Before the final fleet race on Sunday closes the action in LV Act 11, the Swiss Alinghi team raced away from the fleet to extend its lead at the top of the table.

America's Cup champion led the standings after winning one of two fleet races on the second day of Act 11 of the Louis Vuitton Cup challenger trials on Saturday.

But Luna Rossa won the second race of the day to close the gap and to be runner-up overall with 36 points, five behind Alinghi. The Swiss boat finished third in the race.

In 15-knot southeasterlies under sunny skies, Alinghi dominated the day's first race - the third of the Act - around every mark, and won by 79 seconds from Team New Zealand.

The Kiwis struggled initially, but after the second mark, they switched from left to right on the course and picked up a couple of spots. On the last run, they finished second, edging Luna Rossa, and U.S. yacht BMW Oracle.

In the second race, Luna Rossa led throughout. Most of the drama was in the middle of the fleet. China Team dropped its jib on the first leg and retired with undisclosed equipment problems, Sweden's Victory Challenge was penalized at the second mark for tacking too close to another boat, Spain's Desafio Espanol was penalized for crossing too close to Team New Zealand on the third leg, and Germany's United Internet Team was penalized for tacking too close at the mark.

After Luna Rossa headed off BMW Oracle for first by 36 seconds, Alinghi was third, and Italy's Mascalzone Latino capped a good day with fourth. It was fifth in the early race.

Team New Zealand gambled on the right hand side of the course on the last leg and stole fifth from +39 Challenge of Italy.

Sunday's fleet race will end Act 11.

Results