Not only did Alinghi win Act 11 by a comfortable margin they also dominated the final race from the beginning and finished well ahead of second Emirates Team New Zealand. Ed Baird, Alinghi helmsman during Act 11, put it frankly: "The biggest thing we have learnt in the last couple of acts is that the new boats have similar speeds in these conditions and we seem to be going at the same sort of speed. We’re pretty happy with where we sit and we’re pretty happy that the strong teams have spent one of their boats and seem to be going at the same speed as we are".
It could have been far worse for BMW Oracle, as Chris Dickson made a judgment error in pre-start and crossed the start line ahead of time. Umpires immediately gave the Americans a penalty and had to recross the start line. As the rest of the yachts moved ahead it looked as if the worst was to come for the Challenger of Record. Nevertheless, a combination of excellent tactics and an incredibly fast boat pushed BMW Oracle to a remarkable recovery on each leg of the race. According to Craig Monk, sailing team Manager of the American challenger, the team get a better handle of USA-87 each day they race, be it in stronger or lighter winds. As a result, they were able to sail remarkably well under today's lighter conditions.
Still, the top of the Challenger Ranking table has now gotten extremely tight. BMW Oracle and Emirates Team New Zealand are tied with 103 points, getting 4 bonus points each. Luna Rossa trails them by a whisker with 100 ranking points and 3 bonus points.
Equally encouraging was the performance of Mascalzone Latino - Capitalia Team, who finished fifth both in the final race and overall. It could have been better for the Italian challenger, since they were passed by BMW Oracle in the last stretch of the race and Luna Rossa at the finish line by a mere second. Still they took advantage of the disastrous performance of Desafío Español 2007 and Victory Challenge and are now at the fifth place of the Challenger Ranking table, within striking distance from the Spanish. The latter would better give a good excuse for their poor showing in fleet racing.
Play of the day
Without any doubt the play of the day was the early start of BMW Oracle. According to Craig Monk, sailing team Manager of the American challenger, it was a question of misjudgment. Alinghi was above them, tried to push them and Chris Dickson was just too anxious to get going. 
USA-87 crosses the start line ahead of time and gets a penalty. Valencia, 21 May 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing
Now you see it now you don't. USA-87, barely visible behind a forest of mainsails, recrossing the start line. Valencia, 21 May 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing
USA-87, closely followed by the umpire boat, a hundred meters behind the rest of the fleet as they had to recross the start line. Valencia, 21 May 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia SailingThe race
Three were the main points of the race. First the dominance of Alinghi, that finished 1:27 minutes ahead of Emirates Team Zealand while managing to increase the lead in every leg. Second the remarkable recovery of BMW Oracle that lost 45 seconds because of the penalty but climbed all the way to third place. Third, the struggle of Mascalzone Latino - Capitalia Team in the fourth leg where they shed three places.
Start of the final race of Louis Vuitton Act 11. BMW Oracle has crossed the line ahead of time and will have to recross. Valencia, 21 May 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing
Start of the final race of Louis Vuitton Act 11. Valencia, 21 May 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing
Alinghi rounded the leeward mark first, 31 seconds ahead of Mascalzone Latino - Capitalia Team. Valencia, 21 May 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing
Emirates Team New Zealand rounded the leeward mark third, 1:10 minutes behind Alinghi. Valencia, 21 May 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing
BMW Oracle passed Mascalzone Latino - Capitalia Team at the last stretch of the fourth leg. Valencia, 21 May 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing
Emirates Team New Zealand finished ahead of BMW Oracle. Valencia, 21 May 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing
Luna Rossa finished fourth, just half a boatlength ahead of Mascalzone Latino - Capitalia Team. Valencia, 21 May 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing
Fourth, fifth and sixth place in the race were taken by the Italian trio. Valencia, 21 May 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing
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