Epic!

Sport: gotta love it!

The prediction, near universal in Valencia, was that the challenger final would be a humdinger. It wasn't. At least in terms of the score as ­ Emirates Team New Zealand dealt with Luna Rossa 5:0.

Sport: gotta love it Reason 2!

The result meant only one thing. The re-match was on. Alinghi v Team New Zealand for the Cup.

Sport: gotta love it Reason 3!

The curse of the favourite struck down BMW Oracle Racing with frightening speed. The apparent challenger-in-waiting for three years fell to earth in dramatic style. All the questions over Dickson's temperament which have followed him since changing crew three times for each of his three Youth World championships reared up again and bit Ellison's challenge on the backside. Hard.

BMW Oracle was hustled out the semi-final by Luna Rossa, before they fell, in turn, to the Kiwis. More on this later...

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