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Firstly before I update the semi finals standings after the first 3 races, I’ll take a moment to change the music. A little bit of Jennifer Lopez to liven things up sounds good to me with her current single in spanish ”Que hiciste?” (”What did you do?”).

Anyway, back to the sailing. Unfortunately I haven’t been able to post regularly this week but I think it’s time to give an update, and things couldn’t be closer.

After 3 races both semi final pairings stand at 2-1 with Lunna Rosa looking very strong against BMW ORACLE Racing, beating them in the first and third races and being ahead during most of the second race only to be pipped on the line. The Americans are gonna have their work cut out if they are to win this semi final and fight for the right to challenge the Alinghi by winning the final. Lunna Rosa have definately come strong at the right time, and technically have raced three excellent flights.

In the other semi final, again it’s 2-1 this time in favour of Emirates Team New Zealand, which in the first two flights dominated the Desafio Español from start to finish who tried to influence Lady Luck by picking spanish King Juan Carlos on the Monday and his son Prince Felipe on the Tuesday. But Lady Luck obviously isn’t a monarchist and the better boat won both legs. On Wednesday, however, the spanish got a fabulous start forcing the kiwis to be penalised and then managing to get advantage at the start and holding them off right until the end. The New Zealanders tried to catch up but the Desafio was able to out sail them and keep advantage of the wind building up over a minute by the end. Of course the Emirates also had the penalty to pay, which means they have to turn a whole 360º on themselves at some point in the race which they did right on the finish line when all was lost.

So, it’s 2-1 and 2-1 meaning that at least another three days of sailing will be needed to find the two finalists, and if things remain this tight then we could go all the way with another six days.