Pre-start duel does in Oracle

Luna Rossa pinned BMW Oracle Racing to the left from the start Wednesday, then went on to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-nine Louis Vuitton Cup semifinals.

Desafio Espanol won the pre-start for the first time in three races against Emirates Team New Zealand and held on to win its first race.

The Kiwis, who were penalized for gybing too closely before the boats started on a split, lead the series, 2-1.

Luna Rossa helmsman James Spithill controlled his pre-start duel with BMW Oracle Racing skipper Chris Dickson for the third straight race as the ITA-94 yacht came in on a starboard start and held the right side as the USA-98 boat crossed slowly.

Dickson didn’t stray far from the Italians, who came around the first marker with a 29-second lead.

The Americans were faster on the downwind leg, as they have been throughout the series, making up five seconds going around the third marker as Spithill shadowed Dickson.

But the advantage was too much to make up as the Italian syndicate led around the final marker -- it has led around every marker in all three races -- and Spithill held the USA-98 yacht off for the 31-second win.

Luna Rossa had lost to BMW Oracle at the finish line in the second flight Tuesday.

“Yesterday was a tough one to swallow, but you’re never going to change the result -- it is what it is,” Spithill said. “It’s really satisfying to see the boys step up to the challenge. They delivered.”

Said BMW Oracle strategist Eric Doyle: “We’re still pretty happy with the way we sailed for the most part. They sailed as the conditions dictated.”