If someone had asked Alfred Hitchcock to write the screenplay of the last day of Louis Vuitton Act 8 in Trapani, we doubt the English cinema genious could have created a plot that surpassed the actual racing day.

Suspense, exhilaration, enormous surprises, mind-boggling fourway tie of the "Big Four" teams but most of all incredible racing were all part of this closing day.

Nevertheless, what really stands out is the great victory of K-Challenge over Alinghi. Not only was the French team the first to beat the Swiss Defender after 31 consecutive undefeated races it was also the only "smaller" team that has beaten two of the "Big Four" syndicates in Trapani.

What Dean Barker and James Spithill haven't been able to do in 2005, Thierry Peponnet achieved it on Tuesday. Imagine what the French syndicate could achieve with a faster boat and adequate financial backing from sponsors.

Alinghi's first defeat was to be followed by another one against BMW Oracle this time. Unbeaten for so long, the Swiss team faced two consecutive defeats within a couple of hours.

Two other "clashes of Titans" were on the menu yesterday, with Luna Rossa facing BMW Oracle and Emirates Team New Zealand. The Italian team beat BMW Oracle but a tactical error caused a loss aginst the New Zealanders.

Alinghi was the winner of Louis Vuitton Act 8 but all "Big Four" teams were tied at the top of the table with 9 points each.

Results of the day

Flight 10

+39 Challenge def. Shosholoza (0:43)
Mascalzone def. China Team (2:02)
Victory def. Team Germany (1:59)
Luna Rossa def. BMW Oracle (0:28)
K-Challenge def. Alinghi (0:35)
Team NZ def. Desafio (1:39)

Flight 11

K-Challenge def. Desafio (0:11)
Team NZ def. Luna Rossa (1:30)
BMW Oracle def. Alinghi (1:32)
Shosholoza def. China Team (4:22)
+39 Challenge def. Team Germany (2:00)
Mascalzone def. Victory (0:44)