Yachting: Strong winds keep Cup boats off water

VALENCIA - Strong winds and rough seas kept both Alinghi and BMW Oracle from training ahead of their America's Cup race tonight (NZT).

Cup holder Alinghi decided against even launching their catamaran from Port America's Cup, while American challenger BMW Oracle launched their trimaran - with president Larry Ellison onboard - but eventually decided to abandon their planned practice.

The American challenger had wanted to test out some sails but said conditions made training "too risky."

"If it wasn't the day before a race we would have been out there," BMW Oracle skipper Jimmy Spithill said. "We'll see what tomorrow brings and if it is like it was today we'll be out there."

The first race was called off on Monday due to light, unsteady wind and the start of the three-race series was put back to Wednesday.

Both teams are hopeful of good wind conditions then but are also expecting choppier waters. Another postponement would shift the first race to Friday.

The northwest front that blew into Valencia on Tuesday is expected to continue into Wednesday and create a good sailing breeze, although boats are not likely to race if waves are larger than a meter.

Spithill said dealing with the choppy conditions was part of the challenge, although there is always a limit.

"We've pushed this boat really hard," the Australian said. "On a boat like this you push hard but you always keep a bit in the bank because if something like (capsizing) were to happen it would be catastrophic."

Crews remained optimistic despite the Valencia winter throwing up erratic conditions.

"This time of year, it's pretty up and down," Alinghi meteorologist Jack Katzfey said. "We'll get a race-off eventually, it just might take awhile."

Ellison seemed keen to get onboard USA-17 a day after Alinghi counterpart Ernesto Bertarelli - who will helm the Swiss champion's multihull - said "winning the America's Cup for a sailor means being on board." Ellison had previously said he would only sail the second race.

"He's pretty keen to sail, and he hasn't spent much time sailing with us. I think he would like to race," BMW Oracle tactician John Kostecki said. "(But) he's going to race when he's comfortable with us."

The Deed of Gift, the 1887 document that governs the event, does not allow for races to be sailed on back-to-back days. The recent conditions illustrate how difficult this regatta could be, especially when wind patterns vary across a race course that encompasses 644 kilometres.

Part of the problem is Valencia is an east-facing coast, according to BMW Oracle meteorologist Chris Bedford, who said conditions are better on west-facing coasts.

The teams are finally settling their differences on the water after the sailing classic was disrupted by a bitter court fight that lasted 2 years, leading to the Mediterranean city hosting the series in less than ideal winter conditions.

Because Alinghi and BMW Oracle Racing couldn't agree to rules for a conventional regatta involving several challengers sailing for the right to meet the defender, a rare head-to-head showdown will settle the America's Cup between two of the fastest, most powerful sailboats ever built.

- AP