A place in the Semi-finals
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It is a logical conclusion. The four biggest budgets in the competition have their places in the Louis Vuitton Cup semi-finals. Emirates Team New Zealand, the series winner arrived on top of the classification in front of BMW Oracle, Luna Rossa Challenge and Desafio Español.
ACM © Vicent Bosch
There have been battles, exciting regattas and suspense, but it is logically economics, which carry the biggest weight in this first stage of the Louis Vuitton Cup. The order of competition’s classification corresponds, with the exception of the German team, with the level of each team’s budget.
For the semi-finals, the format of the races is different: run in pairs of two “head to head” and the best of five races. A team receives a point for each victory, and the first team to get 5 points qualifies for the finals. In winning the top of the classification against the Americans, the New Zealand team benefits from the special privilege of choosing their adversary.
A few hours after the end of the regatta, the Kiwis announced they would choose to face off against the Spanish. In the press conference given on victory night, Dean Barker, the New Zealand skipper declared, “choosing your adversary is like choosing your own poison”, even if there is no doubt that the Kiwis have chosen their adversary, considered weaker, to be sure of gaining their place in the finals. In doing so, BMW Oracle will now face Luna Rossa Challenge. This match promises to offer a few historic races and with no team holding back. The four competitors have a four-day rest period to recuperate, but moreover to modify their boats and attempt to better their performance. They will take up competition again Monday May 14th
Currently, Alinghi, the defender, is training intensively alone 7 days a week and everyone has been heard to say that they will be very difficult to beat, especially after the convincing way they dominated the Challengers in the fleet racing of Act XIII. On the Valencia docks, the persistent rumor is: the Swiss have invented an revolutionary keel.. True or false? What is sure is that Bertarelli´s team is working on their boat in the hangar. To be continued...and rendez vous on Monday!
Estimated Budgets for the 32nd America´s Cup
The top four budgets are the top four qualified challengers
Emirates Team New Zealand: 60-70 million euros
BMW Oracle : 150-200 million euros
Luna Rossa Challenge : 85 million euros
Desafio espanol : 70 million euros
Eliminated teams
Victory Challenge : 50 million euros
Mazcalzone Latino : 65 million euros
Shosholoza : 25-30 million euros
Areva : 20 million euros
+ 39 : 20 million euros
United Team Germany : 50 million euros
China-Team : 14 million euros
Fdb/Lh
Valencia, May 13 2007