Yachting: Team NZ 1-1 with Oracle in semifinal

Team New Zealand and Oracle are locked 1-1 in their semifinal at the pre-America's Cup Louis Vuitton yachting series in Valencia, Spain, overnight.

Oracle won the first race by 33 seconds, but Team New Zealand came back to win the second by 1 minute 9 seconds.

They will race again tomorrow to decide who will reach the final to face Alinghi, 2-0 winners over Luna Rossa today.

Team New Zealand leader Grant Dalton said a tough contest was expected despite the team's unbeaten round robin efforts.

"The teams are good, the boats are good and the support on and off the water is good," Dalton said.

"The difference in the first match today was getting a jump on the opponent early in the race and then defending hard."

Team New Zealand won the start of the first match but Oracle got good pressure on the right and were able to control the first beat, Dalton said.

The New Zealanders were in touch most of the race but Oracle defended well, he said.

A wind shift helped Oracle lead around the first mark in the second leg, but a wind shift to the right on the second beat favoured New Zealand and enabled them to take the lead, which they defended to the finish.

- NZPA