Valencia 7th May, 2007. Earlier this week the Swedish Victory Challenge needed to win her remaining three matches in Round Robin Two to have any hope of qualifying for the Semi Finals of the Louis Vuitton Cup. Then, on Monday ‘Victory Challenge’ beat the team they are chasing, ‘Desafío Español 2007′. Each team now has two matches left. Any combination of either a Spanish win or Swedish loss will see the Spanish ‘Desafío Español 2007′ in the Semi Final. It is likely then that ‘Desafío Español’ will gain the fourth semi-final position. ‘BMW Oracle Racing’, ‘Emirates team New Zealand’ and ‘Luna Rossa Challenge’ appear to have secured their positions as semi finalists.In other matches, Emirates Team New Zealand beat ‘Luna Rossa Challenge’. ‘BMW ORACLE Racing’ is one point ahead, and will face the Kiwis on the final day, potentially with first place on the line. Conditions off Valencia were good with 10 to 12 knot South Easterlies providing ideal racing conditions.

FLIGHT 9

‘Desafío Español’ went for the right at the start. However, ‘Victory Challenge’ made the faster start to the left, and when they tacked the Swedes had a small edge. On ‘Victory Challenge’ Magnus Holmberg gained a small lead around the top mark and extended down the run. After some gybes it was ‘Desafío Español’ that closed the gap towards the leeward gate. The Swedes may have left it late to drop their spinnaker and when they attempted to bring it down, it flew out to leeward and fell into the water. With ‘Desafío Español’ just seconds behind, there was a narrow gap between the leeward mark and the spinnaker now floating on the surface. The Spanish flew the protest flag. However ‘Victory Challenge’ defended their lead successfully up the final beat, but again looked shaky down the final run. Gybing late for the finish, it seemed for a moment like the faster Spanish boat might go ahead, but ‘Victory Challenge’ crossed the finishing line 7 seconds ahead of ‘Desafío Español’.

‘+39 Challenge’ had yet to win in Round Robin Two, and it seemed unlikely they would win against ‘Shosholoza’. It was ‘+39 Challenge’ with Iain Percy leading off the start line. After that they were a boatlength ahead and Percy managed to cross clear ahead of Paola Cian at the first cross, claiming the right-hand side of the course. ‘+39 Challenge’ extended to a surprisingly comfortable 50 second win over the South Africans.

The race between ‘BMW ORACLE Racing’ and ‘Mascalzone Latino’ was a duel between two of the best starters in the business. It looked as though Jes Gram-Hansen had got the better of Chris Dickson. Appearing as though he was shut out above the starboard layline, Dickson bore away for a last-gasp attempt at hooking his bow around the stern of the Italian boat. He never managed the hook, but he got close enough to scare the black boat over the line two seconds early. By the time the Italian boat had re-started, the Americans were long gone, racing away to a 57 second victory.

Both Emirates Team New Zealand and Luna Rossa Challenge started well and fought for control up the windward leg, throwing 33 tacks at each other. The Kiwis seemed to have a slight edge of speed in the 13 knot breeze, and by the top of the beat they had used that advantage to carry the Italians past the starboard layline. From there the Kiwis controlled the match for a 36-second win.

Areva and China Team both started well, but the speed difference soon became apparent as the French sailors moved to an untroubled lead, extending to 3 minutes 3 seconds by the finish.

Ranking after LVC RR2 Flight 9