Finally the much waited 1st of June is here, the beginning of the final challenger selection. He who will be selected has to win the first to five races in a best of nine series. Top teams of Luna Rossa Prada Challenge and Emirates Team New Zealand will fight in a fierce duel in order to challenge the mighty Swiss Defender Team of Alinghi. Italian Team Luna Rossa is in it's second Louis Vuitton Cup Final, after a successful campaign in 1999/2000 in Auckland dominated by a fast ITA 45. One has to admit that this was a superb result for a first campaign project although then defeated to a 5-0 by superior Team New Zealand in the America's Cup Final. Team New Zealand is also in it's second Louis Vuitton Cup, having led a full on success campaign and winning the America's Cup in 1995. The New Zealand Team got defender status after that and had to defend the cup in 2000 a successful defense, and 2003 a very disappointing campaign lossing 5-0 to Swiss Challenger Alinghi. In the official press conference both teams confirmed there latest constructed boat, with the days after the semi final being a non stop work of optimizing performance in view of the ahead challenge. Many journalists in the conference questioned the different styles of match racing of both teams with Team New Zealand usually liking a more close approach and Italians Luna Rossa usually being more creative in there navigation around the race course. Other questions was whether New Zealand skipper Dean Barker could actually resist the skills showed by James Spithill in the 5 minutes prestart during the Semi-Final. The time will definitely answer these questions and both interviewed team members declared confidence in there racing styles and crew mates. Challenger's boat's for Final Match of Louis Vuitton Cup:
Emirates Team New Zealand - NZL 92 Luna Rossa Challenge - ITA 94
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