KEY POINTS:
Prime Minister Helen Clark's chance to experience America's Cup racing close-up was thwarted today by the weather, with lack of wind forcing sailing to be abandoned off Valencia.
Clark was Team New Zealand's "18th man" for the syndicate's sole race of the opening day of the Louis Vuitton Cup challengers' series.
As NZL92 left the waterfront, it was farewelled by 18 Maori warriors in the waka Te Ika a Maui.
But conditions for racing were unfavourable from the outset and light, fickle winds of just three to eight knots triggered a series of delays.
Organisers finally decided to call it quits 2-1/2 hours after Team NZ's contest against Italian rivals Mascalzone Latino, the first in the regatta, was due to have started.
Clark's schedule meant she left the cup venue later in the day.
Team NZ spokesman Warren Douglas said she enjoyed her time as part of the crew although she hadn't been able to see any racing.
Today's LV Cup programme has been switched to the first reserve day on Saturday (NZ time).
Weather permitting, competition will now begin tomorrow with Italian syndicate Luna Rossa, America's Cup finalists in Auckland in 2000, facing newcomers Team Germany.
Team NZ's two races will be against the third Italian entry in the 11-strong fleet, +39 Challenge, and France's Areva Challenge.
Both are in the bottom half of the challengers' rankings and given little hope of making the LV Cup semifinals.
However, +39 did upset Team NZ in light airs in a pre-cup regatta in Sweden two years ago, when the New Zealanders were over the start line early.
Clark was among a group of well-known figures invited on cup boats today.
American syndicate Oracle, skippered by New Zealander Chris Dickson, had German model and actress Tatjana Patitz as their 18th man.
Luna Rossa also went the showbiz route, with actor Ashton Kutcher, husband of Demi Moore, and actress Chloe Sevigny their VIPs for their two races of the day.
Meanwhile, Mascalzone countered the prime ministerial presence on NZL92 with Italian rugby captain Marco Bortolami.
- NZPA
