Puff or blow, Cup rivals keen to go

By SUZANNE McFADDEN

The prospects are good for a full weekend of racing in the America's Cup, even though the two combatants are calling the weather differently.

Prada's weather team predicts light winds for much of the coming week, but rivals Team New Zealand say the breezes will blow strong.

The Kiwis' call for today is 10 to 14-knot southerlies - ideal Cup sailing weather.

Two out of four racing days were abandoned after the race committee decided the wind was not strong or stable.

And, as fate would have it, the wind has blown harder on lay-days than race-days.

One of Team New Zealand's weathermen, round-the-world sailor Kevin Shoebridge, said tomorrow's forecast was for a little weaker breeze, but the rest of the week would fill in well, about 15 to 20 knots.

Fans at Viaduct Harbour are often perplexed why there is wind in the Waitemata Harbour but no racing on the Hauraki Gulf.

"A 15-knot southerly on the Waitemata Harbour only gets as far as North Head and then it's battling the sea breeze," Shoebridge said.

"We concentrate on a three-mile radius of racetrack, where you're dealing with sea temperature, cloud cover and a lot of little islands that just affect that area."

The Prada crew took advantage of a solid 12-knot breeze yesterday, spending five hours in spirited jousting between the two Luna Rossas.

But Team New Zealand's crew, who thought there would not be a breath of wind, were given a full day's rest.

Auckland Mayor Chris Fletcher yesterday confirmed that there would be a big public celebration to mark the end of the Cup.

She could not give details of the event but expected that both teams would take part.

"Whichever team wins, we are going to have a great party worthy of the occasion and I am thrilled with the support we have been offered by other councils in the region."