Emirates Team New Zealand ready for battle

Luna Rossa Challenge and Emirates Team New Zealand ready for battle

Valencia, 31 May, 2007 - The Final of the Louis Vuitton Cup begins on Friday, with Emirates Team New Zealand pitched against Italy's Luna Rossa Challenge. The winner of the 'first to five' Final will win the Louis Vuitton Cup and advance to the America's Cup Match against Alinghi.

On Thursday, the teams had a final day of preparation and afterguard members Terry Hutchinson (ETNZ) and Andy Horton (Luna Rossa Challenge) met the media at the opening press conference. Luna Rossa Challenge won the coin toss, and will start Friday's race as the 'yellow' boat with starboard tack entry to the start box. The teams will alternate starboard entry each successive race.

"Our team is feeling pretty good. We've had four or five days off in the last week and a half," said Luna Rossa's Andy Horton. "We've kept our training in-house and we've had some good practice, some good starts and races.working on some of things we learned we weren't sharp enough on in the Semi Finals."

Both teams will compete with the same boats they used in the Semi Finals. Luna Rossa Challenge will race ITA 94, and Emirates Team New Zealand will sail NZL 92.

The teams are expecting close racing. Each has a 2-2 record against the other dating back to Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 10 last May. In the Round Robins of the Louis Vuitton Cup, the teams split their two matches. The team with starboard tack entry to the start has won all four matches.

"Obviously, Luna Rossa is an excellent team with great sailors throughout," said Terry Hutchinson, tactician on NZL 92. "We have to take it one start, one beat, one leg and one race at a time and look for opportunities within the races to capitalise on subtle mistakes they might make. Those opportunities might be few and far between, so we've put a lot of emphasis on things that will ensure us the first cross and early control of the race."

The weather forecast is calling for sea breeze condition over the next few days, with winds from nine to 14 knots. Racing is scheduled to start at 15:00, with the first warning signal at 14:50.

Louis Vuitton Cup - Final

(The first team to win five points in each pairing advances)

Team

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

Total

Luna Rossa Challenge

0

Emirates Team New Zealand

0

______________

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Since 1851, the America's Cup has transcended the sport of sailing to become a symbol of the pursuit of excellence. Offical partners LOUIS VUITTON, ENDESA, SANTANDER, ALCATEL - LUCENT and the America's Cup share a heritage rich in passion, innovation and extraordinary achievement. The 32nd America's Cup enjoys the support of Nespresso, Adecco, Ford, El Corte Inglés, Estrella Damm, Grupo Leche Pascual, Coca-Cola and Vodafone.

Racing for the 32nd America's Cup began with a series of Louis Vuitton Acts in 2004, 2005 and 2006 across Europe. It will end in 2007. Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 13 - Fleet Racing - (April 3 to 7) preceded the Louis Vuitton Cup challenger selection series (April 16 - June 12). The winner will race the Defender, Alinghi, in the 32nd America's Cup Match beginning June 23, 2007.

 
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