Date with destiny postponed to tomorrow

Orient Express Racing Team's date with America's Cup destiny has been postponed for a day after unsettled weather in Barcelona led to a long delay and then the abandonment of racing until Monday.

Though frustrating for the race crew the postponement will allow the expert shore team to double check the boat overnight after a technical issue with the French challenger's AC75 yacht earlier in the day which occurred in the big swell off Barcelona.

Benjamin Muyl, Head of Design, said: “During the training before the racing we had some issues on board during a manoeuvre, so we had to come ashore to make repairs. It was a major team effort to get the boat sorted and back to the race area in time for the start.”

Coach Thierry Douillard added: "We are happy that we can put our boat back in the shed and make sure everything is ok, and hopefully we can have a really good day tomorrow."

The French challengers are set to face the British INEOS Britannia team tomorrow afternoon, a race they must win to remain in the 37th Louis Vuitton America's Cup.

SCHEDULE FOR MONDAY 9 SEPTEMBER

Match 28: FRA vs GBR
Start: 14:10
Port: ⁠FRA
Stbd: ⁠GBR

Match 29: ITA vs SUI
Start: time to be announced
Port: ⁠⁠ITA
Stbd: ⁠SUI

Match 30: NZL vs USA
Start: time to be announced
Port: ⁠NZL
Stbd: ⁠USA 

TBC: Match 31 (sail off if required)
Start time and entry sides to be announced