New Zealand, Americas Cup Harbor -Oct. 1, 1999

Position: New Zealand, Americas Cup Harbor -Oct. 1, 1999

We have just completed a 2-month Pacific Ocean cruise, Tahiti to New Zealand. June stayed on board for this 3,000 miles adventure. She is now an experienced yachtee! We had average seas with easterly trade winds, which were excellent for sailing and little need to motor. The last day the wind switched to the west and picked up to 35 knots of headseas. We had some "green" water over the pilothouse as we entered the New Zealand waters. The New Zealand leg was 5 days of sailing for 1100 miles.

We have cruised 41,000 miles with SeaQuell during the 3 years since the beginning of our venture. Our Pacific crossing and island cruising May to Oct. has been a great adventure into areas new to our lives. The Pacific is a very large ocean with an unlimited number of islands with Polynesian heritage. Countries that are trying to survive as independents with very little land and a large area of water to manage. The Pacific is full of small islands that only have yachts stopping by. Many of them are totally undeveloped with only a few natives living off the land and the sea. The favorable winds and currents with a minimum of unpleasant weather made our trip perfect and memorable.

Entering the Americas Cup Village Harbor we found a new industry being created for New Zealand. Construction cranes surrounded the new harbor, rushing to complete the modernizing of the buildings to contain condos, apartments, lovely restaurants, and a spectacular harbor in preparation for all the expected visitors and megayachts. The village harbor area is only 5 blocks from the center of the city and the new Space Tower (see picture), which has a breathtaking view of the harbor and beyond. The entire country is promoting the Cup races and the new millennium. New Zealand is anticipating and preparing for its being the first country to see the year 2,000. It was exciting to be surrounded by all this well organized activity. On a three-day weekend in Oct., 140,000 spectators walked through the village marina to look at the challenger race boats and the megayachts in the harbor.

We spent a week in the Americas Cup village before putting SeaQuell into dry-dock for a new teak deck, new paint and general repair after being at sea for a year. SeaQuell was built at Alloy Yachts of Auckland. Alloy has a slip in the center of the harbor reserved for all its returning yachts. SeaQuell is proudly berthed with the other 100+ private yachts in the Cup Harbor.

We are returning to the states, MN. and St. Croix for some time on land and to see the family. We will return to Auckland on Dec. 6
to see Round Robin 3 of the races. At the end of round Robin 2 our Stars and Stripes is in 3rd place and is the only boat that has defeated the leader, Prada from Italy.

We will be near the racecourse for most of the remaining races. Our guests, the Campells and the Hoopers, with children, will join us Dec.15 through Jan 15. We will have 2 of our children and 4 of the grandkids with us for Xmas and to welcome the New Year. This fulfills our Holiday wish list by having so many of the family to celebrate together. Todd will be joining us after the New Year.

The preliminary races, prior to Feb. 19 will not be on TV. You can follow the races on the Internet at www.americascup.ore We heard how great the set-up in Auckland was, but actually being here and being part of it all exceeds those expectations. See you on the racecourse.

(Previous Entry | Next Entry)

(Back to Ship's Log)