Stakes rise

Dreams were both realised and shattered at the Puig Women’s America’s Cup when what was billed today as the final showdown between the America’s Cup representative teams yielded just one light air race and meant the competition will continue on Friday.

It was a difficult day for both the sailors and Race Committee in Barcelona as a forecasted southerly thermal breeze failed to materialise after the fleet had docked out early at 1100 CET in the hope of getting two quick-fire races in when the wind settled.

But when the Race Committee’s wind sampling failed time and again to get above the minimum 7.5 knots an initial call was made at 1145 to send the boats back to port to wait for the afternoon breeze. However, almost immediately afterwards a new ‘Gregal’ breeze from the north-east filtered in and the boats were instructed to stay on the racecourse.