Emirates Team New Zealand into the final with Oracle

Emirates Team New Zealand has gone through to the final of the Dubai Louis Vuitton Trophy regatta.

The team has now made the finals in all five regattas.

The team scored two good wins over Mascalzone Latino and will face BMWOracle tomorrow in the final.

Oracle beat the French-German syndicate ALL4ONE 2-nil in their semi-final.

Emirates Team New Zealand will sail the first race in NZL92, Oracle in NZL84. Oracle has starboard entry.

Skipper Dean Barker says Oracle has sailed well all the regatta and is the form team: “We have been getting better every day and we’re confident that we will perform tomorrow. We’re looking forward to some good hard racing.”

Strategist Adam Beashel spent his semi-final races up the rig, looking for breeze. Tactician Ray Davies described conditions as tricky: “It was very hard to see what was going on the water.”

“Two wins from two races today were a good result... we came from behind three times. The boys kept their composure under pressure and the communication on board were great.

“We were patient and took the opportunities when they presented themselves.”

Today’s first semi-final match against Mascalzone Latino was a thriller. The race was tight from the start, with Virtual Eye telemetry showing a small advantage first to New Zealand, then the Italians who found some good breeze in the right and led around the top mark by 22s.

New Zealand attacked on the run, gaining overlap and snatching the lead at the leeward gate. Barker took the left-hand mark. It was a good call as New Zealand sailed into a lift and more pressure on the left. The ETNZ lead was 13s at mark 3 and extended to 28s at the finish.

In race 2, Mascalzone Latino claimed the right at the start and was leading near the top of the beat. Barker got out to the right and used the starboard advantage sailing into the mark.

Mascalzone attempted to tack, but New Zealand was between them and the mark, forcing him away. The Italians were penalised for failing to keep clear as Barker bore off and led around from the mark with a 14 second lead. Italy kept it close but finished 22s behind, still carrying the penalty.

This morning four Emirates Team New Zealand chase boats packed with New Zealanders took part in a moving ceremony to commemorate the miners lost at Pike River mine. Team managing director Grant Dalton placed a wreath in the sea off Dubai marina.

Dalton said the ceremony seemed a fitting way to provide a focus for New Zealanders who had watched the tragedy unfold from afar.