37th America’s Cup in Barcelona
The picturesque, stunning Mediterranean conditions of yesterday were replaced briefly today by conditions that multiple America’s Cup winner Glenn Ashby described as “downright atrocious,” from the commentary booth as the rain in Spain, that supposedly falls ‘mainly on the plain’ decided that Vilanova I La Geltrú would be its intended target on this, day one of the first Preliminary Regatta on the road to the 37th America’s Cup in Barcelona.
Race Director Iain Murray, initially delayed dock-out to 3.30pm as a fast-moving weather pattern looked to be passing overheard and offshore but as the teams eventually slipped their moorings from the Pendennis Marina, the pulses intensified, and torrential rain dumped down not only on the competing America’s Cup teams but the flotilla of spectator craft who braved the conditions to get close to the action.
The AC40s hoisted their mainsails with the majority going for their J2 jibs as 12-15 knots of breeze filled under a darkening, threatening sky but with the wind direction flicking around, as the storm clouds blew through, the wind shut down to be replaced by sheet rain and lightning strikes off in the distance. The only sensible and ‘seamanship’ decision as Iain Murray had briefed earlier, particularly with the boats being full-carbon construction, was to abandon all racing and send the sailors quickly back to port.
