Double Trouble

December 15 has come and gone with no racing to be had. Theses last three days are the 16th, 17th & 18th days of scheduled racing that have been cancelled, 37.5% of the total. There are only two days left in the schedule to finish this first set of semi-finals.

As of tomorrow, they will try racing twice daily on a reduced course - 4 markers only.

For Alinghi & Russel Coutts, all there is to say is 'no worries'. They've outclassed Oracle to date and deserve to move on.

For oneWorld and Luna Rossa, the situation is quite different. The series is officially tied at 1. One team has to win 3 matches to pass. Which raises two major problems.

Firstly what happens if another day of racing has to be called off. Granted one could accept that the team that has a 3-1 record passes.

But oneWorld's situation means that an 8th race could be necessary in this round & it cannot be materially held within the confines of the LV rules. So we may end up with a 3-3 or 2-2 score on December 17th.

One could marginally accept a 2-1 verdict. But going to 2-2 or 3-3 and having the window for racing close is another conundrum. Would they go on racing on the 18th? Leaving only 1 days rest before the repêchage, or pushing those off by 1 days as well? Either way that would nullify the rules set out by the LV Cup.

There is lots of flack going around about having to cancel due to high winds. Then again, more races were cancelled due to lack of wind... Whatever the case, something is radically broken.

Being an LV Cup organisor is not an enviable position at the present time.