Day 3 - Round Robin 1

The Races:

1st Race:

Damiani Italia Challenge bt. K-Challenge

2nd Race:

Team ORIGIN bt. Alinghi

3rd Race:

BMW Oracle Racing bt. China Team

4th Race:

Luna Rossa vs Team Shosholoza - Postponed due to gear breakage & high winds

Today started off weather wise fairly murky, quite dull & grey in Auckland today. By Mid afternoon, all that had changed as the wind shift came & the predicted 25knt breeze kicked up. Before all that though we had the 1st race, very nice, tight, well sailed race by Italia.

The next race was the one I had been waiting for. Alinghi Vs Team Origin. Great use of spectator fleet by Origin, forcing Alinghi in a series of tacks & turns. Incoming tide this morning at a tide turn of 12:30pm so with the course setting, the in flow pushed the boats more to the start line that one would want. In doing so, a great dial up by Origin, hard on the stern of Alinghi pusing them higher & higher and then, thinking they were smart and bang on the line, Alinghi crossed early, forcing them to tack back to re-start, all the whil

e Team Origin on starboard tack were flying away to a lead that Alinghi could not get in reach to attack. Race won & dusted, a loss to Alinghi, something they have not had to deal with for a while.

3rd Race between BMW Oracle Racing & China team was fairly predicatable, no surprises there. They were pushing to get all races completed by 2PM due to this 25knt wind shift to come through but given the last race, a headfoil on one of the Team New Zealand boats was damanged so the boat was taken back to the base to be repaired

 urgently while everyone waited, then on the tow out again, the winds came up like expected and the decision was made to pull the plug on todays races, no point risking further uneccessary damage to the yachts thsi early on in the regatta.

So the carry over will be Luna Rossa & Team Shosholoza racing their race tomorrow so I am told...will see how it plays out.

No word yet on Damiani's protest against ETNZ re points, so who knows.

I had a day out with my family today so I was not at the Viaduct but we did call in there on the way home where I got some shots of the newly launched 'Allogante' by Alloy Yachts only put down a few days before. Check the gallery for pics!

Races tomorrow:

1st Race:

Emirates Team New Zealand Vs China Team - Should be a walk in the park for ETNZ

2nd Race:

Greek Challenge Vs Luna Rossa - could be exciting given the evenness etc?

3rd Race:

BMW Oracle Racing Vs K-Challenge - Russell should surely have this one

4th Race:

Team Shosholoza Vs Team ORIGIN - Origin should get this

5th Race?:

Luna Rossa Vs Team Shosholoza - Another interesting even match up, will have to wait and see.

Catch you guys for more action tomorrow in apparantly lighter breezes!

Day 2 - Round Robin 1

The Races:

Race1:

Emirates Team New Zealand bt. BMW Oracle Racing

Race2:

Greek Challenge bt. Team Shosholoza

Race3:

Damiani Italia Challenge bt. China Team

Race4:

Alinghi bt. Luna Rossa

Interesting day with the match of the day with BMW Oracle vs Emirates Team New Zealand, or was many were calling it the 'Deano Vs Russell' race, which essentially heralded Russell Coutts's return to IACC cup class yacht racing.

Not bad by BMW Oracle but ETNZ got the shift they wanted, well spotted and pulled away to a good comfortably lead, not pushing it but enough so BMW Oracle never had a show of attacking. Nice & clean, match racing at its finest. 28s delta.

The Greeks put away Team Shosholoza without too much trouble, they are really coming out of their shell more and more and I think they are ones to watch out later on in AC racing. Good on them for coming to Auckland and getting stuck in. A wealth of talent there.

Damiani Italia Challenge, well what can I say. Another interesting note, DIC have filed a protest against LVPS/ETNZ due to the points scoring system, as ETNZ are apparantly taking points in these races, details are not clear as the protest is being heard by a panel tonight but sounds interesting, will keep you updated.

They put away China Team pretty well as expected.

The other BIG match of the day, Luna Rossa vs Americas Cup holders Alinghi.

Well sailed by Alinghi, smooth operators, put Luna Rossa away early in the start box, LR arriving late, never regaining Alinghi, thanks to the short courses.

Alot of people have been complaning about the lack of coverage for overseas fanatics.

Well do I have some news. Not only can you view at the TVNZ PAGE HERE the text & storys but you can also watch Virtual Eye HERE.

Great news, that should keep people happy. I think for the next regatta there will be more international interest so they will have to up the game on the boats with the TV camears and also TV coverage of the event overall. TVNZ are doing their best but given the time frame everyone had, they are coping.

I was not able to make it down to the Viaduct today as much as I would have liked to. I had a pressing meeting to attend which I could not afford to miss but rest assured, I will be there tomorrow with my father, who is coming down with me for a look so watch out for some pics coming your way tomorrow!

Races tomorrow:

Race1:

Damiani Italia Challenge vs K Challange (could be interesting)

Race2:

Alinghi vs Team ORIGIN (good match up, but I think Alinghi will eat Ben for breakfast & lunch)

Race3:

BMW Oracle Racing vs China Team (Russell, you better win this or I might loose the faith & you might loose your job!)

Race4:

Luna Rossa vs Team Shosholoza (Very even given their performances if you ask me, should be a good match race to see)

All in all, a good all round day of sailing in the City of Sails tomorrow.

Weather wise, they are looking at conditions much like today, not scientific I know but most people like it that way. Breezes around 14-20kts, light chop, SW approx allthough the wind was going around 20degrees today so abit of variation up the corners there of the course.

Catch you guys tomorrow!

DAY 1 - Round Robin 1

The Races:1st Race:

K-Challenge bt China Team

2nd Race:

Team ORIGIN bt Luna Rossa

3rd Race:

Emirates Team New Zealand bt Italia Challenge

4th Race:

Alinghi bt Greek Challenge

The Day:

Got to the Viaduct at around 7:30am, parked on 

Halsey. Village not open yet, so hung around. Seems like they were still putting the 'village' together as the day progressed as cre

ws from various signage & promo companys ran around setting up stages, boards, plants etc etc. But by the afternoon, most things were in place. 

The bridge from Te Whero across to the big area infront of the old pink Alinghi base works well, when there is not a heap of boats coming in or out (mainly at the start or end of race days). The whole area from the edge of the Team New Zealand base, all the way down the parking lot infront of the Alinghi base to the old Team New Zealand base is been transformed into the 'village' or a place where 

you can loose ALOT of money fast. For a start, Team Origin, BMW Oracle & Team New Zealand have merchandise stores along there. At around $100 for a shirt, your wallet gets lighter and lighter. Also in the Line7 tent (Where all the cool Em

irates Team NZ stuff is) there are old merchandise from teams from the 2007 Americas Cup as well as all the new Line7 official Louis Vuitton Pacific Series clothing, jackets, polos, t's, hats, you name it, they have go it.

There is also the Skycity Bar, quite cool, nice and big for mingling. Breakfast in the morning, allthough this morning not many people tried it out. Happy hour from 4-6pm.

Stage at the far end outside the old Team NZ base, quite cool actually as the public can stand in on the press conferances. 

No big boys there today really so I thought I would sit that one out and come home & write this, but come the elimination rounds, Ill be there!

The day overall was overcast, mildly cool, enough so I had to go buy one of those expensive jackets as I didnt bring one from home. Bugger.

Breeze 17+ knots. Drama? Not too much, everyone played it safe, except for Greek Challenge who smacked the bow of one of the BMW Oracle boats into the stern of the other resulting in some pretty hefty damage (so I have been told, b

ut not life threatening)

On the stern of the boats are what I have been told are electronic devices/wands that pick up if a boat comes to close to the other when it hits this protruding device. Nothing flash to my eyes, just looked like a bit of fluro string thread through a couple bits of conduit pipe out the back but who knows, it certainly must have been ringing bells when the Greeks charged foward!

Lots of people there, not crowded, give it a few more days yet. Tomorrow is a Saturday and no place turns out a spectator fleet like Auckland, so if the weather is better than today, expect a crowd, both in harbour & on water.

Oh, saw Larry's boat go out early this morning too, Zenji, lovely!

The Coverage:

The coverage of the event on TVNZ Freeview is good, not slick but good, I mean, its early days, they had delays and sort of what do we do now moments but overall, its better than nothing. Im sure they will flatten it out as time goes on. The radio from on the water is not that good, very scratchy and hard to follow, once again Im sure they will iron it out as it seems no one has had a practice run of anything, as I said before, they were still putting up signs and things this afternoon at the village and re-arranging things so it takes time. Remember we have another 2 weeks of this yet so plenty of time to get it right.

Big day tomorrow, here is the line up:

1st Race:

BMW Oracle Racing vs Emirates Team New Zealand (the one I have been waiting for, Russell Coutts vs Dean Barker!)

2nd Race:

Team Shosholoza vs Greek Challenge (Lets see what damage they can do this time)

3rd Race:

China Team vs Italia Challange (2 sort of evenly matched teams, Im picking Italia)

4th Race:

Luna Rossa vs Alinghi (Another good match up, Alinghi in the pocket but you never know with Luna Rossa sometimes)

Bye: Team ORIGIN

Its the Final Countdown!

Not long to go now guys.

Ill be there tomorrow morning to see the boats dock out. I have to go out & about my business in Auckland during most of the day but rest assured Ill be tuned into bFM 103FM for the LIVE sports coverage with the TV at home on Freeview SPORTS EXTRA for FREE coverage. 

I hope to get over to North Head to see the view from there tomorrow afternoon before popping back into town again to be at the LIVE press conferance.

Sundays through to Wednesdays the crews will be mingling with the public for autographs etc! Thrusdays through to Sat's, live bands will be performing ON STAGE every night. How cool is that!!!!

From 8-9AM each morning, the public are allowed in front of the ETNZ base to see how the boys do it, then join them for breakfast in the Skycity bar before they dock out.

Like they have said from the beginning, this is a party event...and EVERYONE is invited. So New Zealand, so true in sailing style, so Bruno Trouble! I cant believe our luck in NZ! This is truely a summer to remember and if you are not here, you have missed out BIG time. Im not one to rub salt into the wound but really, this event has eclipsed my wildest dreams of such an event in terms of public interaction, nothings really OFF limits where you need passes or security forms to get anywhere near the boats or crew, its OPEN for us ALL!!! Without US there would be no event so its only fitting! PR for Team New Zealand is building in NZ. After the failed defence of the Americas Cup in 2003, Team New Zealand was seen upon as had it, gone. In 2007 cup fever slightly gripped the nation where we nearly bought the cup home, but then with the cup in the courts, the public view had waned again.

NOW in 2009, with all this exciting stuff that the kids can get involved in too is happening down here, the public are now getting back behind Emirates Team New Zealand, but sailing in a whole again! How AWESOME IS THAT?????

I just cant imagine a more perfect regetta.

Lets hope it stays this way!

The final countdown has begun...More tomorrow night after the first races of the inaugural Louis Vuitton Pacific Series, Auckland 2009!

In harbour racing

Coming over the bridge today I saw the 2 BMW Oracle boats mucking around just off Princess.

Got a photo but its hard when your driving and taking a photo from behind while not trying to hit those concrete barrier things on the harbour bridge!

NZ Herald LVPS Official Programme

Go buy the NZ Herald today for your copy of the Official LVPS Programme!

Virtual Eye LIVE on Freeview & net

Virtual Eye, technology developed in NZ for the 1992 Americas Cup will stream LIVE on the internet and from Freeview Sports Extra come this Friday, a FIRST for the company, who are streaming this regatta LIVE.

See article here.

RACE SCHEDULE & ROUND ROBIN DRAW 2009

Louis Vuitton Pacific Series Race Schedule 2009

Louis Vuitton Pacific Series Round Robin Draw 2009

Podcasts

TVNZ News PODCASTS & NEWS

http://tvnz.co.nz/louis-vuitton-pacific-series-news

Practice makes perfect...

It was Team Origins turn this morning to race Team Shosholoza in the official practice races today on the water.

I managed to catch them just before they went out and got some shots. See in the gallery.

Banners are all around the Viaduct & Auckland promoring the LVPS today.

Signage workers putting the final touch on the 'gateway' on the end of Te Whero to the bridge across to the LVPS HQ (Old Alinghi Base) Next to Team NZ where is is getting done up for the whole ' Village' atmosphere.

There is something distinctly Kiwi about this whole regatta. No

 secrets, no hidden agendas, just pure sailing, pure skill, and keeping it REAL!

There seems to be a BMW Oracle takeover of the movable pontoon house with banners all over it etc. Wonder whats going on there.

Anyhow, the buzz is certainly up as we count down the last couple days to the first day of racing!

BRING IT ON!

LVPS Draw & Trophy

The Louis Vuitton Pacific Series Round Robin 1 Draw has been annouced along with the presentation of the new LVPS Trophy.

Pool A:

Emirates Team New Zealand

K-Challenge

BMW Oracle Racing

Italia Challenge

China Team

Pool B:

Greek Challenge

Team Origin

Team Shosholoza

Alinghi

Luna Rossa

Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta

Hey guys, 

What a weekend weather wise. Pefect for the regatta on Monday!

I trundle down to the Viaduct for a look around, take some photos, and what happens, the battery in the camera goes down! Too far to travel home to charge it so please mind the shear lack of photos this time around!

Anyhow, the bridge to the other side on Syndicate Row is up and running, accessed from the far southern corner of Te Whero Island.

The atmosphere in the air down there is electric with people running around, team members from all sorts of teams there getting rushed out to the boats in the ETNZ tenders.

Cannot wait for the racing to start this Saturday!

There is an awesome article on the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series website too of how relaxed and chilled the event has become, before it has even started. No secrets, just good sailing, good times, good people, good weather.

Everyone is enjoying themselves, meaning all the teams, having the ritual kiwi Friday Night BBQ at the ETNZ base, having a good talk with each other, friends from way back working for different syndicates, the barriers broken down, everyone getting along, talking again, like mates, or civilized human beings. So far from the whole saga of the sad Americas Cup, the way it has been treated since it left our shores. This makes me more determind to see the cup come back here and stay the way It should.

More media coverage

Here is a cool video of the teams, particulary the Greek Challenge out on the water practicing and a short interview with my friend Brookie!

TV1

Action a plenty in the City of Sails

Larry Ellison is expected in Auckland anytime now, as his 56m superyacht 'Zenji' has sliped into port in the Viaduct Harbour next to the old Team New Zealand 2000 base.

See the NZ Herald link HERE

In other exciting news, the official 'practice' sessions for the LVPS has been taking place since this Saturday here in Au

ckland with Team New Zealand already breaking a spinaker pole of BMW Oracles (whoops) then if that is not bad enough, almost run straight into a anchored tinny, narrowly missing it & getting its line around its keel, towing it down the harbour for a bit!

This might be possibly due to Emirates Team New Zealand lack of familiarity of the US yacht as they were both practice racing in BMW Oracle boats.

Throughout the series, the races between teams will be conducted in the equalised boat pairs of Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL84 & NZL92) & BMW Oracles (USA87 & USA98).

Crews have starting arriving in Auckland, see Emirates Team New Zealand's website for full article.

There is a special air in Auckland the moment, a friendly party, summer atmosphere which I will enjoy getting stuck into tomorrow for the Auckland Anniversary Regatta!

Its all on(line)!

The Louis Vuitton Pacific Series  official website is now ONLINE with some great photos of all the teams arriving in the City of Sails for the event. 

Interesting is the 'history' of the Americas Cup & how they seem to continually bash Alinghi without naming them, if you know what to look for, you will see it. 

They praise all past holders of the cup who have preserved and celebrated it fully.

Auckland Anniversary Weekend this weekend in Auckland. Amazing.

Personally, I have had the best weekend ever, with a family reunion at my family home, truely the best few days ever, put that with the regatta tomorrow, we have one hell of a good time!

Auckland has really turned it on for us all this summer here in Aotearoa, I love it, and if you are not here, well, its too bad, you should have been!!!

Emirates Team New Zealand gear is now online so go BUY NOW!

Lets show all the teams who come to Auckland a HUGE welcome, embrace them (except cough, Alinghi, cough) I know this is going to be great for Auckland, I dont mind who wins, just as long as all involved have a great time etc, I know that might sound all free n easy, BUT, that is what its all about is it not?