The first event of sailing's America's Cup World Series in Italy next month will not go ahead because of the coronavirus.
Team New Zealand AC75 Te Aihe sailing off Auckland. Photo: Richard Gladwell/Sail World/Photosport
Cup holders Team New Zealand confirmed on Friday the regatta due to be held in Cagliari on the island of Sardinia from April 23-26 would not start as scheduled.
A Team New Zealand statement said a formal announcement on the future of the event would be made in due course.
"It is quite obvious that the ACWS Cagliari event cannot go ahead.
"The teams are collectively entering discussions on a solution to create an equitable outcome for everyone around the loss and/or availability of sailing time due to the change of circumstance as a result of the global COVID-19/Coronavirus situation."
The Cagliari regatta is the first of three World Series events - alongside Portsmouth, England in June and Auckland in December.
The World Series leads into Auckland's hosting of the America's Cup challengers regatta in January and February next year and Team New Zealand's defence of the Cup in March.
