Never mind the wind speed, keep an eye on the clock

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Team New Zealand were only a polite "no thank you" from opting out of Sunday's second America's Cup race.

As the minutes ticked away, principal race officer Harold Bennett had to get approval from both syndicates before letting the race start beyond the 3.30pm deadline.

"The match conditions which were agreed to two or three years ago by both the defenders and challengers had 1530 hours (3.30pm) as the time by which races had to start," said Bennett.

"Only with the agreement of both skippers are we allowed to start later than that."

Bennett called both boats on Sunday when it became obvious the huge spectator fleet would have to be moved to allow racing.

That took the start time beyond the deadline, even though the wind had picked up sufficiently to allow racing.

The call to Alinghi was answered with a prompt "no problem". Bennett's call to Team New Zealand eventually received the same reply.

Asked if there was any reason for the short delay, a Team New Zealand spokesman said yesterday it was merely to give the afterguard a minute or two to discuss it.

There was never any suggestion Team New Zealand would not race once the wind picked up.

"If one or other syndicate had said they did not want to race, that would have been it," said Bennett.

"We would have all packed up and gone home."

Bennett has been accused by some quarters of allowing races to start only in conditions which might be more favourable to Team NZ.

He has dismissed such speculation, saying his only brief is to ensure races start in "fair conditions".

Bennett and his race committee have long, testing days.

As race officer appointed by the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, Bennett starts with a 7am weather report.

He has a breakfast meeting at 7.30am, then an 8.15am briefing involving his weather team, the mark-laying team and his race committee.

"Once we have had a good look at everything and made a decision on the part of the Hauraki Gulf likely to be the most favourable for racing, I email that information to both syndicates," said Bennett.

"It is wrong to talk about three courses, as we often see on charts of the gulf.

"I have one area bounded by the Whangaparaoa Peninsula, the Noises and the East Coast Bays in which to set a course. There are no other restrictions."

Once on the gulf, Bennett works closely with the 10 people with him on the committee boat, the three weather boats with two people on each, and the two mark-laying boats, which have five-man crews.

Without the 7-to-19-knot wind restrictions imposed for the Louis Vuitton Cup challengers' series, Bennett can start races in virtually any conditions.

"But, we have to be aware of what we are dealing with.

"In 2000, we had problems with too little wind and raced many times in winds at the lower end.

"But as we saw from Alinghi on Saturday, these boats can handle the heavy conditions. Only if the winds get up to and over 30 knots would we have to look at things.

"I think the restrictions at both ends in the Louis Vuitton were silly.

"Too often racing was called off when conditions were almost perfect."

Continuous coverage of today's America's Cup race will begin on nzherald.co.nz at 12.30pm.

nzherald.co.nz/americascup

Racing schedule and results