BMW Oracle Racing, Luna Rossa lead Cup

BMW Oracle Racing and Luna Rossa each won two races Wednesday to stay tied for the lead in Louis Vuitton Cup racing with 27 points apiece.

BMW Oracle Racing rebounded from a second-flight loss to last-place China Team by beating Shosholoza of South Africa by 43 seconds on the southern "Juliet" course. The American team then beat Victory Challenge by 14 seconds in the fourth flight.

The Americans survived two close races against middle-of-the pack teams, rallying from deficits around the first windmarker on both occasions.

Luna Rossa avenged a previous round-robin stage loss to the South Africans, beating Shosholoza by 25 seconds in the fourth flight after giving United Internet Team Germany its 12th loss in 14 round-robin matches.

Emirates Team New Zealand, which sailed with retired seven-time Formula One champion Michael Schumacher onboard as 18th man, beat +39 Challenge of Italy and French syndicate Areva Challenge to stay third with 24 points.

Also on the northern "Romeo" course, Desafio Espanol stayed in fourth place _ the final semifinal spot _ despite a fourth-flight loss to Mascalzone Latino of Italy.

Mascalzone Latino, which had a third-flight bye, pushed the Spaniards behind the race committee boat at the start then held the hosts off in the tacking match that gave the Italian team a valuable win in its chase for the fourth semifinal place.

The Spanish, who have 21 points, beat Areva Challenge earlier by 30 seconds.

The top four finishers after the second round-robin stage will advance to the Louis Vuitton Cup semifinals from May 14-24.

Also, Victory Challenge of Sweden beat the Chinese by 11:49 on "Juliet." The Germans recorded their second win over the Chinese in the fourth flight, winning by 2:16.

The Louis Vuitton Cup will decide which of the 11 challengers will sail against America's Cup champion Alinghi in the finals from June 23-July 4.