Race boss denies being influenced by Team NZ

By SUZANNE McFADDEN

Unhappy about not racing in the America's Cup yesterday, Prada could only shrug their shoulders. "Domani e un altro giorno" - tomorrow is another day.

But tomorrow, and for another week, they fear the winds of the Hauraki Gulf will be just as light, and their chances of sailing just as unlikely.

There was general unrest on the gulf yesterday as Team New Zealand and Prada waited almost three hours for a start in race three.

The Italians, already 0-2 down, wanted to get going and paraded up and down in front of the race committe boat trying to prove there was enough breeze to start.

Their New Zealand opponents, however, were not so keen.

Accusations began floating around on what little breeze there was that race director Harold Bennett, who once coached Team New Zealand skipper Russell Coutts, was being influenced by the Kiwi crew.

His answer last night was blunt: "Incorrect."

Team New Zealand tactician Brad Butterworth brushed off claims that the Kiwis did not want to sail in their boat in light winds against Luna Rossa.

"Believe me, we're not afraid to go racing in light air," he said.

"But it's not good for anyone if it comes down to luck.

"A light day is like watching the grass grow."

Prada navigator Matteo Plazzi put his side simply: "We are a little unhappy we didn't race. We had planned to have a race. We felt the conditions were good enough to race."

Bennett said he agonised over starting yesterday, but felt the breeze was stronger at one end of the course than the other, and it was shifting around 40 degrees.

It hardly rose above seven knots all day.

Before the Cup match began, both challengers and defenders agreed to an unwritten rule not to start racing in below 7.5 knots.

"And I said at the time I would not start in variable winds," Bennett said.

There was plenty of finger-pointing at Bennett yesterday - one of them belonged to the man who did his job in the challenger series, Vince Cooke.

"I think Russell Coutts was influencing Harold Bennett's decision out there. Pundits say his boat is slower in light airs," he said.

"But I would have started a race today. I was convinced by 3pm that the breeze was reasonably consistent.

"Sure it was light, but that's what February is supposed to be in Kiwiland."