Racing cancelled due to lack of wind

January 27, 2007
Racing cancelled due to lack of wind

Racing in the Auckland Match Racing Cup was cancelled today due to lack of wind on the Waitemata Harbour.

The teams were due to complete the semi-finals today and best-of-three matches for the minor places from 5-10.

The teams never made it onto the water, however, as a glassy calm settled over the race area. After re-assembling twice during the morning and early afternoon to reassess the situation, regatta organizers pulled the plug and sent the teams home.

Tomorrow, the top four teams led by Dean Barker (NZL), Ian Williams (GBR), Mathieu Richard (FRA) and Adam Minoprio (NZL) respectively will race in the semi finals, finals and petite finals.

The remaining places have been settled according to the finishing order after the double round robin as follows:

5. Eugeny Neugodnikov (RUS); 6. James Spithill (AUS); 7. Simon Minoprio (NZL); 8. Brian Angel (USA); 9. Simon Dickey (NZL); 10. Takumi Nakamura (JPN).

Race officer Ross Markwick said the forecast for tomorrow is a good breeze from the north-east direction with 15-20 knots. He said racing should be underway by 10am.

"With the current forecast, sailing will start and finish immediately outside the Squadron, which means it's a great opportunity for people to come down to Westhaven and see the sailing up close."

The sail-offs for places 5 to 10 would not take place and have been decided based on the round robin results of racing from Wednesday, January 24 to Friday, January 26.

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Editor’s Note:
The Auckland Match Racing Cup is a grade-one international event and entry to the competition is by invitation only. The majority of the New Zealand America’s Cup Race Committee has been reconvened to oversee the event and the competition has been officially sanctioned by the International Sailing Federation (www.sailing.org).

The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron has hosted international match racing events since 1979, initially as the Citizen International Match Racing Series, then the Steinlager Cup and now there is the new era of the Auckland Match Racing Cup.

For more information please visit www.aucklandmatchracingcup.co.nz

ENDS

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