Today most of the teams agreed to sail a training fleet race, leaving Port America's Cup around 1:00 pm.   On the way to the course,  the Oracle pair was seen tuning up their downwind speed in very fluky southeast winds and long waves, while NZL-84 was out sailing by herself, with apparently no intention of facing the competition today.

On the starting line, Victory had to kill some time at the favored pin end while the rest of the fleet powered up for a perfect start won by Mascalzone Latino.   Up the course on first beat, Areva Challenge pushed a little further left than the rest of fleet, in hope of a left shift which, as it turned out, reached the course soon thereafter.

At top mark, Luna Rossa ITA-86 led Areva by 5 boat-lengths, and ahead of Victory, UITG, Luna Rossa ITA-94, Mascalzone, BMW Oracle, Desafío, China Team, and, surprisingly, Alinghi trailing the race.

All teams used A-sails, and with wind progressively filling in from the top of the racecourse, made for close gybes and Alinghi passing China Team.

At the bottom gate, everyone aimed for the favored left-hand mark with Mascalzone, after losing two spots on the first downwind leg, protecting the inside from Alinghi at the turn.

At the second top mark, Luna Rossa ITA-86 retained their lead over a strong-looking Areva, while Luna Rossa ITA-94 gained two spots to round in third place.  Next teams to round were Victory Challenge and UITG.  This group of five went on to break away from their closest pursuers, USA-87 and Desafío.   Further back, Mascalzone held on to their lead over Alinghi, and China Team closed the parade.

The final downwind leg made for only one pass, Desafío on port closed the gap on starboard-gybe BMW Oracle and succeeded in gybing a boat length ahead of USA-87.

Applause on the finish line greeted ITA-86, helmed by Philippe Presti, and FRA-93, helmed by Sebastien Col.

The flag drops for real tomorrow, the points begin to count, and the chatter will be replaced with results.   Act 13 is here!