Cup opener postponed

The opening race of the 33rd America's Cup between two-time defending champion Alinghi of Switzerland and American challenger BMW Oracle Racing was postponed Monday because of unsteady wind off the coast of Valencia, Spain.

The giant multihulls USA and Alinghi 5 floated idly near the start line for nearly four hours in the cold before the race was called off. Officials will try again on Wednesday to get in Race 1 of the best-of-three series.

The teams are finally settling their differences on the water after the sailing classic was disrupted by a bitter 2 1/2-year court fight.

Monday's conditions illustrate how difficult this regatta could be. There were reports that there was 6 1/2 to 10 knots of wind at the top mark. The problem was, that mark was 20 miles from the starting line, so the two areas were in different weather patterns.

- The Associated Press