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Light winds wreaked havoc on the final day of competitive sailing before the America’s Cup challenge series begins in mid-January, with only one of the four scheduled races on Sunday being able to be started but abandoned after exceeded the 45 minute limit.
Photo: Photosport / Chris Cameron
Races cannot begin unless the wind is a minimum of 6.5 knots (12 kph), and while AC75 superfast monohulls have shown that they can reach more than three times the wind speed, they need to generate at least 15 speed knots to climb. its plates.
Race officials canceled the day’s race shortly before 6pm after abandoning the first race between defenders Team New Zealand (TNZ) and Ben Ainslie’s Team INEOS UK.
TNZ was 200 meters from the finish line in the race that was shortened to four stages, with Ainslie’s Britannia still in its second stage, having turned when the time limit expired.
Both boats were out of their foils and Ainslie found the funny side as they stalked TNZ as they headed downwind before the race was abandoned.
“It’s one of those days,” Ainslie said. “The only fun for us was the travel run back with the Kiwis.
“A little old-school navigation.”
New Zealand team flight controller Blair Tuke said it had been a frustrating time in the water, especially after the wind died down at the top gate in the fourth and final leg.
“Unfortunately we had to roll under all the last downwind and we finished 100 meters before the time limit,” he said.
“We’re a bit heartbroken that we didn’t finish it, but some good lessons overall.”
The British challenge has failed in light winds in the pre-Christmas regatta, which included the America’s Cup World Series that ended on Saturday and was won by TNZ.
Sunday’s race was part of the one-day Christmas Cup, where teams were seeded according to their World Series rankings and two races were guaranteed each.
TNZ will now not compete again until the America’s Cup begins on March 6, where they will face the winner of the Challenger series that is scheduled to run from January 15 to February 22.
– Reuters / RNZ
