Oracle tactician John Cutler believes the challengers have seriously weakened Alinghi's chances of beating Team New Zealand by agreeing to such restrictive wind limits in the challenger series.
Russell Coutts' Swiss syndicate Alinghi line up against Team New Zealand for the America's Cup in the best-of-nine series startingon February 15.
But unlike the challenger series, which had wind limits, the America's Cup match has no such restrictions.
It will be up to the principal race officer, Harold Bennett, to make the call whether to start and quit racing for the safety of the crews.
For racing to start in the Louis Vuitton challenger series the wind had to average between seven and 19 knots over a five-minute period.
If it exceeded an average of 23 knots over a five-minute period during racing, the yachts went back to base.
Nineteen of 55 race days were abandoned because of the weather. On several of those days, racing could have gone ahead had the upper limit been extended by just two or three knots.
"The wind limits we agreed to were way to low," Cutler said.
"They were significantly lower to what we raced in last time. I think if it does become windy, just as it is likely to in February, then the challengers might be found wanting."
In the last challenger series the limits were slightly wider. Racing was postponed or abandoned if it dropped below five knots, and it had to consistently exceed more than 23 knots at the other end of the scale before it was called off.
This time the challengers opted for stricter limits, believing it would better prepare the challenger for the lighter conditions expected in February.
Therefore, Alinghi's race boat SUI64 would have been built with those lighter conditions in mind.
But should it blow stronger, Cutler believes the Swiss could be in trouble.
"I think they [the wind limits] have worked against us.
"Although everyone knew what they were I don't think everyone appreciated just how low they were," Cutler said.
"With an average of 19, it may have blown 22 knots for a short burst and suddenly the whistle was blown and racing was called off.
"A lot of the times it was perfectly acceptable sailing conditions, but we were just one knot outside the limit, so it was called off."
In the last America's Cup, conditions were light. The first three races were held in 10 to 12-knot winds.
