Louis Vuitton Act 12 - Day 10 - Preview: Semi-finals and finals

Good morning from Valencia where the sunny and bright skies are prevailing once again. The weather forecast calls for conditions similar to the ones seen yesterday and the usual sea breeze will reach 10 to 14 knots. Just like yesterday, both race areas will be squeezed on the north race course, setting up the scenery for an excellent show for the thousands of Spanish and foreign tourists that started flocking to Valencia in this first day of summer holidays. As always, you can click here to read the excelent forecast from Chris Bedford, meteorologist of BMW Oracle.

Today's race schedule consists of the remaining semi-finals as well as the first finals and petit-finals in each division.

First Division

Alinghi has secured its place in the finals after yesterday's thrilling double victory over Luna Rossa. Emirates Team New Zealand and BMW Oracle are tied with one victory each at the semi-finals and as a result they will have to complete one race today. The winner will face Alinghi in the final for the first place of the first division (and of course Louis Vuitton Act 12), while the loser will race Luna Rossa for third and fourth place.

Second Division

Mascalzone Latino - Capitalia Team also advances to the final, having easily beaten Victory Challenge twice. The Swedish team's protest was dismissed, leaving the ground clear for the Italians. Desafío Español and Shosholoza will have to race once again after their very close tie yesterday. The winner will face Mascalzone Latino - Capitalia Team for first place in the devision and the loser will race Victory Challenge for third and fourth place.

Third Division

The situation is much clearer in the last division. Areva Challenge and +39 Challenge will have to race to decide the winner of the division. Both teams beat considerably easily their opponents yesterday, United Internet Team Germany and China Team, who in turn will fight very hard to avoid the unpleasant title of last in Louis Vuitton Act 12.