Yachties arrive in NZ for Louis Vuitton Pacific Series
23 Jan 2009
The world’s top yachtsmen have begun arriving in New Zealand for the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series, a friendly summer regatta that will bring top sailing teams together for the first time since the 2007 America’s Cup.
Many members of the 10 participating teams have also brought their families for the international sailing event and plan to holiday in New Zealand once racing is over.
Shakedown on the water
Hotels are filling up with international crews and teams have already taken to the water to get the feel of conditions before the regatta gets underway next Friday (30.01.09).
Racing takes place on a course within close view of Auckland city environs and large crowds are expected to follow the series over the next few weeks.
Rare sight for Kiwis
Already New Zealand sailing fans have been treated to a rare sight with Kiwi sailing legend Russell Coutts back at the helm of a New Zealand boat and competing in a practice session with Team New Zealand skipper Dean Barker.
Coutts is skipper of the 'Oracle' crew and although BMW Oracle Racing has loaned its two America’s Cup boats for the regatta, there is no guarantee Coutts and his team will race in their own yacht.
Modified boats
The two 'Oracle' boats and Team New Zealand’s 'NZL 82' and 'NZL94' will be allocated by a draw at the beginning of each race day, and all teams will have a chance for a shakedown in the four boats from tomorrow (24.01.09) onwards.
The boats have been pared back to make them as even as possible, thereby shifting the emphasis from boat-speed to the crew. Modifications have included repainting the 'Oracle' boats black.
As well as Team New Zealand and BMW Oracle (USA), other teams in New Zealand for the Pacific series are Alinghi (Switzerland), Team Origin (Great Britain), Luna Rossa (Italy), K-Challenge (France), Team China, Shosholoza (South Africa), Damiani Italia and Greek Challenge.
Super yachts and super stars
Some of the world’s super yachts have also begun arriving for the regatta. Auckland's Viaduct Harbour is filling up with vessels from Europe, America, Australia.
Many of New Zealand’s largest yachts are also in Auckland and some will be available for charter during the summer yachting events.
Craig Furlong, manager of the Viaduct Harbour Marine Village, said the Viaduct could accommodate about 120 boats and he was expecting most to be filled, in some cases by super yachts between 50 - 60m.
As well as the Louis Vuitton series, some super yachts are in New Zealand for the Millennium Cup from 9 - 11 February.
Mr America’s Cup
Pacific Series organiser Bruno Troublé, known to many as ‘Mr America’s Cup’ because of his 30-year association with the event, has also arrived in New Zealand.
Bruno Troublé said he is delighted to be back in Auckland, the city the Frenchman calls his home-away-from-home.
The Troublé family spent 18 months in Auckland during the 2003 America’s Cup, and Troublé's sons played rugby at the prestigious Auckland Grammar School.
Bruno Troublé’s wife Melanie is the descendant of a New Zealand grandmother and the couple’s "yacht of a lifetime" was built in New Zealand. The vessel sails under the New Zealand flag and is named ‘Wanaka’ in honour of a South Island lake that impressed the owners.
Sir Peter Blake's family are close friends, and Troublé’s family bought 'Seamaster' - the boat that the famed New Zealand yachtsman had built to study oceanic ecology.
New Zealand award
Troublé was awarded the Order of New Zealand for his work during the two America's Cup contests held in New Zealand.
Troublé says his idea for the Pacific Series was a way of getting yachtsmen back on the water.
When the Pacific Series ends on 14 February, Bruno and Melanie Troublé will head to the South Island with a dozen friends on a campervan trip.
More information:
International yachting fever relaunches in New Zealand
Top teams line up for Pacific yachting series
Summer fun on the water
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