Challenger for America’s Cup

Thanks to a helping hand from Emirates Team New Zealand on Tuesday, Desafio Espanol of Spain clinched the last semifinal berth in the Louis Vuitton Cup sailing series that will determine the challenger for the America’s Cup at Valencia, Spain. The Spanish boat will join BMW Oracle of the United States, New Zealand and Luna Rossa of Italy in the semifinals.

* Highlights: New Zealand boosted Desafio Espanol into the semis by beating Sweden’s Victory Challenge, which needed to win to stay alive. The Kiwis got off to a slow start and fell behind the Swedes but overtook the Swedish boat on the first downwind leg and won by 34 seconds.

* Lowlights: Desafio Espanol could have earned the fourth spot in the semis on its own by beating BMW Oracle, the leading boat in the series, but USA-98 got off the line first and beat the Spanish boat by 55 seconds.

* Oracle: The American boat maintained its one-point lead over New Zealand with one race left in the second round robin.

* What’s next: BMW Oracle and New Zealand will race today for first place in the final flight, the series winner getting to pick its opponent for the semifinals, which will begin Monday and run through May 24.

* Quote of the day: “There are so many Kiwis on our boat that [today’s] race was always going to matter. That’s for hometown bragging rights for a lot of the boys.” -- Tactician Eric Doyle of BMW Oracle.

*--* STANDINGS Boat Pts 1. BMW Oracle Racing 37 2. Emirates Team New Zealand 36 3. Luna Rossa Challenge 33 4. Desafio Espanol 2007 29 5. Victory Challenge 26 6. Mascalzone Latino 20

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