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:: The Fourth Update From Our
New York Team (27 August 2007)
Saturday, the last day, dawned very, very hot. Good breeze out of the inner
harbour. We had two races one of 2 legs and one of 3 legs. The sailors who sail
these J24's know the little tricks with strings and tweakers that make them go
faster. We are just pleased to do our spinnaker hoists and drops quickly and
professionally!! No disasters for the last 2 days. We are the most consistent
team here finishing 13th in practically all the races over the last couple of
days. Our Bowman is pretty exhausted but he has done a brilliant job. The deck
lizards (Kaye, Carol and Jan) are all battered and bruised. These boats are not
comfortable or easy to get round. Everything is in the wrong place and we keep
sitting on or banging into everything. Not a nice look Tahiti.
The presentation ceremony on the docks was pretty awesome. Our special friends
the Italians had brought lots of champagne and in the hot weather we were all
very merry. We exchanged t shirts and hats and came back to the hotel speaking
Italian and looking like Italians. Fantastico!! Then off to the Bubble Lounge
for the final evening and gift exchange between teams. The Irish gave us a
beautiful Irish Crystal yacht statue and some irish whiskey. We gave the French
"Dolly" our blow up sheep and some all blacks stuff and silver ferns. Presented
the Commodore Michael from MYC with one of our team
shirts and our club flag. Great, great night. Staggered back to hotel around
midnight.
Ciao everyone
Kaye
:: The Third Update From Our
New York Team (26 August 2007)
Hi Guys
All going great here. We have won the dance competition and the singing
competition but not so good on the sailing. Thursday we had 2 races abandoned
due to not much wind. We started out with a good start and were third and then
suddenly we were all going backwards. We ended up 9th. The wind always comes up
after lunch. By the way, after every race you have to go back into the dock and
change boats, a real pain cause it is not close to the race course, so you are
crossing the harbour in front of the water taxis, barges, giant boats a couple
of times. Good sailing breeze for the next race but chaotic starts with boats
colliding everywhere and much yelling. We avoided all this and the boats doing
their penalty turns with much dexterity. First spinnaker run was great but a
little miscommunication saw us mucking up the take down. This then made the next
spinnaker run a little hairy and we had an interesting downwind run on the
second leg (this race was 3 legs cause it was windy). The third downwind run was
much better and we ended up 12th. We still can't understand why we weren't last
after our poor spinnaker work. Floating clubhouse party afterwards and we had a
great time. We got everyone
up dancing, had a great meal and the "Body Shot" was interesting.
Friday 24th was very hot and nice but light wind. Trying to get 3 races in due
to missing one on Wednesday. First race 1 leg and we finished 10th. We had some
very slick spinnaker work though of course, being old people, we are a bit
slow!! The local clubs are creaming us in these races and Bermuda who race J24's
are running 2nd. We had a wonderful days sailing but Captain Jeff is very
sunburnt. Other teams can't believe we came all this way to sail boats we have
never sailed and I think we are the oldest team here. Go Kiwis!!
Had Friendship Dinner at Les Halles very nice but overpriced. We sang
PokarekareAna, very well I must say. There were a few expat kiwis with tears in
their eyes. We have had an invitation from the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club to
participate in their Regatta in April. Lots of Kiwis there. We are all
exhausted, roll on Tahiti. Last day tomorrow.
Kaye
:: The Second Update From Our
New York Team (23 August 2007)
Practice day yesterday. It poured with rain We had a great test though and
learnt heaps of things. It was only 60 degrees and we were told not to bring wet
weather gear as it has been 80 degrees and they don't have much rain here. They
have had their whole years worth in the last couple of weeks. Great, we brought
the Auckland weather with us. Had dinner out with the teams and Dennis Conner
last night. Great night and got photos with Dennis. Everyone wants our team
shirts and we got our photo taken heaps.
Today, Wednesday, we had our first race. We finished 5th out of 15 and beat the
teams who had been helping us with setting up the boat properly, ie spinnakers.
Captain Jeff got a flying start and great teamwork prevailed.Everyone very
friendly and helpful. There is an Irish team who have only sailed dinghys on
lakes and 2 all girl teams. The Italian team arrived last night but still no
sign of their luggage.
Second race today cancelled due to rain and no wind. Off to restaurant for All
American dinner tonight. All very casual so far, which suits us just fine.
Our body clocks still adjusting although most of us have stopped waking at
0200hrs.
Will keep updates coming
Kaye
:: The First Update From Our
New York Team (20 August 2007)
Well, we are all here safe and sound. Bill and Carol and Brian and Kaye diverted due to severe thunderstorms on the way into New York. This made for a very long day for each of us.
Weather in New York was fabulous yesterday when we went down to North cove to the Manhattan Sailing club to check out our boats. Fortunately ran into Ted the Sailing Trainer who gave us some good tips regarding the tidal flows and wind changes in the river. He says to "watch the flags" on top of all the different buildings around the course.
We saw the Royal Bermuda yacht club team boat. Oh, My God it's huge, longer than the clubhouse. We could have some competition!! Brian says Kiwis can do anything so it must be true, and Ted says this is a club where people sail not talk about it, so we should be fine and fit in real well. The J24 appears to be a big dinghy, not too many ropes and bits (thanks god says Jan our team Super Shopper).
Today we have toured from downtown to Central Park and some people have now gone to put their feet up and rest their intellects, especially those we dragged through the Guggenhaim Art Museum. (Sorry about that Brian and Bill.)
Tomorrow we find out our practice times and hope to connect with Julie our communications officer.
Till then
The Team from New York
:: A Poem for The New York
Team - By Cath and Rachelle (12 August 2007)
Here on the
Esplanade
our little Yacht club shines.
Pilky our Commodore
he does his job just fine.
While playing on
the internet
an invite he does find,
inviting us to a race
of a very special kind.
The Dennis Conner
Invitation is
what the show is called.
So this is our "A" team
they really have the balls.
We wish them luck
we wish them well.
We really hope that
they do swell.
With fun and
laughter
along the way.
We hope you don't want
to stay.
Don't be tempted
by Lady Liberty.
She's not all that
she seems to be.
We know that the
Big Apple
will taste real sweet.
But we need you all back
here to keep things neat.
We're really
jealous
don't you know,
that we could not
afford to go!
So off you go
safe and sound.
We'll see you all soon
in our little town.