Azzurra wins and advances to the semi finals of Louis Vuitton

05:52 PM Thursday 18 Mar 2010 : Oceania

Azzurra leads All4One for a place in the semi final. Cathy Vercoe LuvMyBoat.com

Today team Azzurra of the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda won their match against the Franco-German team All4One in a "do-or-die" situation and was able to advance to the semifinals of the Louis Vuitton Trophy which is currently underway in Auckland. Tomorrow Azzurra will face the home team and event favourite Emirates Team New Zealand in a best-of-three series to conquer a spot in the finals. The other two teams that will battle it out in the semifinals are Mascalzone Latino Audi Team (with New Zealander skipper Gavin Brady) and Artemis (with American skipper Paul Cayard). With today's matches Team Origin and All4One were eliminated from the competition.

Francesco Bruni, skipper and helmsman of Azzurra, gave a superb display of strength in a great match sailed in a strong breeze of 20-22 knots – at the limit of what the America's Cup boats used in this event can handle and conditions in which so far the crew of Azzurra didn't shine. Today the wind on the Hauraki Gulf kept everyone waiting, forcing the organizers to modify the racing format for the second elimination round: the four teams racing today fought for a spot in the semifinals in a "sudden death" situation instead of a best of three series. So today no margin of error was allowed.

Bruni, with Tommaso Chieffi calling the tactics, went into the pre-start with a very aggressive mode and performed a perfect start inflicting a penalty on the rival crew of All4One led by three time Olympic gold medallist Jochen Schümann. Bruni recounted today's duel : "today's match was a really close and intense one, sailed in a strong breeze gusting 23 knots, and it really wasn't easy to stay ahead. We had a great start and the first upwind beat was sailed bow to bow and we had to work really hard to keep All4One behind. In the first run downwind something got caught around our rudder, which had started to vibrate a lot, and we lost quite a bit of speed. When we gybed, whatever was wrapped around the rudder cleared off and from the bottom gate on everything became a little easier – although in 22 knots of wind nothing comes easy. The crew today did an outstanding job, they maneuvered really well and I am proud of them. We are getting better each day even in stronger air and tomorrow we look forward to race against Emirates Team New Zealand."

The Swedish team Artemis defeated in a cut-throat match the British of Team Origin, helmed by three time Olympic gold medallist Ben Ainslie.

Today the 18th man on Azzurra was Edoardo Recchi, Sporting Director of the YCCS, a key figure to the success of this world-renowned Club that every year attracts the strongest fleets – ranging from stunning classic yachts to the most advanced Maxi and grand-prix racing machines – and best racing crews from the international yachting arena.

Programme for the semifinals of tomorrow, March 19

Emirates Team New Zealand vs Azzurra

Mascalzone Latino Audi Team vs Artemis

Azzurra crew

Francesco Bruni – Skipper/Helmsman

Tommaso Chieffi – Tactician

Tom Burnham – Strategist

Bruno Zirilli – Navigator

Daniele De Luca – Mainsail trimmer

Stefano Rizzi – Jib Trimmer

Pierluigi De Felice – Spi trimmer

Gabriele Bruni – Runner trimmer