Good breeze and protests

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

ONEWORLD (USA-67) BEAT LUNA ROSSA (ITA-74) - DELTA 00:33
OneWorld leads semi-finals over Luna Rossa by 2-1*
* Following the America's Cup Arbitration Panel decision of 9th December 2002, OneWorld Challenge must win five races to advance.

After a very close start, and neutral first beat, this race was decided approaching the leeward mark for the first time. Prada skipper Francesco de Angelis had trailed by about one boat length throughout the match, rounding the top mark 10-seconds behind.

The Italians used great downwind speed to put relentless pressure on OneWorld and helmsman James Spithill, to the point where halfway down the run, Prada was bow forward, on the inside, both boats on starboard gybe. OneWorld gybed and Prada followed, with the Americans now to windward, and in position to roll back over the Italians. Spithill gained a clear ahead position nearing the starboard gybe layline for the mark. Prada surged forward, and gained a slight overlap to leeward but didn't have luffing rights. As the Italians kept sailing past the layline, pushing OneWorld further from the mark, OneWorld skipper Peter Gilmour started shouting and waving the Y-flag to the Umpires as Prada gained a big advantage and gybed inside OneWorld to round the mark ahead.

The Umpires agreed with Gilmour, giving Prada a red-flag penalty for sailing above its proper course (Rule 17) - the red flag indicating that the Umpires thought Prada gained a controlling position and thus had to take the penalty turn immediately.

As the boats settled up the start of the second beat, OneWorld enjoyed a commanding lead after Prada discharged its penalty and the Americans held on the rest of the way to win the race.