KEY POINTS:
Team New Zealand runner Tony Rae said there were no changes planned for the black boat ahead of race four of the challenger series tonight in Valencia.
The underdogs came out on top in Valencia yesterday with Desafio Espanol claiming their first victory over Emirates Team New Zealand and Luna Rossa beating BMW Oracle Racing.
The four teams had a day off ahead of race four tonight.
While BMW Oracle Racing and Desafio Espanol both got new measurement certificates on Wednesday having made changes to their boats, Rae said as far as he knew, there was nothing planned for NZL92.
"We are pretty happy with how it is," he said.
On a day where winning the start and the first cross meant everything, Team New Zealand copped a penalty in the pre-start then opted for the wrong side of the course.
The Spanish protected the favoured right side around the course and went on to claim a comfortable 1m 14s win.
"The only thing that went right today was the wind," Team New Zealand skipper Dean Barker said.
"We were on the left.
"We knew they were going to be aggressive and I think that is probably a trait of their team. We figure the best way to match that aggression is be aggressive ourselves.
"This start didn't work out as well as we would have liked. We still came off the line in the position we wanted to be in. It just didn't go our way with the strategy for the first beat."
Elated Spanish helmsman Karol Jablonski said his team had planned to practise starting in the day off but now wasn't so sure they needed to.
In the other semifinal Luna Rossa helmsman James Spithill pulled off another stunning start.
The Australian had Chris Dickson on the ropes in the pre-start and looked like he was going to push him over the line early.
However, he tacked off and headed for the committee boat end leaving Dickson downspeed and at the less favoured pin end.
Like Desafio Espanol, Luna Rossa defended the right and won by a comfortable 31s.
"Today, we really went out to show what we are made of," Spithill said.
"A result like yesterday [where they lost after Oracle rolled them on the final run] can crumble a team or make them stronger. We spoke a lot last night about our downwind strategy and decided to focus on boat handling. Today, the handling was great and it allowed us to keep BMW Oracle in check.
"The weather team, and the afterguard made a great call for the right-hand side and did a great job.
"I have full confidence in the whole team. The guys told me to put the boat where I wanted and that they would deliver.
"And so they did. I am really happy with our performance."
Dickson must be concerned with his starts. Spithill has had the better of him in all three races so far.
When asked what is missing in his team, Oracle strategist Eric Doyle could offer little explanation.
"We are still pretty happy with the way we sail," Doyle said.
"We are missing a couple of breaks here and there but we have to say that in most part the boys next door are nailing everything at 100 per cent. Hats off to them. They are doing a nice job."
