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Alinghi crew members - Source: Reuters -
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The opening race of the 33rd America's Cup was abandoned on Thursday (NZT) for the second time because of unsuitable weather conditions, race officials said, prolonging a frustrating wait for the start of the regatta.
The best-of-three duel between Swiss holders Alinghi and US challengers BMW Oracle had been due to begin on Tuesday morning (NZT). The first race was rescheduled again for Saturday (NZT).
While Tuesday's race was called off because of inconsistent winds, Thursday's conditions appeared too strong and choppy for the fast but fragile hi-tech boats.
The Alinghi team, backed by Swiss biotechnology and banking billionaire Ernesto Bertarelli, did not even leave the dock in Valencia on Thursday, apparently deciding it was not worth the risk of travelling to the race area.
BMW Oracle said on their blog (bmworacleracingblog.blogspot.com) principal race officer Harold Bennett had called the race off about two hours after the scheduled starting time of 0900 GMT.
The unique boats will race after more than two years of sometimes bitter legal battles between Alinghi and Oracle software mogul Larry Ellison's team.
The legal battles over hosting rights and technology have resulted in two multi-hull boats sailing against each other in a 3-race final for the first time in the event's 159-year history.
Both boats are being raced for the first time and are capable of extraordinary speeds for sailing vessels but are believed to be fragile in heavier conditions.
Alinghi is a catamaran with a tilting mast 17 storeys high. BMW Oracle, a trimaran, has a unique wing-shaped sail and mast configuration bigger than the wing of a commercial jetliner.
