Passions at gale force, like the breeze forecast for this evening, following yesterday’s heart stopping one second win to Alinghi.
Race officials were keen to ensure the challenger final completed before a southerly front blasted the city and Alinghi and BMWO headed out in the two New Zealand boats before 9am, with winds on the gulf blowing a steady 15knots, low cloud and mist shrouding the dormant volcanoes and Auckland’s ‘Sky Tower’. The seas were building and tide on the ebb across the start line down the course; the photogs strapped themselves to the front of the ribs!
The other major battle, about which owner has the biggest superyacht, was on in force in the harbour, with shining examples of some of the most stylish yachts in the world, but this battle was easily resolved when Cunard’s Queen Victoria berthed overnight.
A maximum of two races were planned for the day…Â More info
 the 3rd of December, 2008, VESTAS SAILROCKET set a new ‘B’ class world record of 47.36 knots over a 500 meter course. This gave her the unofficial title of the worlds fastest boat… but still 3.21 knots short of the Outright world record currently held by the kitesurfers. During their final attempt the craft lost ‘pitch stability’. The nose lifted up at near on 60 mph and performed a spectacular semi-loop…Â