WELLINGTON (Reuters) – America’s Cup holders Workforce New Zealand (TNZ) had been hoping to get some much-needed match racing underneath their belts on Friday however had been left to race alone after the three difficult syndicates withdrew from the official apply periods.

All 4 yachts have had quite a few apply periods this week to permit officers to check their techniques forward of a pre-Christmas regatta subsequent week.

The periods concerned the high-speed AC75 foiling monohulls going face to face within the begin areas and finishing upwind and downwind legs of the race programs.

The holders, nevertheless, had been the one crew to go out onto the Hauraki Gulf on Friday with Britain’s Workforce INEOS UK, American Magic and Italian crew Luna Rossa all selecting to stay onshore.

The British crew haven’t been sighted on the water since Tuesday once they suffered some mast harm and needed to be towed again to their base with out formally beginning any racing.

American Magic additionally missed Thursday’s session whereas the Italians stated that they had finished sufficient this week.

“The blokes are all tremendous drained after we had a very lengthy session yesterday,” a Luna Rossa spokesperson advised the New Zealand Herald on Friday.

“They’ve simply had sufficient (apply). We can’t be going out over the weekend both. Nothing earlier than Monday.”

Yachting commentators have stated TNZ had the very best of this week’s periods, demonstrating superior straight line pace and higher dealing with and crew work within the begin field.

American Magic’s crew underneath New Zealand-helmsman Dean Barker, nevertheless, regarded assured of their dealing with of their yacht, whereas Luna Rossa regarded robust heading upwind.

The pre-Christmas regatta, which begins on Dec. 17, is the one alternative TNZ have to check themselves towards their rivals.

The challenger sequence runs from Jan. 15-Feb 22 earlier than the winner takes on TNZ for the America’s Cup from March 6.

(Reporting by Greg Stutchbury; Enhancing by Peter Rutherford)