America's Cup- Emirates Team NZ Fans must wait another day for Race 14

by Warren Douglas on 22 Sep 2013
Disappointment today for fans throughout New Zealand gathered in front of television – big screens at public venues throughout the country and smaller at home – to watch race 14 of the America’s Cup.

Once again the San Francisco race venue was not following the fans’ script. The city awoke to rain and very little breeze – and it was coming from the wrong direction.

It was the first heavy rain seen since Emirates Team New Zealand set up its base and, as any local would tell you, it never rains in San Francisco in Sept.

Because of the wind direction, race officials could not set a proper course in the race area. An alternative course was available but the teams were not prepared to risk losing a very important race on a course area where they had had not spent any time sailing and had not studied conditions there.
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The race was postponed at 2.40pm (San Francisco time) which is the latest allowed time to start a race. The wind was strong enough to race, but the direction was too far south.

Emirates Team New Zealand leads 8-3 and needs one more win to take the America’s Cup for the third time (1995, 2000). Oracle needs to win six consecutive races to retain the trophy.

The weather tomorrow is expected to be better for racing.