SAILING:American challenger BMW Oracle Racing produced a superb comeback to level their Louis Vuitton Cup semi-final against Italians Luna Rossa yesterday.
Luna Rossa seemed to be heading for a 2-0 lead in the best-of-nine regatta when they held a 58-second lead early in the race but were hauled back and overtaken close to the finish.
Emirates Team New Zealand are firmly in charge of their semi-final against Spain's Desafio Espanol after winning their second race to lead 2-0. The Kiwis, skippered imperiously by Dean Barker, were always in control, crossing the finish 40 seconds ahead. The winners of each semi-final will face each other in a best-of-nine-race final for the right to challenge Swiss defenders Alinghi for the America's Cup at the end of June.
On a day of favourable winds Team New Zealand's victory was in the bag early on, so all eyes were on the titanic battle between BMW Oracle and Luna Rossa. Helmsman James Spithill pulled off a brilliant start to give Luna Rossa the jump on their rivals and they led for most of the race, although Oracle skipper Chris Dickson gradually ate into the deficit. Spithill did well to withstand a fierce Oracle attack on the approach to the third mark as a series of short, sharp tacking manoeuvres left the yachts virtually at a standstill. Luna Rossa pulled away again briefly but could not defend the lead on the final downwind leg and lost out by 13 seconds.
