Omega Cup: Sail-World Live - Finals underway

2:07 AM Sat 6 Mar 2010 GMT

'Barker ahead of Minoprio in Semi-Final 2 despite a broken jib tack' Richard Gladwell Click Here to view large photo

Sail-World is live on the water for the Semi-Finals and Finals of the Omega Cup being sailed in Auckland.

Weather conditions ae superb for sailing this afternoon with a 10-12ktd breeze blowing down the Waitemata Harbour

After the Qualifying Round was cut short, Ben Ainslie (Team Origin) was a clear winner with other three semi-finalists being decided on a tie breaking system based on who had beaten who in the Qualifying phase.

The other three finalists were Torvar Mirsky (AUS), Adam Minoprio (NZL) and Dean Barker (Emirates Team NZ).

In the Semi's both were decided 2-0 with Barker beating Minoprio and Ainslie beating Mirsky. Both races were clear cut margins, with Mirsky incurring an instant penalty in the second Race.

Barker and Minoprio in the Semi-Final - Richard Gladwell Click Here to view large photo

In the first Final, Barker led from start to finish. starting to leeward of Ainslie, and then allowed the Team Origin skipper to split tacks, with Barker heading off on port. When they came back together, Barker was ahead by a comfortable boatlength, and the race margin was unchanged with Barker extending to three boatlengths at the finish.

Barker and Ainslie head for the wall in Final 2 of the Omega Cup - Richard Gladwell Click Here to view large photo

In the second Final, it was more a close run thing, with Barker again starting to leeward of Ainslie, but electing to go with him to the City side of the course, before splitting tacks and being first across the tide. Barker rounded the first mark clear ahead, however Ainslie close the gap to just a quarter of a boat length on the run. Barker extended slightly on the next beat, then easing away to a five length lead at the finish to go 2-0 in the best of five series, as rain descended on the course, killing the wind.