America's Cup: Fluky wind still keeps boats sidelined

AUCKLAND, New Zealand — There was no sailing again in the America's Cup yesterday, just some gamesmanship on another lazy afternoon on the Hauraki Gulf.

Race 4 between Alinghi of Switzerland and Team New Zealand was postponed for the third time in four days, taking the steam out of the Swiss team's march toward history.

The race committee waited nearly three hours after the scheduled start before calling off the race due to light wind that was shifting as much as 40 degrees.

The race committee rescheduled the race for today, which had been a lay day. If the race goes off then, it will be the first sailing in six days.

The Swiss lead 3-0 in the best-of-nine series, and are trying to take the America's Cup back to Europe for the first time in 152 years.

Principal race officer Harold Bennett radioed the boats to seek the crews' permission to stay out past the 3:30 p.m. deadline and try to get the race in.

After a pause of several minutes, Alinghi tactician Brad Butterworth replied: "We're keen to go, Harold."

Team New Zealand navigator Mike Drummond said his crew was concerned the breeze might not last and that the Kiwis had to ask their weather team.

The New Zealanders didn't seem too keen because it's believed that their boat doesn't perform well in light conditions.

But when Bennett checked again, Drummond called Alinghi's bluff, saying the breeze might strengthen, so the Kiwis were willing to wait.

Some of the Kiwi crewmen smiled, and the Alinghi sailors weren't as jovial as they had been.

But after the boats bobbed around for another half hour, the race was off.