Team NZ through to Louis Vuitton semis

Team New Zealand has eased through to the semifinals of the Louis Vuitton Trophy with a hard-earned 15-second win over Synergy as the yachting regatta in Auckland neared the business end of competition today.

New Zealand, as top qualifier from eight days of round robin competition, sailed off against eighth-placed Synergy (Russia) and the win means the Dean Barker-led Team New Zealand go directly through to the semifinals on Friday.

After delays earlier in the day with wind readings well over 20 knots, the New Zealand-Synergy match got under in breezes around 18-22 knots, with the New Zealand boat taking early control off the start even as Synergy snatched the right of the course in the last seconds of the pre-start.

"The right was very strong and at the first cross which was almost right on the lay line we couldn't make a lee-bow tack stick and we followed the close into the mark," Barker said afterwards.

"The good thing for us is that we kept the pressure right on them, waiting for an opportunity. Their hoist was bad and we slid around them.

"We kept a cover on and the boys did a great job to defend hard right to the end."

The No 2 qualifier, Italian yacht Mascalzone Latino, sailed off against seventh-placed Aleph (France) and crossed the line first by nearly a minute to go straight into the other semifinal. Synergy and Aleph now drop out of the trophy.

Morgan Larson, the Mascalzone Latino tactician, said the crew had shown real improvement since the regatta began.

"The reality is, this is only our eighth race together as a team. There's not much time till we face the real good teams. Fortunately we will debrief tomorrow, watch the racing," he said.

"Actually a race tomorrow would be an advantage because we're only getting better. But that's okay, we'll take the day off."

All4One (Germany-France), Azzurra (Italy), Artemis (Sweden) and Team Origin (Britain) race tomorrow in the elimination semifinal that will decide the opposition for New Zealand and Italy.

All4One, as the next top qualifier, have selected Azzurra as their opposition, leaving Artemis to race Team Origin. The first team to win two races advances to the semifinals.

- NZPA