Day 46 - Auckland, Sailing

Day 46 – Tuesday 25^th February 2014 – Auckland, Sailing

When I booked up the America’s Cup yacht sailing, I was also given a voucher for free entry into the Nautical Museum.

America's Cup Winning Yacht

Replica of Cup

Ashore, it has many exhibits under cover and many boats floating outside.  I did not have much time and concentrated on the yacht racing section and this is the yacht which brought the America’s Cup to New Zealand.

These are the racing yachts, they did not take part in the America’s Cup, but were used for crew training and 68 feet in length with a 120 feet mast.

Togged up

After a very short safety brief we were allowed to go on board, there was a permanent crew of five young lads and seventeen of us makie-learner sailors.  Most of the others were a group of Norwegians on a three week holiday.

Leaving the Marina

Outside the marina, the main sail was set by the crew after giving instructions to us makie-learners working the grinders, which are two men operated winches.  I volunteered for the forward group and on commands, worked the grinders forward or backwards, until the sail was up, with one reef in it.

The self-furling fore sail came out easy enough and we trimmed the sail using the same forward grinders.  With quite a breeze, we set off in a westerly direction to the Auckland Harbour Bridge.  There was some discussion as to the state of the tide and if we get under the bridge, but there was no problem, as we headed up the inner harbour. 

Enjoy

The wind was picking up and gusting and we were going along at a rate of 12 knots.  At times heeled over, with the lee gunwhale near to the water, and a little spray over the bows, very exhilarating.

 

We sailed about a mile past the bridge and tacked her round onto a reciprocal course.  There are two steering positions on the yacht, side by side and separate by the main sheet winch in the centre. 

What Course Skipper

Will I Miss TheBridge

When it was my turn to steer, I took the weather side and it did not need much movement of the wheel to alter course, and the boat was quite lively in the gusts.  A great feeling, as you had control when quickly accelerating, while trying to keep her on course.

Auckland Harbour Bridge

I handed over the wheel to another volunteer just before the bridge and we carried on down this wonderful harbour, passing the city sky line looking magnificent in the sunshine.  We went passed Devonport, the Naval base and made our turn at the end of the headland and proceeded back to the marina. 

When we returned to the quayside, everyone requested, if we could do it all again, as we had all enjoyed it so much.

It was a pleasure to be involved in sailing on this type of yacht which is the water equivalent to a F1 racing car.  An experience, I will never forget.