With the Round Robin over the next phase of play in the LV Trophy here in Auckland saw a round where the top team raced the bottom team, the second top raced the second bottom and so on. The plan was that by the end of the day the bottom two performing teams that lost their matches today would be eliminated. The top two teams would then take a break by passing straight to the semi finals. The remaining four teams would then battle it out in the quarter finals.

So, for those languishing towards the bottom of the table, today was do or die.

In the first match of the day Artemis beat Azzura in a close, but one-sided match.

Second up, Team Origin muscled their way up the first beat in a cool, calm collected match play after a stressful and disappointing day yesterday. At the weather mark the Brits rounded 17seconds ahead of their opponents All 4 One. Downwind Ainslie and Co. were settled and sorted and the gap opened a little to 20 seconds. Back at the top the delta had increased to 37seconds, barring a disaster the British effort looked back on track. A dodgy gybe had British hearts racing for a few moments, but the team recovered and took the race.

Aside from a brief burst of action during the pre-start and up the first beat, the race between Aleph and Mascalzone Latino Audi Team proved to be a one sided affair, Gavin Brady and his team proving once again just how capable they are. With just eight races under their belt in the current line up, they’ve been one of the most impressive teams to watch.

Sadly for the French, the stress of being placed on the back foot from the start was made worse when, having hauled themselves back into the match up the first beat, the French blew their kite out in a gybe set. Unfortunately for them, the error cost them more than just a race. Losing to Mascalzone Latino meant they were now out of the Auckland LV Trophy.

So who’s in and who’s out?
– Mascalzone Latino & Emirates Team New Zealand head straight to the semi finals.
– Aleph and Synergy Russian Sailing Team are out.
– The remaining four go through to the quarter-finals that start tomorrow (Thur).

QUARTER FINAL PAIRINGS

Each pair sails a best of three.

Team Origin v Artemis
All 4 One v Azzura

First up will be Team Origin v Artemis
Then All 4 One v Azzura
After which the races, the boats they use and the ends they start from  alternate.

HOW TO WATCH

**NEW** Virtual Eye animation now available – New graphics, great views and easy to use. Note: this is still in Beta mode CLICK HERE Also includes interactive Twitter.

Once the animation starts the graphics for the land loads a little later. Also note that there is no audio commentary with this viewer.

**NEW** FREE iPhone Highlights Louis Vuitton Trophy NOW available CLICK HERE

CLICK HERE for free LIVE ONLINE VIEWER

Racing will be broadcast live online throughout the event and include TV from three cameras plus extensive Virtual Eye animations and audio off the boats.

LIVE RADIO
CLICK HERE for Radio LiveSport NZ – Listen online or 1476AM

LINKS
Louis Vuitton Trophy Official Site
Results

RACE SCHEDULE
10:00am (21:00 GMT): Opening trailer and welcome by Peter Lester
10:00 – 10:05 Weather, races of the day information, further news
10:05 Start procedure;
Approximately 16:30 (03:30 GMT) Finish live race broadcast
Approx. 18:00 (05:00 GMT) Press conference
Approx. 18:30 (05:30 GMT) Highlights of the races go on air
21:30 – 1:00 (08:30 GMT) Replay of the broadcast of the day

EVENT SCHEDULE
March 9 ‐ 15: Start of racing; Round Robin 1
March 16: Alternate Race Day
March 17: Elimination Round I
March 18 – 19: Elimination Round II; Semi‐Finals (best of three)
March 20 – 21: Semi‐Finals; Finals (best of seven)

TEAMS
Team Origin (Great Britain: Skipper Ben Ainslie)
Mascalzone Latino (Italy, Skipper: Gavin Brady)
Azzura (Italy, Skipper: Francesco Bruni)
All4One (France/Germany, Skipper: Jochen Schumann)
Synergy Russian Sailing Team (Russia, Skipper: Karol Jablonski)
Emirates Team New Zealand (Skipper: Dean Barker)
Artemis (Sweden, Skipper: Paul Cayard)
Aleph Sailing Team (France, Skipper: Bertrand Pace)

SKY TV COVERAGE IN UK
Louis Vuitton Trophy 16/03/10 18:00 Sky Sports 3
Louis Vuitton Trophy 16/03/10 23:00 Sky Sports 3
Louis Vuitton Trophy 16/03/10 26:00 Sky Sports 2
Louis Vuitton Trophy 17/03/10 09:00 Sky Sports 2
 
Louis Vuitton Trophy 2 17/03/10 18:00 Sky Sports 3
Louis Vuitton Trophy 2 17/03/10 22:00 Sky Sports 4
Louis Vuitton Trophy 2 17/03/10 23:30 Sky Sports 3
Louis Vuitton Trophy 2 17/03/10 26:30 Sky Sports 2
Louis Vuitton Trophy 2 18/03/10 09:00 Sky Sports 2
 
Louis Vuitton Trophy 3 18/03/10 18:00 Sky Sports 2
Louis Vuitton Trophy 3  18/03/10 23:30 Sky Sports 2
Louis Vuitton Trophy 3 18/03/10 28:00 Sky Sports 3
Louis Vuitton Trophy 3 19/03/10 09:30 Sky Sports 2
 
Louis Vuitton Trophy 4 19/03/10 18:00 Sky Sports 2
Louis Vuitton Trophy 4 19/03/10 23:30 Sky Sports 2
Louis Vuitton Trophy 4 19/03/10 26:30 Sky Sports 2
Louis Vuitton Trophy 4 20/03/10 06:30 Sky Sports 3
 
Louis Vuitton Trophy 5 20/03/10 18:00 Sky Sports 4
Louis Vuitton Trophy 5 20/03/10 23:30 Sky Sports 2
Louis Vuitton Trophy 5 20/03/10 29:00 Sky Sports 3
Louis Vuitton Trophy 5 21/03/10 10:00 Sky Sports 3
 
Louis Vuitton Trophy 6 21/03/10 18:00 Sky Sports 4
Louis Vuitton Trophy 6  21/03/10 23:30 Sky Sports 2
Louis Vuitton Trophy 6 21/03/10 29:00 Sky Sports 2
Louis Vuitton Trophy 6 22/03/10 10:00 Sky Sports 4
 
Louis Vuitton Trophy 7 22/03/10 18:00 Sky Sports 3
Louis Vuitton Trophy 7 22/03/10 25:00 Sky Sports 4
Louis Vuitton Trophy 7 22/03/10 28:30 Sky Sports 4