Good breeze and protests

Day three of the Louis Vuitton semi-finals brings excitment on the Hauraki Gulf

ALINGHI (SUI-64) BEAT USA-76 - DELTA 00:46
Alinghi leads Oracle BMW Racing by 3-0

Chris Dickson back at the helm of Oracle BMW took the fight to his old adversary in the pre-start, but it was Russell Coutts and the Alinghi team that came out on top with a perfectly timed run in to the start.

Much to the anguish of Dickson, Alinghi managed to sail right over the face of USA-76 and 'locked out' the American team down to leeward. Dickson tacked twice and managed to wriggle clear of the close cover from Alinghi and found a small right shift out on the right hand side of the course.

To the surprise of the Alinghi afterguard Oracle BMW was able to pass ahead of the Swiss on starboard tack as the boats converged. Alinghi tacked just to leeward and this time is was Coutts' turn to be 'locked' to leeward and Dickson showed great fortitude, taking Alinghi all the way to the port tack lay line and beyond before tacking for the mark. Coutts was forced to follow all the way to the windward mark and rounded nine seconds behind Dickson.

Oracle BMW did well to hold off the advances of the Swiss boat in an exciting run, with the boats just seconds apart. Alinghi opted for an asymmetric spinnaker, whilst USA-76 went for a more manoeuvrable symmetric kite, but the difference in boat speed was negligible in the 17 knot winds.

The American's clung firmly to the lead until the final beat when Coutts' team struck back after sniffing out a small left shift as a rain cloud passed to the left of the race course.

This time the Alinghi team was elated when it realised it had recaptured the
lead and thereafter covered Dickson's every move to the finish line.