Racing Is Abandoned For The Day - 16th October

Racing Is Abandoned For The Day - 16th October

PRESS RELEASE - Racing is abandoned for the day as strong winds blow into the Gulf of Valencia

Valencia, Spain, 16th October - Principal Race Officer Peter Reggio did everything in his power to start racing on Saturday afternoon, but was unable to squeeze off a start before the wind became too strong to assure safety for the America’s Cup crews and their boats. With the offshore breeze gusting above 26-knots, and forecast to build to gale force strength later in the day, Reggio abandoned racing shortly before 13:00 on Saturday.

Reggio and the sailing teams proceeded to the race course in the morning determined to get at least one start in before the wind became too strong. But it was clear that the wind strength was simply too high for safe racing. As the teams circled around the starting line, massive groans could be heard as rope screamed over the carbon drums on the winches. Spray was flying from the front of the boats, and waves were washing dow n the decks as the narrow bows on the America’s Cup boats knifed through the building seas.

“It was marginal at the start time, and the forecast is for the wind to keep building through the afternoon,” Reggio said. “We saw the wind jump by nearly 10-knots in the hour before the scheduled start to the high 20's, and with the forecast we had, this was a pretty easy decision actually.”

The Race Committee has now scheduled two races on Sunday with a first start at 11:40, on a race course located further to the South of the Port of Valencia off El Saler.

Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 3 – provisional leaderboard with total points and race finishing position
The Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 3 is scored on a high-point system, with the winner of the race receiving 8 points, second position 7 points, and so on down to the last place boat, which is awarded 1 point.

Team Name: (Total Points) Race # 1 2 3 4

Team Alinghi (2 7) 4 1 3 1
Emirates Team New Zealand (26) 1 2 1 6
Luna Rossa (20) 3 4 7 2
BMW ORACLE Racing (20) 5 6 2 3
K-Challenge (17) 8 3 4 4
LE DEFI (14) 2 7 8 5
Team Shosholoza (12) 7 5 5 7
+39 (7) 6 8 6 DNF

The Marseille Louis Vuitton Act 1 of the 32nd America’s Cup - Valencia, took place from the 5th through to the 11th of September combining Fleet and Match Racing. The BMW ORACLE Racing team was the winner.

The Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 2 of the 32nd America’s Cup - Valencia, is a Match Racing event that took place from the 5th - 12th October. Emirates Team New Zealand was the winner.

The Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 3 of the 32nd America’s Cup - Valencia, is a Fleet Racing event, from the 14th – 17th of October.

Racing for the 32nd America’s Cup - Valencia will continue in 2005 and 2006, with several more Acts in various locations, including Valencia, the Host City of the 32nd America’s Cup.

In 2007, a fleet race event will precede the Louis Vuitton Cup, whose winner will then race the Defender, Team Alinghi, in the America’s Cup Match in Valencia

SINCE 1851, THE AMERICA’S CUP HAS TRANSCENDED THE SPORT OF SAILING TO BECOME A SYMBOL OF THE PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE.

LOUIS VUITTON, ENDESA, GRUPO SANTANDER AND THE AMERICA’S CUP SHARE A HERITAGE RICH IN PASSION, INNOVATION AND EXTRAORDINARY HUMAN ACHIEVEMENT…

LOUIS VUITTON, ENDESA, GRUPO SANTANDER AND THE AMERICA’S CUP – THE STAGE FOR CREATING LEGENDS.

THE 32ND AMERICA’S CUP – VALENCIA ENJOYS THE SUPPORT OF NESPRESSO, ADECCO, DOCKWISE AND FORD; OUR SUPPORTERS, AND VALUABLE CONTRIBUTORS TO THE AMERICA’S CUP.

Contacts:
32nd America’s Cup Press Office
Paseo de la Pechina, 42
46008 Valencia - SPAIN

Email: media@americascup.com
Web: www.americascu p..com
http://media.americascup.com

Rights-free (for editorial) Photos are available for download for media use at:
http://media.americascup.com

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