Guessing game waiting for babies

By Suzanne McFadden

The race is on for two new Young Americans - will they arrive before their dads go into battle for the America's Cup?

The wives of two team-mates from the Young America challenge are due to have their babies early next week, on the first two days of racing in the Louis Vuitton Cup challenger series.

Tactician Jim Brady and his wife Julia are expecting their first child on Monday - the day of race one. She (it's a girl) is sure to be a sailor - both her mum and dad won medals at the 1992 Olympics.

Baby Braun is due on Tuesday, to Kelly and JB Braun, Young America's sail design manager.

If Julia Brady goes into labour early enough, her husband will be able to get someone to take his place in the crew so he can be at the hospital. "I'm worried about dragging him off the boat - what if I think I'm in labour and it's a false alarm?" Julia Brady said.

Braun is hoping he will be Brady's replacement on the boat, unless Kelly also goes into labour.

But if both babies decide to arrive during race one? "We've decided JB will have to take care of both of us," Julia Brady laughed.

This will be the third child for the Brauns, after 9-year-old Ryan and Hayley, 7.

"New Zealand has been a good place for us," said Kelly Braun. "Hayley was conceived here when JB was sailing in the Flying Dutchman worlds."