Louis Vuitton Cup - Semifinals - Day 1: Preview

Good morning from very windy Valencia !!!

Here we are, after three years, the countdown to the America's Cup match has started. It's getting difficult to get used to the idea that Port America's Cup will only have 5 active teams, Alinghi and the four semifinalists of the Louis Vuitton Cup.

Form now on, racing will start approximately an hour later than what has been the rule so far, with the first warning signal given at 14:50. As we said yesterday, the schedule is to alternate three racing days with one off, until both semifinals are through. Today's first match is the Italian-American battle, facing Luna Rossa and BMW Oracle, while the second one, is obviously Desafío Español against Emirates Team NZ. The order will be rotating every day as will the prestart entry side of the boats in each match.

Racing statistics so far in the 32nd America's Cup want BMW Oracle and Emirates Team NZ to be the favorites against their respective challengers, but as Terry Hutchinson stated yesterday, making assumptions is very dangerous.

Weather forecast
Valencia woke up with a strong westerly breeze. According to event organizers, the overnight passage of a cold front through the area leaves clear, bright conditions in its wake. A northwesterly gradient breeze is expected early in the day, starting at 12 knots but backing to southeast or east and decreasing to 8-10 knots as sea breeze develops through the afternoon.

Here is the forecast by Chris Bedford, BMW Oracle meteorologist, as always, courtesy of the BMW Oracle Blog.