Saturday, May 19, 2007

Italy "Luna Rossa" bests USA BMW Oracle AGAIN in 5th Race, Now Leads 4-1

The ANNOTICO Report

I am trying to keep a reign on my enthusiasm, because strange  things happen in sports.

"Luna Rossa" won the 4th race because USA broke a mast. "Luna Rossa" won the 5th race because USA incurred TWO Penalties.

But Italy's "Luna Rossa" need win only ONE more Race of the Next Four, and USA has to Win them ALL to  go to the Vuitton Finals!!

Race 6 of the series is scheduled for Sunday.

Italy pushes USA to brink of Elimination at America's Cup

The Sports Network

Saturday, May 19, 2007

Valencia, Spain (Sports Network) - Luna Rossa of Italy and Emirates Team from New Zealand are on a collision course for the Challenger finals at the America's Cup, each taking 4-1 leads in their respective best-of-nine series Saturday.

Luna Rossa downed BMW Oracle of the United States, initially trailing in Race 5 after leading from start to finish during Race 4.

The Italians trailed at the outset, but two costly penalties against the Americans put Luna Rossa in front by 25 seconds after the first leg. The Italians added to their lead at every mark thereafter, cruising to a one- minute, 57-second victory that left the Americans in dire straits on the waters off Valencia.

Race 6 of the series is scheduled for Sunday.

Emirates Team New Zealand took a 4-1 lead in the other Challenger semifinal with a wire-to-wire victory over Desafio Espanol of Spain. The Kiwis improved on their victory on Friday, dominating from the beginning en route to a one- minute, 49-second win.

The winners of the two semifinals will square off in the Challenger finals from June 1-11 for the right to take on defending America's Cup champion Alinghi, from Switzerland, in a best-of-nine championship set starting June 23.

Unlike Friday, the Americans won the start Saturday, beating Luna Rossa to the line by 10 seconds, but two penalties ended early hopes. BMW Oracle racing skipper Chris Dickson attempted to cross ahead of the starboard tack Luna Rossa Challenge, but judges ruled the Luna Rossa skipper James Spithill had to take evasive action, drawing the first penalty.

Dickson tried to build up speed with the boats side by side on port tack, swinging the stern into the side of the Italian boat. That resulted in the second infraction, allowing the Italians to take advantage.

Luna Rossa gained 35 seconds by the end of the first leg then added 23 seconds on the downwind leg, which had been BMW Oracle's strength throughout the series.

The lead grew to 54 seconds before the boats headed for home, and the Italians conservatively cruised to victory.

Team New Zealand again left little doubt, inching out in front at the start by one second then building a 35-second cushion by the end of the first leg. Going downwind, New Zealand piled 20 more seconds onto its lead, and the edge grew past one minute to 75 seconds by the end of the third leg.

It was homeward bound for the Emirates Team from there.

http://www.sportsnetwork.com/default.asp?c

=sportsnetwork&page=other/news/AON4079527.htm

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