The officials had to stop racing for the day after a lightning storm during a qualifying match between New Zealand, the defending team, and Italy in form on Tuesday.

A bolt hit the sea as Italy was leading New Zealand. As holders of the "Auld Mug", they did not have to qualify for the second round of the competition.

Italy won the race after New Zealand pulled out of the race due to a near lightning strike. They were racing in sleek carbon fibre AC75s that resembled 'foils'.

Officials decided to cancel the remaining races due to dark skies in the Mediterranean and conditions that appeared worsening.

The Louis Vuitton Cup round-robin phase will determine which of five potential America's Cup challengers -- Britain, France Italy, United States, and Switzerland -- is eliminated.

The four teams that survive will compete in a semi-final for a spot in the final. This will determine which team will challenge New Zealand to win the oldest sporting trophy in history, first won in 1851 off the coast of England.

America's Cup campaigns cost tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars, and they are now fought in the latest racing machines that some compare to Formula One cars.

In the other race on Tuesday, the second half round-robin began, Switzerland won a crucial first victory of the series. They beat France who had technical problems and took off their hydrofoils to stay in the competition.

Italy is the leader, with four victories, followed by Britain with three, then by the U.S., with two, and finally by Switzerland and France with only one each. (Reporting and editing by Ken Ferris; Alexander Smith)

(source: Reuters)