Friday, Jun 01, 2007

Dubai: The final of the Louis Vuitton Cup begins today with Emirates Team New Zealand pitched against Italy's Luna Rossa Challenge.

The winner of the "first-to-five" final will win the Louis Vuitton Cup and advance to the America's Cup Match against Alinghi later this month.

Yesterday, the two teams had a final day of preparation and afterguard members Terry Hutchinson (ETNZ) and Andy Horton (Luna Rossa Challenge) met the media at the opening press conference.

Luna Rossa Challenge won the coin toss, and will start today's race as the "yellow" boat with starboard tack entry to the start box. The teams will alternate starboard entry each successive race.

"Our team is feeling pretty good. We've had four or five days off in the last week and a half," said Luna Rossa's Andy Horton. "We've kept our training in-house and we've had some good practice, some good starts and races working on some of the things we learned we weren't sharp enough on in the semifinals."

Both teams will compete with the same boats they used in the semifinals. Luna Rossa Challenge will race ITA 94, and Emirates Team New Zealand will sail NZL 92.

Close racing

The teams are expecting close racing. Each has a 2-2 record against the other, dating back to Louis Vuitton Act 10 last year in May. In the round robins, the teams split their two matches. The team with starboard tack entry to the start has won all four matches.

"Obviously, Luna Rossa is an excellent team with great sailors throughout," said Terry Hutchinson, tactician on NZL 92.

Paul Cayard expects even battle

Former Americas Cup winning skipper Paul Cayard expects an even battle between Emirates Team New Zealand and Luna Rossa off the Valencia coast, starting today.

"I think we are going to witness a great Louis Vuitton Final. I expect the series between Luna Rossa and Emirates Team New Zealand will go 8 or 9 races. I expect the two boats to perform fairly evenly. It will be a battle of nerves and pressure. Team unity and strength will play a role in races 7-9," Cayard said before the start of the final yesterday.

Gulf News 2007. All rights reserved.