Yachting: Alinghi sails circles round rival

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Alinghi's owner Ernesto Bertarelli, right, waves from the helm of the Alinghi 5 boat as its towed into Valencia's port. (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa de Olza)

Alinghi landed the first shot on the water in the America's Cup against BMW Oracle last night despite the acrimonious best-of-three series being delayed.

The defending champion Swiss team sailed circles around BMW Oracle during a four-hour wait off the Valencia coast before the first race was postponed till Wednesday due to unsteady wind.

Alinghi president Ernesto Bertarelli said they did "a couple of tours" around the American challenger to send a message and to get a look at its three-hull boat.

"We want to have a race. All these hours and days that go by make it more difficult to wait," said Bertarelli, a biotech billionaire who is also Alinghi's helmsman. "We wanted to sail a little bit to show them that that's what we like to do."

Bertarelli didn't spot BMW Oracle president Larry Ellison on board his boat; the navigator is only expected to assume his role from the second race.

"He doesn't seem to be willing to be on his boat, which is unfortunate," Bertarelli said. "Winning the America's Cup for a sailor means being on board."

The 33rd edition of the sailing classic has been disrupted by a court fight lasting 2½ years.

Wind conditions are expected to pick up today. But choppier waters are also likely, meaning there is a good chance that another postponement is imminent.