<div><p>The two yachts that are do battle for the America's Cup remained stranded in port for a third day Tuesday due to bad weather, less than two weeks before the controversial event is due to start in eastern Spain.</p><p>The massive trimaran of US challenger Oracle - featuring a 50-metre fixed-wing sail - is scheduled to face Swiss defender Alinghi's huge catamaran in the Spanish Mediterranean port of Valencia over three legs from February 8-12 to decide the 33rd edition of yachting's most prestigious event.</p><p>Concerns had already been raised about holding the event in mid-winter in the Mediterranean, when it risks being disrupted or delayed by rough weather.</p><p>The crews began training off Valencia more than a week ago, but the weather conditions have forced them to remain in port since Sunday.</p><p>Winds of more than 30 knots and waves of more than three metres were forecast off Valencia for Tuesday.</p><p>"We are trying to get out as soon as possible, maybe Thursday..," said a spokeswoman for US challenger Oracle.</p><p>The bad weather is "unfortunate but expected at this time of the year..," Alinghi's weather specialist, John Bilger, said on its website. "It's an interesting place to have an America's Cup in February!"</p><p>Local newspaper Las Provincias said the start of the event could be delayed until February 12 if the region is hit by further storms this week.</p><p>Continuing legal procedures in New York have added to the uncertainty over the event.</p><p>The Supreme Court of the State of New York is expected to rule on Thursday on an Oracle suit against Alinghi that accused the Swiss defender of infringing nationality rules by allegedly using US-made sails for its catamaran.</p><p>Oracle and Alinghi - owned respectively by US software billionaire Larry Ellison and Swiss biotech billionaire Ernesto Bertarelli - have been arguing over the rules of the America's Cup since Alinghi won the 32nd edition of the oldest competition in international sport in Valencia in July, 2007.</p><p>The New York court ruled in April that the Cup should be settled by a one-on-one multihull duel between the two sides in February instead of the traditional fully-fledged regatta involving several teams.</p><img src="http://admatch-syndication.mochila.com/images/ad.gif?aid=67831755&bid=informcom" /></div><div id="copyright"><div>

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