KEY POINTS:
The frustrating opening to the America's Cup challengers' series continued into a second day today, with the 11 competing yachts again forced back to port without getting across the start line.
While Valencia produced beautiful weather for tourists -- clear skies with temperatures just above 20deg C -- there wasn't enough wind to allow crews to set sail in the Louis Vuitton Cup.
Organisers said the spring sun had insufficient power to heat up the land and produce the renowned Valencia sea breeze which offered consistent conditions.
Top-ranked challengers Team New Zealand were to have commenced their campaign with matches against Italians +39 and France's Areva Challenge.
But after crews and spectators waited more than two hours for the breeze to fill in, racing was abandoned.
"Racing crews are used to waiting for the wind and they're philosophical about delays," Team NZ spokesman Warren Douglas said.
"The crew on NZL92 is keen to go racing. Sooner or later they will."
Today's matches will now be slotted in next Monday and Tuesday (NZT), the latter being the second reserve day.
The first reserve day, Saturday, is already taken up with yesterday's postponed races.
Tomorrow, weather permitting, Team NZ will face Spain's Desafio Espanol and South African syndicate Shosholoza Challenge.
Desafio, who can rely on hometown support, are considered potential semifinalists in the LV Cup.
They are in the second-tier of contenders behind the big three of Team NZ, Americans Oracle and Italy's Luna Rossa.
The colourful Shosholoza team, who are making the first cup bid out of South Africa, are seen as outsiders to finish in the top four.
The LV Cup, comprising two round-robins, knockout semifinals and a final, will decide who will battle Swiss defenders Alinghi for the Auld Mug in a best-of-nine match from late June.
Organisers picked Valencia as venue for this year's America's Cup because of its settled weather.
But conditions have been unstable in recent weeks and also caused delays to the preliminary Louis Vuitton Act 13 regatta last month.
- NZPA
