America's Cup - Strong winds force cancellation of all racing on Day 2

by Richard Gladwell, Sail-World.com NZL on 26 Jul 2015 Strong winds gusting to around 30kts forced the cancellation of all racing in the first of the America's Cup World Series.

The series has ended with just one of the two days racing being completed.

Earlier organisers had decided that due to severe wind and weather that is forecast to deteriorate this afternoon, racing on Sunday would start at 12:00pm noon local time, not at 1:30pm as previously scheduled.

According to the latest forecast from Predictwind winds are expected to be averaging over 25kts and gusting around 30kts at race time.

Real time wind observations showed winds gusting to 29kts in the race area about 30 minutes before start-time.

The upper wind limit that has been agreed for the 35th America's Cup Regatta (of which this event is part) is for winds to be no more than 25kts. It is not known if organisers are using the bizarre wind limit adjustment using a theoretical tide speed and direction that was used in San Francisco in the 34th America's Cup.

The America's Cup World Series Organisers have issued a request for the Waterfront Fan Zone and the Festival Arena sites at Southsea to be evacuated (11:20 Sunday 26 July) . . . Wind gusts reached 35+ knots at 11:15 hrs.


Official Statment

After discussions with the America's Cup organising committee due to extreme weather we have had to take the difficult decision to cancel today's racing and Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series event programme, and the site has been closed for the day, Sunday July 26.

We had hoped to go ahead with early racing, but with winds gusting in excess of 30mph we could not risk the safety of the crews and public, and their welfare is paramount.

Due to high winds the Waterfront Festival Arena and Fanzone Arena is now closed, and we ask public to leave the event site.

Nic Douglass gives a quick preview of conditions