Azzurra wins semi-final of Europe's most scenic yacht races

Sailing teams are fighting for a place in the finals of one of Europe's most scenic yacht races. Italy's Azzurra opened the semi-final round of the Louis Vuitton Trophy - Nice Cote d'Azur with a solid win. The crew topped Britain's Team Origin by one minute, 34 seconds off France's Mediterranean coast.

Thursday's contest began in winds ranging between eight and ten knots from the north. But the speed dropped to between four and five knots at the finish of the short, 5.2-nautical-mile race. Azzurra held the early lead on the first leg.

Italy's Azzurra opened the semi-final round of the Louis Vuitton  Trophy - Nice Cote d'Azur with a solid win.

Team Origin closed the gap, but the Azzurra crew led by 27 seconds at the leeward gate. The Italians protected the right side on the next upwind leg and increased their margin to one minute, 16 seconds as the wind started to fade.

Francesco Bruni of Azzurra skipper says, "Well, we wanted the right at the start. The call was pretty clear from the guy - from my brother up the mast and from the tactician. And we saw more pressure on the right - I think that was a good call. And we had the right - we had a good start without paying the tack. So, I think it was a good call and when we executed it well."