America's Cup: Stronger winds tomorrow

Emirates Team New Zealand (right) and Land Rover BAR (left). Photo / Richard Hodder / Emirates Team New Zealand

Well what a day today and tomorrow looks like even stronger winds on the Great Sound!

The PredictWind forecast for the America's Cup course area is for averages in the low to mid 20 knot range with gusts into the 30s! Remember the upper wind limit for racing is a 24 knot average (which means gusts higher than this). It will, therefore, be marginal for racing - but I am sure Ian Murray the Race Director will be under pressure from both Softbank Team Japan and Land Rover Team BAR to get the boats on the water and get races underway if the average wind speed allows it.

The predictive models are all in close alignment so this increases our confidence in their accuracy. It will be windy tomorrow!

PWG: 20-38 knots
PWE: 21-35 knots
GFS: 22- 35 knots
ECMWF: 21-29 knots

The race schedule is as follows:

Semi final 1: Race 4: NZL vs GBR
Semi final 2 Race 4: JPN vs SWE
Semi final 1: Race 5: GBR vs NZL
Semi final 2 Race 5: SWE vs JPN

The days following are for more moderate winds with 11-14 knots forecast for Thursday Bermuda time (Friday in NZ) - so if no racing is able to be held tomorrow then there will be up to three races held the day after.

Here's hoping Emirates Team New Zealand can get all the repairs they need to completed on time?