Valencia: Is Desafio the nr. 4 ?

Photo (c) Nico Martinez

Three teams are now secure in their position on the leaderboard at the Louis Vuitton Cup. On Saturday, BMW Oracle Racing and Luna Rossa Challenge earned enough points to ensure the fifth place team couldn’t overhaul them. With its win on Sunday, Emirates Team New Zealand did the same. The fourth and final Semi Final spot is currently occupied by Desafío Español 2007, who earned a great win in front of a large weekend
spectator fleet on Sunday.

The Spanish have won six of their seven Round Robin Two matches to build a five point cushion over Victory Challenge, which is the only remaining challenger with a mathematical chance to beat them. The Swedish team has three matches left, with six points available. If the Swedes lose one more race, or the Spanish team earns another victory, Desafío Español will have the coveted Semi-final berth. That doesn’t mean the remaining matches for the top teams are meaningless. Just two points separate first from third and the top finisher has the right to choose its opponent for the head to head Semi Final portion of the Louis Vuitton Cup. Flight 9 is scheduled for Monday.

Flight 9
1. +39 Challenge vs. Team Shosholoza
2. China Team vs. Areva Challenge
4. Mascalzone Latino - Capitalia Team vs. BMW Oracle Racing
5. Victory Challenge vs. Desafío Español 2007
6. Luna Rossa Challenge vs. Emirates Team New Zealand

Provisional Leaders (RR1 pts - Matches Sailed RR2 - Matches Won - Total Pts)
1. BMW Oracle Racing (USA 98) 21-7-6-33
2. Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL 92) 18-7-7-32
3. Luna Rossa Challenge (ITA 94) 19-7-6-31
4. Desafío Español 2007 (ESP 97) 17-7-6-29
5. Victory Challenge (SWE 96) 14-7-5-24
6. Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia (ITA 99) 14-7-3-20
7. Team Shosholoza (RSA 83) 12-8-3-18
8. Areva Challenge (FRA 93) 9-7-2-13
9. +39 Challenge (ITA 85) 6-7-0-6
10. United Internet Team Germany (GER 89) 3-8-1-5
11. China Team (CHN 95) 1-8-1-3