Challenge for America’s Cup

BMW Oracle Racing clinched a place in the Louis Vuitton Cup semifinals with a win over French team Areva Challenge on Saturday in Valencia, Spain. The Louis Vuitton Cup will decide which of the 11 challengers will sail against America’s Cup champion Alinghi in the finals from June 23 to July 4.

* Highlights: Italian syndicate Luna Rossa also clinched a semifinal spot and stayed tied with BMW Oracle Racing at the top with 31 points by winning its seventh-flight match race against +39 Challenge on the southern “Juliet” course. Desafio Espanol maintained its hold on the fourth and final semifinal place by following its victory over Shosholoza with a win over Mascalzone Latino of Italy in a re-sail of a fourth-flight race that was thrown out after a successful protest by the Spanish team.

* Lowlights: After the Desafio Espanol-Mascalzone Latino race, the Spanish team gestured toward the Italian boat, with Desafio Espanol tactician John Cutler appearing to make a derogatory sign as celebrations turned sour. “What they did speaks for themselves,” Mascalzone Latino skipper Vasco Vascotto said. Cutler “doesn’t know what sportsmanship is. He doesn’t deserve to wear the Spanish colors for this competition.”

* What’s ahead: The semifinals will be raced May 14-24.

* Quote of the day: “We are very happy to be through to the semifinals. It is only one step on a long journey and we know there is still a lot of work to do.” -- BMW Oracle Racing navigator Peter Isler

*--* STANDINGS Boat Pts 1t. BMW Oracle Racing 31 1t. Luna Rossa Challenge 31 3. Emirates Team New Zealand 30 4. Desafio Espanol 2007 27 5. Victory Challenge 22 6. Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia 20 7. Team Shosholoza 16

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