Americas Cup

[Ross J]

Things are warming up nicely here in Auckland. Team New Zealand are out praticing daily as are numerous other teams. Its good to see them all out there testing whilst I'm fishing. I hope we have a good race season this time as we did last time. I managed to watch some of the final races live......<br />Ross

 

[Ross J]

Re: Americas Cup

Yesterday I was out on the Waitemata watching the boys in black practice for the cup and I'm looking north watching a very big super yacht cruising into the area of Motutapu Island. This beastie is doing about 20-25 knots and it isn't slowing down any. It runs on past us in my 5m boat and the wake it puts up must be 6' high and breaking. The boat was very impressive, big and sparkling. Name - Katana. Owner is believed to be aboard, name - Larry Ellison.<br />Ross

 

[Pursuit2150]

Re: Americas Cup

I wish I could be on you'r boat it must be breathtaking to see them practice. Unfortunately, I am a day away from you, so I will have to watch on TV. The last time I saw a race was in person on the Atlantic east coast in the 60"s.I still have a T-shirt, Tie, & tie tack,as monentums

 

[Ross J]

Re: Americas Cup

Hi, Ho Pursuit2150,<br />If ever you are in New Zealand you'd be welcome aboard my boat to watch the big racing yachts. Yes it is spectacular and the preperations are continuing. Yesterday the round the world boats pulled in also, again spectactular.<br />Ross

 

[Ross J]

Re: Americas Cup

Hi all,<br />once again out fishing my mate and I were blessed to watch the boats parading up and down like primidonnas. There were 5 or 6 teamsd out yesterday all in pairs winding all over the Waitemata harbour. We were too far away this time to identify them and were busy fishing for kingfish. As more teams arrive the Viaduct basin becomes more busy and the entertainment more likewise. <br />Ross

 

[singerjr]

Re: Americas Cup

Ross J<br /><br />You reminded me of an experience I was down in Baltimore MD, in the Harbor to view the tall ships from the water, they are incredable.<br /><br />Donald Trump's yacht is coming in fast (might makes right?). There wasn't a 6 foot wake but it was big! It rocked us and broke on those majestic ships.<br /><br />I didn't think he had time to stop or turn but the captain had those screws working magic and they turned and stoped.<br /><br />Here is the punch line to this true story, it didn't take but a few moments for the Coast Guard to pull up and board.<br /><br />It would have made my day to see those tickets and fines.

 

[Ross J]

Re: Americas Cup

Things are warming up, the boats have started to race each other as if in a small race. Not the cup yet though. Team NZ have put the last old boat up against all takers and some have taken advantage of the situation to race. Off course Team NZ would be watching the opposition as well. And remamber these are not the new boats!!<br />It's great to see all the racing though, we are being spoilt here at the moment!<br />Ross

 

[62_Kiwi]

Re: Americas Cup

It was a beautiful day yesterday, so I took the boat out for an early morning run on the Waitemata. I was too early to see the practice races but saw some yachts being towed out for this. I hear there are more races happening this weekend so I'll try and time it better then.<br /><br />I took the camera along, so if anyone wants to see what the Waitemata (Auckland) looks like this time of year, just click here

 

[62_Kiwi]

Re: Americas Cup

If you're wanting info on what's currently happening in the America's Cup International Regatta, the following website seems to be up with the play;<br /><br />Americas Cup

 

[singerjr]

Re: Americas Cup

Real nice pics Kiwi, beautiful water. Love to visit one day

 

[62_Kiwi]

Re: Americas Cup

Thanks for the comments Captain. Best time to come "down under" is around this time of year when the warm weather's at it's best.<br /><br />I missed the America's Cup regatta today, but heard that OneWorld came first, following by Team NZ then Victory Challenge. The finishing line was under the Ak Harbour Bridge (as shown in my earlier post). <br /><br />I wonder if RossJ was out there today?

 

[Ross J]

Re: Americas Cup

Sorry 62_Kiwi,<br />I've been busy away from home for a couple of days. Yes I was out but not at the America's cup. I was fishing the Firth of Thames and yes the snapper are bigger there, I'll be back out the Waitemata in a few days.<br />Keep up the reporting, it's great.<br />Ross.

 

[singerjr]

Re: Americas Cup

Kiwi,<br /><br />In one of the beutiful pictures you posted there is a tower, what is the tower, what's it called? Not as tall but it looks a little like the CN Tower in Toronto, Canada (tallest structure in the world).<br /><br />Tourest attraction? Offices? Restaurant? All of the above?<br /><br />What was it built for, how tall 30 - 40 stories? How old, is it privately owned or government money pit you paid for? CITY HALL? haha <br /><br />Beutiful skyline! What city is it?<br /><br />Just curious <br /><br />

 

[62_Kiwi]

Re: Americas Cup

Hi Captain, the tower you refer to is located in central Auckland city and is called the "Sky Tower". It is the highest structure in the southern hemisphere at 328.4 metres = 1,076.7 feet (The CN Tower in Canada is taller at 1,813 feet). It's built on top of the Sky City Casino and up top there's three observation decks and a revolving restaurant (don't worry, it's very slow at 1 rev per hour).<br /><br />Needless to say, it's a fantastic view up there - a bit like an aeroplane when you're taking off or landing - you can see for miles. There's a glass floor you can walk on, looking down onto the street below if you want a quick thrill.<br /><br />The picture I took, was from the Waitemata Harbour (often refered to as Auckland Harbour) in the shipping lane. It made the tower look much shorter than it is, because it's a long way back in the distance.<br /><br />

<br /><br />There are frequent visit's from cruise ships into the Auckland harbour - offering an alternative to flying in.<br /><br />What I've shown you is very much the Auckland city perspective. Much of the rest of NZ is natural bush, farmland, mountains. We're very lucky to have a huge well preserved coastline, great for all types of boating activities.<br /><br />Another thing you'd like is that our exchange rate works well in your favour - one NZ dollar will only cost you 42 cents US. So you'll find life here very inexpensive as well.<br /><br />If you should ever decide to visit - please let us know. I would (and I'm sure some of the other NZers on this board would) be glad to show you around.<br /><br />Sky Tower Pictures<br /><br />www.newzealand.com<br /><br />P.S. I don't work for Tourism New Zealand!<br /><br />P.P.S. We should set up a thread for people to tell about their home areas and where they go boating. I for one would be very interested to know where others on this board are from, and where they go boating.

 

[singerjr]

Re: Americas Cup

Kiwi <br /><br />Great pics once again, I definately want to make it down there one day when I have 24" of snow. I assume that is a harbor or harbour, is it protected by barrier islands, it appears from the color of the water you aren't far from the ocean.<br /><br />What do you primarily fish for and where, salt, brackish or fresh water? Do you have a lot of the same sport fish we have like bass and stripers (or similar) .<br /><br />I was watching a fishing show recently, they were in Africa, what country I don't remember. But they were fishing for bass, the locals had a name for them but the host called them bass. They looked a little different, the body, mouth shape were the same as a lg mouth we have but the body had vertical wide (3/4") stripes.<br /><br />Before that show I never gave it much thought as to what my iboat mates were fishing for in other parts of the world. <br /><br />And as for showing me around I'de like to do some fishing around that vulcano. Now I'm not sure but I don't recall seeing many vulcanos around the Chesapeake Bay or the lakes in central Pennsylvania.<br /><br />

 

[Ross J]

Re: Americas Cup

Hi, Ho Capt_U,<br />It's good to see we're not forgotten here in NZ.<br />Yes the ocean is close, motor out of the Waitemata harbour and you'll find yourself in the Hauraki Gulf which leads into the Pacific Ocean. It's about 40kms from the Auckland waterfront.<br />You ask what we fish for - there's many an answer to that question. We enjoy a multitude of different fishing types here. There's the family man fishing primarily for Snapper for the table, there's the blue water fisherman looking for game fish from Kingfish up to Tuna and Marlin further out. There's salt water flyfishing for most species. I enjoy this sport myselt for mullet. People net, surfcast, dive, troll, even helifishing has a big following here. There's kite fishing, kontiki fishing and much much more. We do indeed live in Gods Own here.<br />The vulcano you mention is called Rangitoto Island. Its a dormant vulcano which last erupted only a few hundred years ago. It dominates the skyline East of Auckland city. The fishing around it is very good as there's numerous spots to catch Snapper from. The main channell called Rangitoto channell is often 'wall to wall' with boats on the weekend, but still turns up a feed. you'd be very welcome over here, come on down the water's fine..........<br />Ross.

 

[62_Kiwi]

Re: Americas Cup

Hi Capt_U<br />Here is a link to a great NZ fishing site, with photos of the type of fish we catch. Snapper is my favourite and there's some good specimens shown.<br /><br />www.fishing.net.nz<br /><br />Auckland has a multitude of islands near by, which makes a very interesting and relatively sheltered environment for boating. As you can probably tell, Ross and I are from Auckland - the largest city in the North Island. There are some beautiful spots in the south too - maybe Kiwi (Mike) might read this and put in a southern perspective. <br /><br />Say Capt, why don't you start a new thread and tell us about where you go boating and fishing up there in the U.S. You're right that we're all boating in a wide range of different environents - I think it would be an interesting topic.

 

[Ross J]

Re: Americas Cup

Well, there we go - "Her Royal Highness" visited the cup village this week and Prince Phillip spent a wee bit of time aboard one of the old racing boats with Dean Barker (Team NZ skipper).<br />Chris ****son looks like he's been sidelined by Oracle to a non racing position. No on seems to know why but its rumoured to be on the bosses orders............<br />I've not mentioned the politics till now but it increases in intensity as the months roll by.<br />Ross www.nzherald.co.nz/americascup/ <br />try this site for excellent news

 

[Ross J]

Re: Americas Cup

Out on the Waitemata yesterday, fishing. Not doing too well, but, there's 12 cup boats all dancing like fairys on the waves. Wind getting up there and these guys are out doing the hard slog. Boy I'm impressed with the amount of work they have to do. The TV news showed a story of a team that is up by 0600hrs ran up the sky tower not once but twice!! Then still did a days sailing in the gulf. I must say here and now that Prada still holds my attention wherever they are, they're courteous, polite and don't mind a small boat comming up for a look see. Some of the others get a bit jumpy, and one of them even gets rude - I've been threatened with a wee push once by our own team and I was nowhere near them!!<br />Ross

 

[Ross J]

Re: Americas Cup

Buggar!<br /><br /> http://www.nzherald.co.nz/americasc...ection=americascup&thesecondsubsection=teamnz <br /><br />Ross