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Our best day sailing! Recently my wife and I spent 9 weeks in Auckland New Zealand sailing aboard our 22' trailer boat "Bluegrass". We had one particularly special day out in amongst a heap of special days and I would like to share it with you as briefly as possible. (it's long) As any sailor worth his Salt (read sundowner) will know New Zealand currently holds the Americas cup and is not planning to give it up without a fight. Just a few miles out and up the coast from downtown in the beautiful Hauraki gulf is where the action takes place. What you may not know is that the Kiwis and the Italians have two boats each that are already towed out daily the few miles to the area, where they practice like crazy already. (next cup Nov 2002-March 2003 approx.) We were around these boats to some extent in the inner harbor as we tried to learn our new boat and teach my wife Nancy the basics as she has never sailed. We watched them towed by and received waves from both camps as they flew past. They tow them surprisingly fast. The Italians hook both multi million dollar craft to the stern of one boat and tow them side by side which scares me a bit. But it looks VERY cool. After 3 weeks of goofing around we decided that our first overnight should be two nights and our target would be an island about 6 hours sail (for us) up the coast to the North. This course would take us through the cup area twice. On the way up we saw both sets of boats in a strong 15 to 20 breeze but never got close. Frankly we were to busy sailing our boat which later that day was knocked down several times as we beam reached to our destination some miles off shore . We were whacked by two large squalls, which produced very strong winds. I must say here that my wife was doing great. We had wind on the beam and a good swell on the beam also with strong chop associated. You could have put the jib we had unfurled in your pocket and both reefs were in the main. (third reef will be added as well as led shoe on the keel.) Anyway after two great days at the island we headed back on a day with winds steady at about 13 Knots and a nice ground swell. Realize that we are the only boat around once again, as we seemed to have the sea to ourselves often During the week. Approaching the part of the gulf where the cup boats train we peeled our eyes but were only greeted by a view of the kiwis in the distance. Oh well. As we slid along the coast about a mile out again on a beam reach we spotted the Italian boats. They were close to shore from our view and their hulls being gray were hard to spot against the land. They had the boom away from us as they were doing what we were doing and moving parallel to our course only Much faster. This turned the giant sails away from us and made the boats seem smaller than usual. The wind was coming from the sea and across our port rail toward the other boats and the land. Soon they were ahead of us slightly as we continued and we assumed them to be heading home. Only a few minutes later Nancy gave me a heads up as their chase boat peeled off and started full speed out in our direction. They use the huge Ribs with twin 225s on board and that alone bearing down on you at speed is exciting. We were sure they were coming to have a word with us as we were the only other boat for miles. As he got within a few feet of us we thought he might ram us as he would not be able to stop fast enough to deliver his message. He just raised his hand in greeting and sped by a few feet off our stern with a smile on his face and a HUGE orange buoy bouncing around in the bow. After going past another mile or two he threw the buoy overboard and we found ourselves in heaven. At this time the two boats to leeward and a mile in turned and began a tacking duel to windward right down our throat. We found ourselves in the middle of the layline to the new mark and they were throwing tacks as they powered toward us at a rate exceeding one a minute! We were unconcerned about right of way as we couldn't get out of their way without scuttling Bluegrass so we just ate it up. Several times it appeared as if those masts touched as they came together and then nobody having the lead to cross would tack away again. You can hear my wife clearly on the video tape (which doesn't do it justice) exclaim at one point that they have "hit each other"! As they passed by just astern of us we could hear the snap of the sails and the sounds of sheets squealing under huge tension and watch the totally choreographed action aboard. We could go out there day after day and NEVER EVER find ourselves in such an incredible position again. It was simply awe inspiring for us both. Next time you watch the cup imagine yourself and your boat on the layline toward a windward mark and having those guys sail over the top of you! Garry Lees. Colorado.
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