Louis Vuitton Cup - Round Robin 1 - Day 4: All races cancelled again, but..

Correction: A small error slipped through! BMW Oracle is of course racing (or better said waiting to race) the Louis Vuitton Cup with USA-98 not USA-87!!

This is becoming overly stressing and unpleasant but we have to report, for the fourth consecutive day, that no racing took place in Valencia and the Louis Vuitton Cup has still to get off the ground. When all the racing yachts as well as all media, spectator and support boats came together at the race course, at around 1pm, the sight was discouraging. There was not a sign of wind anywhere, the sea was completely flat and a horrible haze was covering Valencia's sky.

But, and this is probably the most encouraging part of the day, at around 4pm the breeze picked up, first in the south and then in the north course. The north course's race committee in fact moved quite south and tried to establish the start line. All four boats (BMW Oracle, Luna Rossa, Areva Challenge and +39 Challenge) hoisted their mainsails and jibs and started their prestart maneuvers and some upwind sailing.

An easterly breeze of 7-8 knots appeared but didn't hold on. The breeze was unstable and subject to wide changes in direction. It was then getting too late and at 5pm the race committee decided to send everybody home.

We are a little bit more optimistic and that's why we inserted the "but" in the title. All 11 crews are by now impatient to sail and the moment we get a decent constant breeze we will certainly witness great racing.

Last but not least, an interesting opportunity to watch (and photograph) USA-98 arose, while the American yacht was warming up. Despite the light winds at the end of the afternoon, observers were impressed by the boat's maneuverability and acceleration.

BMW Oracle's USA-98 carrying out prestart maneuvers while waiting for the race committee to signal the start of flight 7. Unfortunately, this was not to take place. Valencia, 19 April 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

BMW Oracle's USA-98 carrying out prestart maneuvers while waiting for the race committee to signal the start of flight 7. Unfortunately, this was not to take place. Valencia, 19 April 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

BMW Oracle's USA-98 carrying out prestart maneuvers while waiting for the race committee to signal the start of flight 7. Unfortunately, this was not to take place. Valencia, 19 April 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

BMW Oracle's USA-98 carrying out prestart maneuvers while waiting for the race committee to signal the start of flight 7. Unfortunately, this was not to take place. Valencia, 19 April 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

ITA-85 of +39 Challenge with the old Alinghi mast. The Italian team will try to put the repaired new mast on Thursday evening and if possible race with it on Friday. Valencia, 19 April 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing