America's Cup: Better weather prognosis for Wednesday

4:40 PM Mon 8 Feb 2010 GMT

'Alinghi 5 flies a hull - Day 1, 2010 America’s Cup, Valencia' Richard Gladwell Click Here to view large photo

While the weather prognosis for Wednesday is much better, than today, the dogs of Valencia, can expect a difficult day on their chains.

'Strong enough to blow dogs off their chains' is an old English expression indicating that winds have been very strong. Such conditions are predicted for Tuesday, so even if it were a race day in the 33rd Match for the America's Cup, it is unlikely any racing would be possible. The strong wind will probably mean that BMW Oracle Racing will be dropping their wingsail as a precaution.

Today winds of SW 6-8kts were expected by one team, increasing to 12-14kts later in the day. The other team was expecting winds in the same range in the morning, and got this on the top end of the 20nm long course, however they expected these to fade to 3-6kts around 2.00pm. Showers in the race area are believed to have had an influence on the building wind.

Certainly when Sail-World pulled alongside Principal Race Officer, Harold Bennnett, he had a range of directions of over 90 degrees up the course, and variations in strength of 0-13kts - with the zero in the middle of the course.

In other words the wind was highly variable in direction and strength.

The sight of the previous day of USA-17 sailing at 22kts in oily seas and 2kts of wind were not repeated, with several professional sailors dismissing such a performance as being the result of wind-shear (stronger winds above 10metres above the surface.

The Defender Alinghi 5 was definitely the keener of the pair to race. She spent most of the four hours of postponement free sailing and at one point was flying a hull in the 3-4kts winds that prevailed in the starting area.

USA-17 in contrast stayed hitched to her tender, easily identifiable by the loud cracking noise of her slatting halyards in the lazy swells. However once the race was called off, she upped jib and sailed home.

Around 70 spectator boats were were on the course, with one count being that were just 12 real spectator boats and the others were associated with America's Cup teams, of one breed or another, and media boats.

Dock-out for the crews was very early this morning, with BMW Oracle Racing first away before 0600hrs and Alinghi following at around 0700hrs.

Dawn in Valencia at this time of the year is 0800hrs - so even when the spectator fleet arrived on the course it was only just past dawn, and the sun never really broke through all day.

There was a light breeze blowing the whole of the day in the course area, it was only as we headed back into shore were the true variances apparent.

Although Bennett had until around 1630hrs to decide whether or not to race, he offered both crews the option to pull the pin on the day's racing at 1345hrs, one team accepted immediately, the other wanted time to think about it before coming back and confirming a 'no race' day.

Under the rules for the regatta, dictated by the 19th century Deed of Gift, one day must elapse between race days, so the next possible race day is Wednesday, and then Friday, and then Sunday and so on, until one team has won two races.

by Richard Gladwell

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