We left Te Aroha this morning en route to Auckland. We took the coastal route, skirting the west coast of the Firth of Thames.
We got to Auckland about 11.30 ready to check out where we should be for our trip out for a match race between two America's Cup boats. A quick lunch, then we popped into the maritime museum just acros the quay.
The two boats being used for the afternoon's racing were very similar boats from the 1995 race and a later one. They were exactly as used in the racing, with the exception of a smal side rail for safety and the additional of an engine for getting in and out of the harbour.
On our boat we had four crew and 13 passengers, the other boat had more passengers as there was a large group of tourists who all elected to be in the same boat. Each boat had 4 grinder posts, each operated by two people, for driving the three main winches. These could be used to hoist the main sail, or to adjust the main or jib sails whilst racing. It was the passengers job to operate the grinders under instruction from the crew.
Having agreed a course with the other boat a marker was dropped to mark the starting line. The race start time was agreed between the boats, with each having a 10 minute countdown during which the boats manoeuvred for position to get the best start.
We sailed two legs either way over the course, using a cruising chute on the downwind section. That was when the crew got a chance to relax; the upwind section was a mass of commands to operate the grinders to get the most speed out of the boat whilst tacking.
I'm not sure what speed we achieved, possibly 12 knots, but we were certainly the fastest boats in the harbour!
Everyone got to operate the grinders at some point, though I have to admit that it felt more like trying to keep up with the speed of the handles than really contributing any force on the occasions that I tried.
During the race there was a lot of tactics involved, and a lot of very close encounters with the other boat, at high speed. Each boat was constantly trying to get a small advantage out of the wind and the heading they chose, and using the rules of priority to gain an advantage by forcing the other boat to give way.
I'm pleased to be able to say that our boat won the race! Not that easily, but finally very convincingly.
We sailed on for a short while in the harbour, whilst those who wished had a turn steering the boat. One of the features of the boats which impressed us was the turning circle of the boats, they could turn 360 degrees in their own length.
After the sailing we drove to Robert and Stella's house in Auckland where we are staying for the night. A delightful meal and chat, then it was time for bed!
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