America's Cup: "Let's hope like hell"

The series of breaks in the challenger series for the America's Cup shows no sign of abating. Sailors and fans no longer primarily hope for exciting sailing duels, but above all for both boats involved to finish a race at all. With a score of 2:1 in favour of Team New Zealand, who are overwhelmingly superior to their Italian opponents, three breakages have decided the outcome of the duels. Race postponements have also ensured that there has hardly been any time in the final of the Louis Vuitton Cup to thoroughly prepare the demolished and vulnerable boats for the next duel.

TV commentator Ken Read, American skipper of the "Puma" in two Volvo Ocean Races around the world, is as frustrated as most sailors and fans and said after the third duel: "We just want to show everyone good racing that they can appreciate. But today in particular there seems to be an endless series of obstacles. Maybe we should just put the sailors on Melges 24 at this point, who are training for their world championship here near the course. And show everyone!"

Like most of those involved, North Sails man Ken Read practised functional optimism on Tuesday: "The silver lining on the horizon? I firmly believe that we will see some real racing soon and forget the frustrations. The day off is clearly necessary so that the technical teams can localise the next problem before it occurs. Let's get out on the race course on Wednesday and hope like hell that the boats and the wind limit co-operate."

Read explains: "One thing is for sure: when you mix things like wing sails and flying boats and safety wind limits (which are below the typical wind force for this time of year), the good things only happen to the patient." One thing seems clear to the optimist Read: "The best is yet to come. And then we will soon have forgotten these frustrating days in August."

The final duels 5 and 6 are scheduled for today. Ken Read will again attempt to commentate on the action for ESPN3 and in the replay on YouTube. Whether he will be allowed to talk about sailing or breaking or even have to commentate on further race cancellations will be revealed in the late evening German time.