Strong winds threaten America’s Cup final race

SAN FRANCISCO -- America’s Cup officials are watching the weather, hoping that winds don’t grow too strong for Wednesday’s much-anticipated winner-take-all finale.

Conditions did not look promising in the morning, but the breeze had quieted by 10:30 a.m. PDT, boosting hopes that Oracle Team USA and Emirates Team New Zealand can face off at 1:15 p.m. on San Francisco Bay.

“There’s some confidence in the air,” regatta director Iain Murray said.

Oracle has stormed back to tie the best-of-17 series at 8-8. Wednesday marks only the third time in 162 years that the Cup has come down to a final race.

The weather has caused delays numerous times during this regatta. On Tuesday, winds let off just long enough to finish both scheduled races.

The maximum limit for Wednesday’s competition has been extended from 23 knots to 24.4 knots, but officials said they would push it no higher.

Murray talked about “some pretty hairy moments” in the regatta already, adding: “I know we’re all anxious, desperate, for this thing to conclude today.”

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