America's Cup & Prada Cup in NZ
Posted: 14 Feb 2021, 01:14
One of the few good things about our 14 day compulsory COVID confinement after our arrival in New Zealand, is where we are confined. The hotel is in Auckland on the waterfront, only some 300m from the Italian challenger's wharf and 500-600m from the Kiwi & English camps.
We are on the 6th floor overlooking the harbour. We've been watching the comings and goings of the yachts in the lead up to the final 13 race series to select the challenger.
Yesterday was day 1 - the Italians opened a can of wup-ass handing the Brits a 2 race sailing lesson. The speed of the AC75 foiling boats to me is remarkable - granted I haven't paid close attention to their development the last several years. Yesterday in race 2 they were doing 40-42kts in a 17-19kt breeze. Even when heading out of the harbour under sail to practice they were going past the powered vessels!
We are on the 6th floor overlooking the harbour. We've been watching the comings and goings of the yachts in the lead up to the final 13 race series to select the challenger.
Yesterday was day 1 - the Italians opened a can of wup-ass handing the Brits a 2 race sailing lesson. The speed of the AC75 foiling boats to me is remarkable - granted I haven't paid close attention to their development the last several years. Yesterday in race 2 they were doing 40-42kts in a 17-19kt breeze. Even when heading out of the harbour under sail to practice they were going past the powered vessels!