Yachting: Racing abandoned - now there's too much wind

Team NZ wait before ther match race was suspended. Photo / Reuters

Racing in the challenger series in Valencia was postponed this morning due to too much wind.

The north course had a south-westerly of 26 - 30 knots across it. The south course had 24 - 28 knots. Gusts were in the low 30s.

As the afternoon wore on the wind fluctuated in the high 20s with gusts of more than 35 knots.

Race officers Peter Reggio and Harold Bennett abandoned the days racing at 4pm in Valencia.

The upper wind limit for the challenger series is set at 23 knots however that limit is not set in concrete and the decision whether to race or not is at the race officer's discretion.

Team New Zealand navigator Kevin Hall said they recorded 38 knots at the top of the mast.

"It reminded us for a good stiff south-westerly in Auckland. We have done a fair bit of sailing in that so we were excited," he said.

"We were definitely ready today and we'll be ready again tomorrow. This was always going to happen at this time of the year."

Hall said a low not too far away was the culprit. He said the low was moving away and the breeze was expected to drop.

In the 16 days the challenger series has been going there has only been six days where racing has been fully completed. On three days some races have been sailed and others postponed.

Flights three and four are scheduled to take place tonight. Team New Zealand will face +39 and Areva Challenge.