Barcelona saw some dynamic and fast-moving conditions today with a northerly airflow switching east but ushering in significant rain showers and the ever-present threat of thunderstorms coming off the hills to the north of the city. With the risk of lightning coming across the designated racecourse of the Louis Vuitton Cup, shortly before 1330 CET, Race Director Iain Murray took the sensible course of action in instructing the yachts to cease sailing and return immediately to harbour.
The precautionary move on the part of the Race Director was fully respected by all the teams with further instructions that the Race Committee would be monitoring the situation with the intention of starting racing later in the afternoon. Unfortunately, at 1610 the decision was taken to cancel racing for the day with the wind just not settling, despite the storm clouds clearing, and the boats, who had re-set up along the Barcelona waterfront, towed back to harbour.
The morning was not without drama for the French team, however, who suffered a nosedive during practice and were forced to return to their base to repair unspecified structural damage. A sterling effort ensued by the Shore Team and with minutes to go before a scheduled start against INEOS Britannia, the AC75 was fast-towed to the racecourse. The wind Gods played in their favour, however, and the subsequent delays allowed them to get race-prepared but the ultimate cancellation of today’s racing will give the shore team more time to repair any damage incurred.
We now look to Monday when the Race Committee will attempt to conclude the closing day of the Round Robin stage of the Louis Vuitton Cup. For Orient Express Racing Team, who will take on the hard-charging INEOS Britannia in the first race on Monday, the deal is simple. Win and they have every chance of forcing a play-off against Alinghi Red Bull Racing. Lose and they are eliminated from the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup.
For the Swiss, who will face a dangerous Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli after their first Challenger defeat on Saturday to the British, they are in for a tricky battle but will know their fate (or exactly what they need to do) with their race being the second on the race schedule behind ‘Le Crunch.’ If the French secure a win, then it’s maximum pressure on Alinghi Red Bull Racing who would need a win against the Italians to avoid a winner-takes-all race-off.
Meanwhile at the top of the standings, Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli and INEOS Britannia could be locked in a tie for first place if the British win against France and the Italians lose to the Swiss. That also would force a play-off for the top spot in the Louis Vuitton Cup semi-finals with the winner getting a significant advantage in being able to select both their opponent and the side of the starting line entry in the opening match.
Whoever tops the standings at the end of the Louis Vuitton Cup Round Robin stage will announce their selection of opponent at the pre-semi-final Press Conference scheduled for Friday September 13 at 1100 CET.
For shoreside spectators in Barcelona, Monday is going to be a raceday not to miss. The free-to-enter Race Village and Fanzones at the Plaça del Mar and Bogatell will be open from midday for fans of the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup to secure the best viewing spots and settle down for an afternoon of pure high-octane AC75 entertainment. Barcelona truly is the epicentre of the yachting world right now.
A defining day to come tomorrow with variables aplenty at both the top and bottom of the Louis Vuitton Cup fleet. This is going to be fascinating.
