Yachting: It's all a bit up in the air

By Suzanne McFadden

Right now, nothing is 100 per cent certain for the start of the Louis Vuitton Cup challenger series.

Racing is scheduled to begin on Monday, but it all hangs on the fickle Auckland weather.

The long range forecast for day one, round robin one, is for a weak westerly of 8-10 knots on the Hauraki Gulf racecourse.

If the wind is under five knots or over 18, racing will be postponed. Over 23 knots, and it will be abandoned.

Until 6.30 pm today, the challengers have no idea who they will square off against in their opening duel.

The pairings will be found at the opening ceremony in the Waitemata Plaza at the Cup village tonight, after the skippers have paraded down Queen St.

But like many things in yachting it is not that straightforward - before the draw there will be a draw to find who gets to pick out their opponent first.

There should be 11 boats at the startline - but you don't have to start in race one, round-robin one.

With only one point per win in the first week, the opening round is more of a shakedown, and in the rules you only need to make one appearance. But it's unlikely that there will be any no-shows on Monday.