AmericaOne Racing Is Further Delayed

The possibilities of further delays to Louis Vuitton Cup racing loomed large in Auckland today, with less than 24 hours to go to the already-postponed final day of racing in Round Robin One.

By day’s end, AmericaOne’s races against Young America and Young Australia 2000 had been postponed to Thursday. And weather watchers were studying the advance of an approaching cold front that threatened to wash out racing on Wednesday with winds of 20-30 knots.

The Race Committee will make a decision on any possible weather delay at 0630 hours Auckland time on Wednesday morning.

This afternoon the International Jury granted the AmericaOne syndicate an additional 24 hours to complete repairs to its boat, damaged in a collision last Saturday. The jury acted after the Measurers reported that repairs, which have already consumed three days, were only 50 per cent complete this morning.

In an added twist, the Swiss FAST 2000 syndicate announced that it will not sail tomorrow because repairs to its boat be hAPpy will not be completed in time. However, if racing is delayed tomorrow, it will probably race on Thursday.