KEY POINTS:
Team New Zealand, NZL92
It is difficult to say whether Team New Zealand actually did much to NZL92 between the round robins and the semifinals. They haven't done a mode change during the round robins or semifinals. By that we mean they have not changed their rudder, keel bulb, etc.
The boat still looks to have the same bulb - the shorter one with the Kiwi flag on it. They may have a new rig in the boat, but it is still one that has four spreaders. A new rig may be a little stiffer, a little lighter and further refined.
It did look like they changed to a different style of mainsail after round robin one. The first one they used looked quite flat and was maybe aimed at more wind. The one they are using now looks a little rounder in the back. But it is very hard to pick because they do a damn good job at making the sails look the same. The layout and the construction is the same.
The challengers are allowed to use only 45 sails during the Louis Vuitton Cup. So it's important to try to save your sails for the big matches. If Team New Zealand go on to beat Desafio Espanol comfortably from 2-1 up it will mean they have been able to save some new sails. That could be valuable down the track.
It looks like Team New Zealand have improved their downwind sails a lot from last year. It looks like their sail shapes are a lot more forgiving and don't wobble around as much as they did. They look quite stable. On the whole the team looks solid.
Like all of the teams Team New Zealand are not keen for people to shoot photographs down on to their deck. Deck photos are valuable. You can work out the geometry. You can see where the grinders are on the boat, where the rudder is, where the genoa track is, how big the J measurement is (from the front of the mast to the forestay is). You can also work out the beam of the boat. As one of the narrowest in the competition, for Team New Zealand, that is perhaps something they would like to protect.
BMW Oracle Racing, USA98
It looks like Oracle are still playing around with different configurations to match their opposition. The team did get issued a new measurement certificate on Wednesday. If teams want to change anything significant on their boats they have to get it re-measured. Teams have to have a measurement certificate, which proves their boats comply with the rules, otherwise they are unable to race. It looks like Oracle could be trying to speed their boat up a little bit upwind and trade off a bit downwind to match Luna Rossa.
Luna Rossa look to have sped their boat up on the upwind and traded a bit downwind.
Oracle also have a jumper-less rig which looks pretty nice. They also have ceramic winches, which reduces a bit of weight in the boat. Every kilo you can take out of the boat you can put into the keel. In most of the teams now the winching has been developed in a big way. The winch components are now lower in the floor, dropping the centre of gravity.
Like Alinghi, Oracle have paid a lot of attention to detail. Their sail programme looks nice. They will be using fresh sails against Luna Rossa.
Down track that means they will have burned off a bit more of their 'Gucci' gear than Team New Zealand.
Alinghi, SUI100
While the challengers are battling away on the Mediterranean, the two slick red and black Alinghi boats can often been seen hurtling down the coast. On occasions they have appeared ghost-like, emerging through the hazy Valencia conditions.
In the early stages of their campaign Alinghi got a bit stroppy when people tried to photograph part of the deck where the mast connects to it. Maybe they were trying to hide something in relation to their rig, maybe it was something to do with their keel.
It has since been revealed that one or maybe more of the teams has asked the measurer a series of questions relating to the keel. Have Alinghi come up with a way of preventing the keel fin from deflecting under the weight of the 19 tonne keel bulb? Looking at their boats it is difficult to say. Like Oracle, Alinghi have jumper-less rigs, designed to reduce drag by eliminating the jumper near the top of the mast. They are believed to be effective in Valencia where the wind is rather mellow compared with, well, let's say, Auckland.
The detailing on the Alinghi boats is immaculate. They look like the designers have spent a lot of time on attention to detail, examining everything that might cut down drag both hydro-dynamically and aero-dynamically.
The boats aside, it is believed Alinghi are about to embark on another series of defender trials. The aim of the trials is to fine-tune their crew-work and assess helmsmen Ed Baird and Peter Holmberg.
Rumour has it that if Alinghi think they have a boat-speed advantage the conservative Baird will steer, if not they will got for the more aggressive Holmberg.
Luna Rossa, ITA94
The syndicate appear to have a new rig in the boat. Luna Rossa seem to be quite twitchy about people being in their yard.
What they are trying to hide is unclear. Again, it could be something in the keel area.
The Luna Rossa boat is the most radical here. It is very hard in the bilge, very slab-sided and very flat along the bottom. The boat looks good in flat water, maybe not so great in waves.
They look to have done a mode change in between the round robin and the semis to speed the boat up upwind.
It has been suggested the boat has a new bulb, a new rudder, and new fin. That would suggest they have pitched the boat to go upwind and then "hang on" downwind. Against Oracle, they have been quick upwind but have struggled a bit downwind. That could be down to pressure, wind shifts or simply not being quick enough.
Luna Rossa may have decided they are not going to match Oracle's boat speed so have decided to sail their own race. Something which does come naturally to them.
Desafio Espanol, ESP97
Like BMW Oracle Racing, Desafio Espanol were also issued a new measurement certificate ahead of race three.
Like the Americans, Desafio Espanol were going well downwind but needed to find something more upwind.
Because of the short time frame the change may have been a rudder change or a change to the wings on the keel. A bigger rudder would give them a bit more grip and lift upwind.
Increasing the pitch on the wings improves performance upwind, but also increase drags, making the boat a touch slower downwind. The Spanish had to do something to match the Kiwis upwind. The Spanish boat is quite a tidy package. Their sail and rig programmes both look good.
