Americas Cup Opening Parade & Ceremony, Auckland New Zealand, 28 September 2002
Let the battle begin!
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| Prada Challenge is led into the parade by the Italian Navy Band from Rome, flown to New Zealand especially for the parade. |
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On September 28 national pride from the seven nations in the Louis Vuitton Cup was on full display, emphasising that countries were about to come head-to-head in a Titanic maritime battle.
It was a complex mix of formal pomp and ceremony, laced with expectation and excitement. The opening parade and ceremony marked the start of the America's Cup season and it seems everyone, sailors and spectators alike, were in a state of nail-biting anticipation.
A festive parade
The parade was enjoyed so much by the teams back in 1999, that this time they had intricately plotted and planned their participation. Prada was preceded by the Italian Navy Band from Rome (flown to New Zealand courtesy of Prada's Mr Bertelli). The Swedish were accompanied by Abba impersonators, Oracle BMW Racing supporters were kitted out in San Francisco 49er American football uniforms, whilst the British paid homage to the fabulous antihero, Austin Powers. Also accompanying the Brits was the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers. Despite their colourful regalia and faultless drumming beat, these were no mere drummer boys. Fresh from serving in Kosovo, the trip to Auckland to play in the America's Cup parade was for these soldiers, light relief in comparison.
Multimillionaire Peter Harrison lines up in the parade with the Austin Powers car - a symbol of British pride.
Photo credit: Emma Sutcliffe |
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Over 100,000 people lined the streets to watch the teams strut their stuff – encouraging cheers were shouted out to all teams. As the parade wound into to the American Express Viaduct Harbour, it was time for the formalities to start. Led by Sir Hugh Kawheru, Maori kaumatua (elder) of the local Ngati Whatua tribe, the Maori powhiri and haka had all the foreign visitors enraptured. The formalities also included a video tribute to Sir Peter Blake. Fittingly, it was introduced by kiwi legend Sir Edmund Hillary, who found international fame in 1953 when he conquered Mount Everest. Unabashedly emotional, there were many damp eyes and lumps in throats as the video concluded – followed by a standing ovation from the audience who all knew they were here in Auckland precisely due to the vision of Blake.
Show me the money
It was the second half of the ceremony when the fun and games really began. It's not news the Cup is about ego, money and prestige. So when Larry Ellison sounded his superyacht's fog siren as his team, Oracle BMW Racing took to the stage, it was taken as a battle cry by the other billionaires around the viaduct. British and Italian superyacht owners were soon locked into a cacophony of fog sirens in support of their team. In a battle of whose horn was loudest, whose boat was largest and whose pockets the deepest, Larry Ellison edged them out. Ellison's superyacht 'Katana' is berthed in the middle of the viaduct, in full view of the hundreds of thousands of visitors who visit the village over the Cup season. For an insight to the lives of the filthy rich, a trip to the American Express Viaduct Harbour is a must.
As the clouds began to roll over, the Opening Ceremony of the America's Cup season drew to a close with entertainment from Hinewehi Mohi, Annie Crummer Jackie Clarke and Phil Marsden, the Auckland Pacific Gospel Choir, Pacific Tamure, the Royal New Zealand Navy Band and the Sky City Cheer Team.
Moving from the opening ceremony, the teams laced up their party shoes for the much anticipated Louis Vuitton Crew Party...
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