SCHEDULE PUSHED FORWARD AS MORNING RACING ABANDONED AT THE PUIG WOMEN’S AMERICA’S CUP

Once ashore, the Race Committee announced that they were recommence the Group A, America’s Cup Teams, qualifying at 14:10 CET with three races planned. Following this series conclusion, the intention is to sail up to four races of the Semi-Final series.

Everything is weather dependent and there is confidence that the wind will settle this afternoon and produce enough wind to get racing underway. The wind direction is still to be determined with several wind models showing a variance.

It’s going to be a dynamic day and with the podium places on the line in Group A, the elite athletes of the Puig Women’s America’s Cup will need to find consistency as well as a healthy dose of patience to achieve passage to the next round. Athena Pathway, Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli and Alinghi Red Bull Racing are currently sitting on the podium, the question is: will they be there when the series concludes? And how will the top two teams be decided. Everything to play for.

CHECK BACK HERE AT 14:10 CET FOR LIVE COVERAGE FROM THE RACECOURSE OF THE PUIG WOMEN’S AMERICA’S CUP

All the boats are on the course and cloud cover is coming in. The Race Committee are wind-sampling and waiting for it to settle above the minimum 7.5 knots. Stand by. When we do get racing it will be Race 6 of Group A that will get away first.

Race 6

After a significant delay, finally racing get underway at 3.40pm with the Race Committee making the lower end of the wind limit at 7.5 knots. Ahead of the start, all the boats stay high above the line - staying on the foils is everything - and they are all sailing high angles. As they line up to start, SUI and USA fall into displacement and struggle to get going again, and in the final seconds, Athena Pathway falls off before the Race Committee abandons the start. Stand by.

After another short delay, racing is slated to get underway at 4:05 CET and the Race Committee have confirmed that this will be the final race in Group A - putting maximum pressure on the results.

Prior to the start, all the AC40s are high above the line, again trying to stay on the foils. The legs of the course are just 0.8 nautical miles and the racecourse is tight with lots of disturbed air to avoid. With a minute to go FRA are off the foils and struggling to regain flight. Off the line both NZL and SUI are over the line early as GBR comes in at the starboard end of the line and tack immediately to the right. GBR tack at the right boundary and come back across the course, ITA are the closest to them mid course.

At the top mark, with the top three coming in on wide angles, GBR round the starboard marker first and head left (looking down the course). ITA are in second and take the port marker crossing over USA in third who follow GBR. SUI are in fourth but fall off the foils at the windward gate are in the sights of NZL who had an awful time re-starting but are now nearly back in this race. GBR fall off the foils downwind and lose the lead mid course along with ITA, allowing USA to take over at the front.

Frustration for SUI as NZL catch up and pass just around the windward gate whilst out front USA are still on the foils before the Race Committee announce that they are stopping the race.

The Race Committee announce another attempt to start racing at 4:30 CET with the wind just making the limit. High pressure now and no room for mistakes but it’s marginal conditions and very difficult for everyone to stay in flight. As the clock ticks down FRA are off the foils and SUI make a great one down at the port end. ITA tack over to the right followed by GBR. NZL and USA are forced to restart. All boats sailing wide angles and ITA fall off the foils at the right boundary after the first tack. SUI clear ahead at this stage and survive a touchdown mid course whilst protecting the left side of the course.

GBR and SUI gaining out to the left whilst NZL that started well behind has now caught up to third and are playing the right of the course. At the first gate, SUI round the starboard marker and head left down the first run whilst GBR goes to the port marker and heads right, closely followed by NZL. USA are fourth and ITA fifth. Very wide angles downwind to stay on the foils - this is anyone’s race but SUI stay ahead mid way down the leg as the wind briefly fills. All boats going boundary to boundary to minimise manoeuvres. Into the final quarter of the leg and GBR gain having come across from the right side of the course on a puff.

At the leeward gate, GBR round the port marker and head to the right side of the course upwind. SUI and NZL struggling around the leeward gate with SUI forced to tack round to try and stay on the foils and fall into displacement. NZL stay flying and overtake SUI into second. NZL head to the right side of the course before tacking on GBR’s line and heading to the left side where the pressure looks to be building. SUI are now in 5th and could miss the cut here if they can’t get foiling and NZL stay in 2nd. Big pressure all round.

At the final windward gate, GBR bear away at the port marker with NZL just behind and both boats wanting the right side of the course (looking downwind). SUI are back and foiling and need to overtake one boat to make the Semi-Final. USA are third around the gate. Down the run, NZL trails GBR hard, trying to close the gap and force the overtake. A great gybe from GBR brings them into the line with NZL second.

Now it’s a tense wait to see how the pecking order stands. USA and ITA are coming fast down this short run ahead of SUI - any mistake here and SUI will be in the Semis. USA crosses the finish line for third. ITA come across the line in fourth and with SUI in fifth, it confirms the top three as GBR, ITA and NZL.