AUCKLAND, New Zealand (CNN) -- Swiss Alinghi and Seattle-based OneWorld won their races in the semifinals of the Louis Vuitton Cup in Auckland.

OneWorld, which was docked one point for the semifinals by the America's Cup Arbitration Panel for possessing other teams' designs, beat Italians Prada by 48 seconds.

OneWorld's Andrew Taylor said the penalty, delivered after a special meeting of the five-member panel at the weekend, had motivated the team.

"It's probably helped us in regard to getting out on the water and getting on with the job. So, no problem -- back to business," he said after the race.

His opponent's skipper Francesco de Angelis said Prada failed to grasp the opportunities during Tuesday's race, although the lead did change five times.

"I think OneWorld sailed a very good and consistent race and we just didn't use the opportunities we had," de Angelis said.

Prada's spinnaker pole broke during the fourth leg and OneWorld's giant spinnaker ripped as they rounded the final mark.

With the penalty point, OneWorld must win five of the best-of-seven races to progress to the finals, whereas Prada has to win only four.

San Francesco-based Oracle BMW Racing lost its first race with New Zealander Chris Dickson at the helm, losing to Alinghi by 1 minute 11 seconds.

"The loss has been a long time coming but Alinghi sailed very, very well," he said, having steered the team to 11 consecutive wins.

Alinghi led around all marks in the six-leg race in the Hauraki Gulf to comfortably beat Oracle BMW Racing.

The winners of the Alinghi-Oracle semifinal will progress straight to the final next month. The losers will sail off against the winners of the Prada-OneWorld elimination semifinal in a repechage.

The Louis Vuitton Cup winner will then sail America's Cup holders Team New Zealand in the America's Cup in February 2003.

Story Tools


Iran poll to go to run-off

• U.N.: Truck bomb killed Hariri
• EU 'crisis' after summit failure
• U.S. House votes to keep U.N. dues


CNN/Money: Security alert issued for 40 million credit cards

• Bin Laden deputy sends message
• U.S. House votes to keep U.N. dues
• Iran poll to go to run-off