KEY POINTS:
Team New Zealand strategist Ray Davies doesn't believe his team will lack match hardness if they get through to the challenger series final.
Emirates Team New Zealand sailed to another comfortable victory over Desafio Espanol in Valencia yesterday winning by 40s.
In the other semifinal BMW Oracle Racing and Luna Rossa had another tight battle which saw Oracle come from behind to win by 13s.
Team New Zealand now lead the Spanish 2-0 in the best of nine series while Oracle and Luna Rossa are 1-all.
Team New Zealand have an edge over the Spanish in all areas - boat speed, starting and crew work - something that was evident before the semifinals started and something that Team New Zealand would have been aware of when choosing their semifinal opponent.
If Team New Zealand continue to sail through the semifinals relatively unchallenged, it raises the question of how will it prepare them for the final where they will come up against a team that has endured a much more difficult road?
Some argue it will work in Team New Zealand's favour as it will allow them more time to develop their race boat and rest their crew.
Others believe it could be a disadvantage as Luna Rossa and Oracle are pushing each other every day, allowing them to improve their game.
"We get to watch and learn what they are doing as well," Davies said of Luna Rossa and Oracle.
"We get to benefit also. You do learn from the close races but it is just reassuring to win by quite a margin and make sure the boat is going well."
In yesterday's match skipper Dean Barker won the start. Team New Zealand started on the left, crossed over to the right, nailed the first shift and powered out to a comfortable lead. But again they chose to keep their opponents close.
The Spanish were fast downwind, making ground on both offwind legs to reduce the gap to 40s by the finish but never threatened the New Zealanders.
"We are happy in close races to keep the boat-on-boat contact ... I think that is one of our strengths," said Team New Zealand bowman Jeremy Lomas.
"We don't like to give the other boat too much leverage."
Desafio Espanol tactician John Cutler believes his team are competitive with the Kiwis downwind but upwind need to lift a little.
While Team New Zealand's win was straightforward, BMW Oracle Racing's victory was anything but.
Luna Rossa helmsman James Spithill nailed Chris Dickson at the start shutting him out. Up the first beat Luna Rossa played the windshifts perfectly and at the top mark were 58s ahead. But, just as on day one, Oracle came back on the downwind run.
By the leeward mark the gap was down to 20s. The Italians held the lead up the second beat but were rolled down the final run.
Luna Rossa navigator Michele Ivaldi acknowledged his team "burned" away the lead they had on the first run.
"We then had a good opportunity at the second top mark. The shift gave Oracle a real good advantage and they soaked up the margin.
"The dial-up at the end of the beat is a classic situation which can occur at the top mark. We, as other teams, have been practicing this scenario and decided to perform a 'slam dunk' [tacking on your opponents' wind to stall their sails]. One must know how to attack and how to defend."
* Oracle's Kiwi bowman Brad Webb underwent knee surgery in Valencia, following an injury during the opening race of the semifinals. He is expected to be fully fit and able to race again before the completion of the regatta.
* The teams squared off in race three overnight.
