Sea Dubai RC 44 Gold Cup day one breeze does not cooperate + video

11:30 PM Wed 25 Nov 2009 GMT

'Sea Dubai RC 44 Gold Cup - Day one racing cancelled' ? Raffaello Bastiani / RC44 Class Association

On day one of the Sea Dubai RC 44 Gold Cup day racing could not take place due to the lack of wind.

Yesterday's practice session had gone ahead in 15 knots and and a big swell. However Regatta Chief Executive Saeed Harib mentioned that 'This particular wind is very rare in Dubai'.

And so it was. The strong 'Shaman' that was blowing over the past few days is gone and the sea breeze is not yet established. Chief Race Officer Peter 'Luigi' Reggio stayed out on the water all day, looking for the breeze and trying to find a solution. He waited until 4:00 PM to take the only possible decision as the night falls at 5:30 PM.

The match racing event will be held in one day tomorrow. The ten strong RC 44 fleet will be split in two groups, with every team completing a total of five flights. There will then be a final series between the first and second, third and fourth, fifth and sixth etc.

The racing will start according to the schedule at 11:30 AM.