New Zealand pick Ainslie's British crew as next America's Cup opponent

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"To be really honest we are not too unhappy about the situation right now", Ainslie told a television interviewer as the four challenger catamarans drifted on Bermuda's Great Sound waiting to see if the winds would reach the required average of 6 knots (11.11 Km/h).

"We had a look at the forecast over the coming week and thought that it was our best chance of progressing forward", Burling said at a televised briefing after Saturday's races.

Emirates Team New Zealand, Land Rover BAR, Artemis Racing and SoftBank Team Japan all secured their progression through to the Louis Vuitton America's Cup Challenger Playoffs, while Groupama Team France bow out of the 35th America's Cup with their heads held high.

The first crew in each of the two semi-finals to win five races progresses to the challenger final and whoever wins that takes on defending champions Team USA for the America's Cup itself. We wanted that point.it created this real hunger for everyone.

Light winds meant the first semi-finals of the America's Cup were postponed on Sunday, with Land Rover BAR skipper Ben Ainslie hoping they would not resume until Monday when more favourable conditions are forecast.

Top-seeded Emirates Team New Zealand chose Ainslie's syndicate, Land Rover BAR, as its opponent in the semifinals. They were latecomers to the competition, and their budget of 30 million euros (US$33.8 million) is significantly smaller than those of the other teams, whose outlay is closer to 100 million euros.

Coupled with two wins in these round robins, Oracle has won 10 straight races against Team New Zealand.

New Zealand's victories over SoftBank Team Japan and France saw them surpass holders Oracle Team USA atop the standings with eight points.

Cape Town residents warned to avoid roads
The cold front making its way through the Western Cape has not yet reached its peak, according to provincial authorities. On Tuesday‚ the air force and disaster management teams were put on standby as swells of up to 16 metres were predicted.

Artemis further strengthened their position with a convincing win over Japan in the final race of the day.

In todays other race, Artemis Racing comfortably beat Groupama Team France, who had already been eliminated.

"We know they are a very strong team", Barker said.

The eventual victor of that stage of the competition will then become the official Challenger to Oracle Team USA for the 35th America's Cup.

That penalty all but ended their challenge as Oracle Team USA rounded the final mark and raced to the finish line 29 seconds ahead of Emirates Team New Zealand.

"I think they got pretty well in the 12 knot range, and they've been improving a lot in the last couple of weeks, so we'll probably have a good race with them".

With a two week break from race action ahead, helmsman Jimmy Spithill and his team will continue to develop their boat and be ready to face the eventual victor of the Challenger Playoffs.

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