoist. They received two penalties in the pre-start for failing to start properly and it was only half way up the beat that they were able finally to raise their mainsail. They completed the course, but it was two easy points for the Swedes.

Elsewhere in the flight Desafío Español out-paced Areva Challenge up the first beat to make the first rounding 43 seconds ahead and despite a last minute attack from the French team, managed to win by 30 seconds. Similarly Emirates Team New Zealand made its win against +39 Challenge look relatively easy, taking the win by 45 seconds, with Formula One legend Michael Schumacher in the 18th man position at the back of the boat.

FLIGHT 4

In its match with Areva Challenge, Emirates Team New Zealand led by a small margin around the entire course, eventually winning by 59 seconds. In a similar style match, Team Shosholoza was unable to repeat its Round Robin One win over Luna Rossa, the Italian team winning by 25 seconds, while United Internet Team Germany had a comfortable win over China Team.

After its close Flight 3 race with Team Shosholoza, BMW ORACLE Racing also trailed around the race course for much of its match against Victory Challenge. Despite a tacking battle up the first beat, the Swedish team managed to lead at the top mark by 13 seconds. They stayed ahead for the next two legs showing good pace and defensive play against the powerful American team. On the approach to the weather mark for the second time, once again with BMW ORACLE Racing came in along the port tack layline with Victory Challenge roaring in from starboard. This time Dickson successfully managed to get the hook on the Swedes, sailing them off the course before luffing hard. After peeling back, the two boats sailed the nerve-racking final run neck and neck. In the end it was BMW ORACLE Racing which prevailed, winning by just 14 seconds in the second lucky escape of the day for Chris Dickson and his men.

Having suffered five consecutive losses, Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia Team entered its one race today with a new helmsman - New Zealander Cameron Dunn, taking the wheel from Flavio Flavini. The replacement took the wheel after starting helmsman Jes Gram-Hansen managed to push Desafío Español 2007 to the wrong side of the Race Committee boat causing the Spanish to start 11 seconds late. The situation remained the same with the Mascalzone Latino holding the advantage, despite a lengthy tacking duel up the beat. The Spanish team closed on the run to round on Mascalzone's transom, but the Italians managed to keep their nose ahead around the second lap to finish 35 seconds in front putting a stop to their string of losses.

Louis Vuitton Cup - Wednesday's matches

FLIGHT 3

Match

Team

Delta

1

Desafío Español 2007 beat Areva Challenge