Italy's two entries in the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series (LVPS) have both advanced to the next stage in the America's Cup class sailing event here in New Zealand.
Luna Rossa, a three-time America's Cup veteran which reached the final in 2000 after winning the original Louis Vuitton Cup (LVC), finished its round robin group phase with two victories and two defeats, as did Damiani Italia, a newcomer to the America's Cup circuit.
A total of ten teams are taking part in the LVPS and were initially divided into two groups of five.
The top three teams from each group will now compete in the Gold Fleet races, while the remaining teams will be up against each other in the Silver Fleet.
Also qualifying for the Gold Fleet were LVPS host Emirates Team New Zealand, America's Cup defender Alinghi of Switzerland, BMW Oracle Racing of the United States and Britain's Team origin.
The Silver Fleet will be made up of France's K-Challenge, Shosholoza from South Africa, China Team and Greek Challenge.
The Gold and Silver Fleet regattas will be staged February 5-9.
The one-on-one match races are being staged rotating the same boats, two provided by host Team New Zealand and two on loan from the BMW Oracle.
This was done not only to level the playing and cut down on costs, but also to highlight the skills of the crew over technological advantages.
Each team, however, brought their own spinnaker made using the colors of their respective national flags.
No matter how it does in the Gold Fleet series, Team New Zealand, as host, will automatically advance to the LVPS final while the winner of the Gold Fleet, or the runner up should New Zealand win, will qualify for the Challenger Final.
The other Gold Fleet contestants will advance to the Third Round.
The winner of the Silver Fleet will also move up to the Third Round, which will determine who joins the Gold Fleet winner in the Challenger Final.
The Third Round will first see a sail off followed by quarter final and semi-final races
The LVPS final is scheduled for February 15.
The LVPS was organised to mark the 25th anniversary of the French fashion house's foray into the world of sailing at its highest level: the America's Cup.
Up until July 2007 it was the LVC which designated the official challenger for sailing's most prestigious trophy.
The LVPS is also designed to keep up interest in big boat sailing until a new America's Cup can be staged, once legal disputes over the format have been resolved.
