Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

The first race of the 33rd America's Cup between Swiss holders Alinghi and U.S. challengers BMW Oracle was abandoned because of unreliable wind, further delaying a bitterly fought event.

The race between the hi-tech, multi-hull boats has been reset for tomorrow night, the next scheduled sailing day in the best-of-three regatta off the Spanish port of Valencia.

The unique boats finally took to the water to race after more than two years of sometimes bitter legal battles between Swiss biotechnology and banking billionaire Ernesto Bertarelli's Alinghi and Oracle software mogul Larry Ellison's team.

The regatta had been scheduled for 2009 but was delayed by legal battles over hosting rights and technology which led to a three-race series without the usual challengers regatta.

Crew members aboard Alinghi and BMW Oracle had a frustrating, cold and wet wait of almost four hours more than 25 km (16 miles) off shore before heading back to port.

Alinghi's navigator Juan Vila felt it was a good decision to postpone....