America’s Cup Challenger Races Postponed--High Winds

Gale-force winds at Fremantle, Australia, forced the postponement of the America’s Cup challenger races Sunday, with the match between Dennis Conner’s Stars & Stripes and the New York Yacht club’s America II rescheduled for today.

As gusts reached 47 knots sweeping over the two Indian Ocean courses, race officials decided even the heavy-weather 12-meters were not up to such an onslaught.

Neither Conner nor America II skipper John Kolius were able to practice for the first encounter between the U.S. yachts.

Kolius (5-1) was defeated by the unbeaten New Zealanders and needs to defeat the San Diego Yacht Club’s Conner (6-0) to achieve a top standing at the end of the first round robin, scheduled to finish Saturday.