The magic of the Millennium Cup
One of the planet’s most glamorous sailing events is currently underway in Auckland – and no, I’m not talking about the America’s Cup. This is the Millennium Cup and instead of race boats, it’s floating palaces.
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| Super Yachts race out of Auckland in the start of the Millennium Cup 2003 regatta. |
The Millennium Cup is a collection of small day regattas for super sail and power boats racing on short courses with the big event being the drag race up to Kawau where the party-of-the-millennium is taking place. Sail boats have spent the last two days racing on the America’s Cup race course whilst power boats raced up to Gulf Harbour, play a round of golf, and race back to Auckland. As you do.
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| Super Yacht Alithia in day one of the Millennium Cup 2003. |
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On the first day of racing, Patrizio Bertelli’s Ulisee took the honours for Division One, not that he was at the helm. In keeping with the privilege of being rich, if the owners weren’t fully confident of their ability, or their captain’s ability, to race the yacht, they hired in the top guns of sailing: Prada skipper, Francesco de Angelis skippered for Ulisse, Paul Cayard skippered for Canon Leopard, Ipanema with Brazil’s Torben Grael, and Ian Walker skippered the 1914 31-metre Marconi gaff cutter Moonbeam (owned by GBR challenge millionaire, Peter Harrison).
On the big race to Kawau, Kiwi owner and skipper Neville Crichton, at the helm of his 90-foot water-ballasted race boat Alfa Romeo, blasted clear early and took the line with Mari Cha III in second, and Brazilian entry Ipanema taking third..
The largest sail boat entered was Perseus, 163.9-feet of luxury. Registered in Antigua, like most superyachts that seek a tax haven, the next biggest yachts were; Philanderer from Monaco, Alithea from Dusseldorf, and Phryne from Cowes. One thing is for sure, this race has international attention and yachts from all over the world have made their way to Auckland just for the fun of the Millennium Cup.
Of course, there are a hundreds of extras going up to Kawau but they are mere crew – nameless mortals who do the grunt work on board then get ousted from the exclusive affair on Kawau to the ‘crew party’ on Pah Farm. Tom Sharplin and Cadillac Dance band are providing the entertainment for the party that will no doubt go until it’s time for the race back to Auckland to start the next morning. Alas, their festive fare does not include caviar, nor do lobster tails get a look in. Instead there is a spit roast buffet and Steinlager. In the invitation to the crews to join the party, it was noted that there will be ‘linen napkins’. Whoppee.
So even if you are just a rookie cabin boy, the Millennium Cup has been, and still is, a heck of a lot of fun. After all, crewing these yachts is a pretty good gig and probably the closest you and I will ever get to being up close and personal with these beautiful craft. Like Modiglianis, Lambourghinis and supermodels, these exquisite maritime gems are beyond the reach of mere mortals so you can hardly blame us plebeians for being fascinated by these good ships and those who own them.
Get up to the Viaduct and check them out. And remember to pick your jaw off the ground once it’s fallen off. Happy sailing!
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