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The light winds could spell one last day of America’s Cup racing in Auckland, with the possibility of it approaching the 7pm limit.
Regatta Director Iain Murray said forecasts suggest the wind will hover around 4 knots in the usual 3:00 p.m. countdown. M., Below the required minimum of 6.5 knots, but should reach a regatta level later.
The races are moved to the outermost A course to take full advantage of the available winds, and the order of the knockout races has been changed to decide the winner of the Christmas cup as soon as possible.
Organizers will be on the water earlier today marking the limits for the spectator fleet, after a one-hour delay on Saturday when the course moved but the spectator boats did not.
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“We will have races, it is the time we have to wait for them,” was Murray’s conclusion for the fourth and last day of the preparation regatta with the four America’s Cup teams.
Yesterday’s delays were due to a combination of factors with the way the fleet of thousands of spectators was managed.
Murray said the buoys marking the fleet’s boundary were in place, but the fleet’s “first arrivals” did not see or observe them.
“As soon as some settle in, it’s a stampede to get to where the front row is perceived to be,” Murray said.
Ricky Wilson / Stuff
The NZ team passes a boat of spectators during day 3 of the America’s Cup World Series in Auckland.
He urged the boats leaving today to tune the communication on VHF radio if possible, and observe the spectator limit and anchoring restrictions.
Between 25 and 30 official ships were put into service to help push back the spectator fleet, and Murray did not think the number could increase today.
Race organizers are encouraging those heading to the water to register on the official website so they can get real-time information via text message or email of any changes, with 2,700 already registered.
The New Zealand team concluded the World Series event on Saturday with a thrilling win over Italy’s Luna Rossa in light winds that saw both boats come out of their foils and stall, costing the Italians a lead. early.
Unsurprisingly, Sir Ben Ainslie’s INEOS Team UK battled in bright conditions, a bad omen for today in the first race to pit them against defender Team New Zealand.
The American Magic, led by Dean Barker, will face Luna Rossa in the second “semi-final,” followed by the final, and then the race for third and fourth place.
