Skippers competing in the King Edward VII Gold Cup witnessed for the third day in succession just how unpredictable life in the ?Bermuda Triangle? can be, as the threat of a severe early afternoon thunderstorm put paid to yesterday?s quarter-final action in Hamilton Harbour.

With the storm moving in from the south-west with potential 50-knot winds, thunder and lightning, event chairman and past Royal Bermuda Yacht Club commodore Les Crane made the inevitable announcement to postpone the round at 1.20 p.m.

Hamilton Harbour will now become a beehive of activity as event organisers plan to complete the quarter-finals and semi-finals today, weather permitting.

Bermuda?s own Blythe Walker is among the eight quarter-finalists who also include defending champion James Spithill of Australia.

Walker, who remained upbeat yesterday, has been matched against Finland?s Staffan Lindberg in the third of the four quarter-finals.

?It is a bit anti-climatic and I would?ve preferred to be racing today ? no question about it. But given the circumstances you just have to roll with the punches,? a philosophical Walker told

Spithill, who was nearby when Americans Mark Ivey, Karl Anderson and Eric Booth were struck by lightning during Wednesday?s opening day of the prestigious regatta, applauded event organisers for a quick decision.

?It would have been nice to have completed the quarter-finals, but I think it?s the right decision given what happened the other day,? he said.

?But we look forward to having some good wind on the weekend and I?m sure we?ll have no problems finishing the race.

?It is a little disappointing and the weather is a little bad, but it probably was a bit too risky, the boats are old and in the end I think it was the right decision.?

Sweden?s Bjorn Hansen concurred.

?It was a good decision by the organisers not to allow us out there after what happened on Wednesday. So I think they did the right thing,? he said.

?But we were quite focused on sailing today and now we have to mentally go down again and begin building up again tonight.

?However, I think this will be the same for everyone and not really a big deal.?

Today?s skippers? meeting is scheduled for 7 a.m., with the first signal scheduled for 8 a.m.

Presently there is no plan to reduce the round from its current first-to-three points format, while the semi-finals will be held as soon as the quarter-finals have been completed.

The Gold Cup then reaches a climax tomorrow with the final scheduled to be held in Hamilton Harbour, starting at 10 a.m..

Today?s quarter-final schedule: James Spithill (AUS) v Eric Monnin (SUI); Bj?rn Hansen (SWE) v Ian Williams (GBR); Staffan Lindberg (FIN) v Blythe Walker (BER); Chris Law (GBR) v Mathieu Richard (FRA).