The race dates for2003
were announced Friday 2nd March by the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron.
The Commodore of the RNZYS, Peter Taylor, also confirmed that nine
challenges had been received from yacht clubs by the first deadline
for entries which was yesterday evening.
The 31st America's Cup is scheduled to begin on Saturday, 15th February.
The ninth scheduled race day in the best-of-nine series on Auckland's
Waitemata Harbour is two weeks later; on Saturday, 1st March, 2003.
The 'Saturday-Sunday, Tuesday-Thursday' schedule is a repeat of
the last America's Cup calendar and guarantees spectators racing
during at least two weekends.
If the America's Cup match goes to the full nine races, five of
those races will be during weekends to provide maximum exposure
to the global television audience. There are three reserve dates
in early March.
In a change from last time, the last two reserve dates are on consecutive
days to bring a faster conclusion to the regatta if it is prolonged
by adverse weather. |
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