High winds have taken their toll on the International One Design World Championship in Norway s racing was postponed on Thursday due to the adverse conditions.

Winds reaching 30 knots left the race committee with no other option but to pull the plug on the day’s scheduled racing, much to the frustration of the 20-boat fleet, which includes Bermuda helmsmen Patrick Cooper and Kelsey Durham.

“It’s not been easy sitting around waiting,” Cooper told The Royal Gazette.

“We came here to race but the race committee is doing a good job communicating with us and is not having us wait around for long periods.

“The race committee hopes to get three races in on Friday. Forecast is light and breeze might not fill in until noon.

“We have a 4.30pm time limit after which races will not start.”

It is the third time this week racing has been postponed due to high winds.

“Just frustrated third day they cancelled because it’s too windy,” Durham said.

Cooper is in thirteenth place in the regatta through five races, with compatriot Kelsey Durham in tenth.

Defending champion and multiple Bermuda International Invitational Race Week winner John Burnham leads the standings by a point over fellow American Tom Fremont-Smith, who was crowned IOD World champion when the island hosted the event in 2021.

Canadian and four-times Bermuda International Invitational Race Week winner Peter Wickwire sits in third, seven points off the lead pace.

The regatta, featuring the classic 33-foot IOD racing sloop, concludes on Saturday.