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Salt in our Blood: 150 years of the RNZYS
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Ivor Wilkins describes it like an archaeological dig, sifting through the various layers to interpret 150 years of history of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron.
What Wilkins has produced in Salt in our Blood is a richly-illustrated, 464 page, coffee table publication worthy of the club's proud history, dating back to the foundations of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron in 1871.
Putting the book together was a monumental task, and involved combing through 14,000 items which had been transferred, rather haphazardly, onto CD-roms, hundreds of spidery, hand-written accounts dating back to the mid-1800s and countless interviews with those involved over the last 60 years.
"I would like to say all of the records were well organised but it was like stumbling through a dark forest and finding little treasures here, there and everywhere," Wilkins said.
"I was hoping the project would be done in two years. We'd allowed three and it took all three of those years and, even then, it was a bit of a push in the end to get it done."
There were a few minor skeletons rattling in the cupboard: employees with fingers in the till; members poaching oysters; causing a ruckus in quiet anchorages; chasing livestock; shots fired in the clubrooms; hooking the piecart to passing trams; the time it took for the Squadron to admit women as members.
But what resonates more throughout is the hard work many put in to building the club and the sport in this country. Wilkins is careful to balance this and the contribution of the broad membership throughout Salt in our Blood with the success the club achieved internationally.
It's not hyperbole to suggest the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron is the most successful yacht club in this country, having won anything and everything from the America's and Admirals Cups through to the One Ton Cup and Olympic titles.
"To a large degree, the story of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron is the story of New Zealand yachting," Wilkins said. "That's not to claim that every major campaign was won by Yacht Squadron campaigns but most of them were and almost all of them involved Squadron members in some way or other.
"I think our trophy cabinet is unrivalled in the world. If not, it would rank alongside the other major yacht clubs and it's something our members can be very proud of.
"What did come as a surprise to me was the extent to which the Squadron helped lay the groundwork for New Zealand’s Olympic success... and t he Squadron also took a leadership role in the establishment of the New Zealand Yachting Federation, without which Olympic participation could not take place."
Salt in our Blood is available from the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron's shop (when the club reopens) and online here .
The following is an edited extract from Salt in our Blood , tracing the origins of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron in 1871.
For the best part of a century and half, the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron has taken 1871 as the date earlier faltering efforts at setting up a yacht club finally took hold. Part of this conviction arises from a club legend recounted by Noel Holmes in his book Century of Sail , published in 1971 as an official history of the RNZYS. With some equivocation, he relates that after the 1871 Anniversary Regatta prizegiving, a group of keen yachtsmen gathered at the Thames Hotel and decided that a one-day regatta every 12 months was not sufficient for their needs.
Urged out onto the street at the 11 p.m. closing time, members of the group continued their deliberations under the light of a gas lamp. And thus, the legend goes, the Auckland Yacht Club was born anew.
Regrettably, no documentary evidence has been unearthed to fix the date of this meeting or identify its participants. That does not mean it did not happen, however. Many a lasting enterprise — both magnificent and madcap — has originated in a bar-room conversation, or its post-eviction resumption. But something more tangible and formal than dim memories of an alcohol-fuelled, gas-lit meeting would clearly be helpful.
It is entirely possible that some documentation recording a formal follow-up to this discussion went up in flames in one of the two fires that destroyed the club’s early records. However, if such a meeting was convened and came to anything, it appears the news was not shouted from the rooftops. No newspaper accounts have been discovered announcing the establishment or revival of the Auckland Yacht Club in 1871. Given the previous encouragement by the Auckland newspapers for a club, one imagines such news would have been broadcast with enthusiasm.
The 1872 Anniversary Regatta would have been the perfect opportunity for a newly-established yacht club to show its colours. But, throughout the extensive and fulsome coverage — ‘success beyond the most sanguine expectation and a regatta on a scale of magnificence such as has never been witnessed previously in New Zealand waters’ ( Auckland Star , January 29, 1872) — no mention is made of the Auckland Yacht Club. Six members of the much-praised 1872 regatta committee featured on the 1859 membership list of the Auckland Yacht Club and could be assumed to have been prime candidates for instigating a new club, but there is no evidence of that.
However, there is evidence of a continued determination to extend yacht racing beyond the annual Anniversary Regatta. In February 1872, a race was organised for yachts over 5 and under 10 tons with vague links to the AYC.
Two of the moving forces behind this event were J. Dacre and John Waymouth, both of whom were associated with the club. Furthermore, the rules of the AYC were used to govern the race, but newspaper accounts do not explicitly identify this as an AYC event.
Thus, whatever seeds had been planted in 1871 apparently lay, if not dormant, at least publicly invisible through much of the ensuing summer. The onset of autumn in March 1872, however, saw a sudden flurry of excitement in the newspaper columns about the formation of an Auckland Yacht Club.
‘It has often struck us with surprise that with our fine harbour and noble estuary, and our many other advantages, we have not long before started a yachting club,’ prodded the Daily Southern Cross on March 11, 1872. Going on to list the manifold qualifications and benefits, not least the impetus a club would provide to the boatbuilding industry, the editorial continues:
‘We believe that many are anxious to become members of such a club, and that it is only the waiting for some one to take the initiative that prevents it from being un fait accompli .’
Sure enough, the very next day, a ‘good attendance’ of gentlemen gathered at the Star Hotel in the city under the chairmanship of John Waymouth, where a motion was proposed and carried to establish a club to be called the Auckland Yacht Club.
Not everyone was impressed by this development. A curmudgeonly letter appeared in the New Zealand Herald on March 13, under the cryptic signature R.Y.Y.C. Expressing the belief that the Daily Southern Cross ‘stands alone in its condition of astonishment’ at the absence of a yacht club, the correspondent said that a city that failed to support a boat club decently (a reference to rowing) was scarcely likely to do better with a yacht club.
Perhaps judging from past experience, the writer doubted a yacht club would last more than two consecutive years, and even more cuttingly cast doubts on the quality of the Auckland fleet. ‘I am unable to call to mind the names of more than two or three of our vessels which could fairly be dignified with the name of yacht.’
Nor did he believe there were enough people with the time or means to go in for yachting. ‘Yachting,’ he lectured, ‘is essentially an expensive amusement, and a yacht club, to be worthy of the name, should be conducted in a liberal spirit and not be in an impecunious condition.’ Bringing his arguments to a withering crescendo, the writer concluded with the scornful advice not to ‘make ourselves ridiculous by attempting impossibilities’.
Fortunately, having answered the call to action, the believers were not deterred by the apparent impossibility of their task. On March 22, at the Thames Hotel, a meeting of the Auckland Yacht Club under the chairmanship of James Stoddart accepted the draft rules and admitted several new members. Further proceedings were adjourned for a week. This time Thomas Henderson was in the chair and Stoddart was elected treasurer. H.E. Ellis was appointed honorary secretary and John Waymouth and G.S. Graham named as auditors. A further meeting for the following week was set to elect the Commodore, Vice Commodore and committee, but there are no follow-up reports of any such election taking place.
On April 18, however, another spark of life. The Auckland Star was ‘greatly gratified to learn that very great success is attending the organisation of the new Yacht Club. Over forty members have already been enrolled, and the list includes a large proportion of the principal merchants and other leading people in the city.’
The newspaper scribe then seems overcome with emotion, gushing that ‘there is something inexpressibly delightful in reclining with dignity, making the wind the minister of our pleasure when lightly skimming over the surface’ of the sea. This is followed by a swooning, if not slightly worrying, spiel about the romance of sailing as ‘angels’ enveloped in clouds of muslin gaze into the skipper’s eyes, or rest for support on his ‘manly buzzum’.
Perhaps understandably exhausted after such an excess of emotion, the paper trail goes cold throughout the ensuing winter, until at last on September 16 it comes to life again in the form of a notice in the Daily Southern Cross announcing: ‘The Annual Meeting [author emphasis] of the Members of the Auckland Yacht Club will be held at the club-room, Thames Hotel, This Evening at 7.30.’ The purpose of the meeting would be the election of officers for the following season and any other business.
The next day, the New Zealand Herald published an account of the meeting. William Aitken was elected Commodore, Charles K. Roskruge Vice Commodore, James Stoddart treasurer, H.J. Ellis honorary secretary, and G.S. Graham and John Waymouth auditors. The committee comprised T. Niccol, J.B. Graham, Thomas Henderson, D. Oxley and J. Marshall.
The paper reported the club had 30 members and said the rules were read and adopted. Displaying a somewhat alarming predilection for calling one meeting after another, the proceedings were adjourned for yet another conclave ‘in a few days’ to arrange the preliminaries for the opening day of the season.
This event duly took place in November, with eight yachts in attendance and the Commodore’s flag flying from John Waymouth’s yacht Energy . The little fleet formed a procession around the harbour until Energy hove to, whereupon the remaining yachts solemnly saluted as they passed and in turn raised three hearty cheers. The Auckland Yacht Club was launched with all due pomp and ceremony.
The momentum continued into December, when the Shipping Intelligence column of the Daily Southern Cross published two items of interest. The first was an announcement that the yachts of the AYC were under orders to assemble the following Saturday at 2 p.m. for the purpose of proceeding on a cruise. The Commodore’s flag would be hoisted on board the yacht Spray .
The second item was to report the results of a match for £10 a side between the new yacht Fleetwing and the yacht Sabrina , both flying AYC colours. Fleetwing , built by Charles Bailey, won handily, but more to the point the match once again demonstrated the AYC’s determination not to be hostage to the Anniversary Regatta.
As to its precise genesis, the Annual Meeting of September 16, 1872 — as much as the charming story of the gas-lamp gathering — appears responsible for fixing the foundation in 1871. Why have an annual meeting unless it marks the passage of a year?
Certainly, every Annual Meeting of the Auckland Yacht Club and the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron thereafter takes its numerical order from the first AGM of 1872. Hence, by that logic the AGM of 1971 was the one hundredth, and that of 2021 the one hundred and fiftieth.
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AMERICA'S CUP
On March 17th 2021, the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, on behalf of the Defender Emirates Team New Zealand, accepted the Notice of Challenge for the 37th America’s Cup (AC37) from Royal Yacht Squadron Ltd and INEOS BRITANNIA (formerly INEOS TEAM UK) and were announced as the Challenger of Record for the 37th America’s Cup. This will be the first British Challenger of Record to compete in the America’s Cup since Tony Boyden’s Sovereign challenge in 1964.
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INEOS, Royal Yacht Squadron Racing Aceepted as Challenger of Record
Emirates Team New Zealand is pleased to confirm that the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron has accepted a Notice of Challenge for the 37th America's Cup (AC37) from the Royal Yacht Squadron Racing, represented by INEOS TEAM UK, which will act as the Challenger of Record for AC37.
"The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron have received and accepted a challenge for the 37th America's Cup from our long-standing British friends at Royal Yacht Squadron Racing." Said Aaron Young – RNZYS Commodore. "It is great to once again have the RYSR involved, given they were the first yacht club that presented this trophy over 170 years ago, which really started the legacy of the America's Cup. Along with Emirates Team New Zealand, we look forward to working through the details of the next event with them. "
A Protocol Governing AC37 will be published within eight months including the provisions outlined in this release.
"The 37th America's Cup effectively starts the moment the team crossed the finish line on Wednesday afternoon," said Emirates Team New Zealand CEO Grant Dalton.
"It is very exciting to have a new Challenger of Record to continue to build the scale of the America's Cup globally. The AC75's and the unprecedented broadcast reach of the exciting racing from Auckland's stunning Waitemata harbour have really put Auckland and the America's Cup at the forefront of international sport."
INEOS TEAM UK and Royal Yacht Squadron Racing are pleased to confirm that the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, on behalf of the Defender Emirates Team New Zealand, accepted their Notice of Challenge for the 37th America's Cup (AC37) and have become the Challenger of Record for AC37.
The Challenge letter was signed on 17th March 2021 onboard the yacht , by Bertie Bicket, Chairman of Royal Yacht Squadron Racing and accepted by Aaron Young, Commodore of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Club as Emirates Team New Zealand crossed the finish line to win the America's Cup for the fourth time.
In addition, INEOS have confirmed they will continue to back Sir Ben Ainslie's team to win sport's oldest international trophy, giving much needed continuity, the cornerstone of every successful America's Cup team. It will be the first time a British team has competed in three consecutive Cup cycles since Sir Thomas Lipton and the Royal Ulster YC bids between 1899 to 1930.
INEOS TEAM UK Skipper and Team Principal Sir Ben Ainslie said: "INEOS TEAM UK are committed to working alongside Emirates Team New Zealand and our respective yacht clubs to continue the development of this historic event. The introduction of the AC75 class of yacht has proven to be a transformative moment in the history of the America's Cup and will be the bedrock of a really bright future."
The America's Cup, the pinnacle of yachting, was first contested in 1851 in Cowes, Isle of Wight and organised by the Royal Yacht Squadron, predating the modern Olympic Games by 45 years. The last British Challenger of Record to compete in an America's Cup was the 12 metre, in 1964.
Bertie Bicket, Chairman of Royal Yacht Squadron Racing, who has been in Auckland, New Zealand for the duration of the 36th America's Cup said: "We are delighted to be embarking on our third successive America's Cup challenge with Sir Ben Ainslie and INEOS, as the Challenging Yacht Club for the 37th America's Cup. We look forward to working with all parties and will strive to continue the tradition and history of this great sporting event."
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ROYAL NEW ZEALAND YACHT SQUADRON AND EMIRATES TEAM NEW ZEALAND LAUNCH BRAND NEW ELLIOTT 7 FLEET
It’s been 14 years since the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron (RNZYS) launched 10 Elliott 7s for the Mastercard Youth Training Programme, and with that fleet now safely delivered to their new owners at Bucklands Beach Yacht Club (BBYC), the time has come to launch the brand new boats.
Gifted by Emirates Team New Zealand to support the program that has successfully created world class athletes, including some who are now part of Emirates Team New Zealand, the brand new fleet of Elliott 7s have arrived at their new berths where the next generation of elite athletes will carve their yachting future.
Grant Dalton, CEO of Emirates Team New Zealand announced to RNZYS members that the new fleet will once again deliver opportunities to young sailors keen to embark on a world of professional sailing.
“We are especially proud and excited about the launch of the new fleet of Elliot 7’s,” explained Grant Dalton.
“As an organisation, our core objective is always firmly focused on one thing - winning the America’s Cup for New Zealand. However, it is always vitally important to continue looking beyond that objective - to the future and ensuring the pipeline of top level kiwi sailing talent is full. So, investing in the new fleet is an investment in New Zealand’s future sailing talent through the world class RNZYS Youth Training Programme.”
The new fleet, fitted out with brand new North Sails and the latest in high performance technology, will not only be utilised for the Mastercard Youth Training Program and the Musto Performance Programme, but also for world class international and local Match Racing events. In addition to this, the fleet will also race on Tuesday evenings as part of the ongoing E7 series, and the support the RNZYS ongoing work to support schools and youth within the community.
Commissioned by Greg Elliott and built under supervision at MConaghy Boats in China, and were fitted out at Yachting Development with the support of past Commodore, Ian Cook and some of the Emirates Team New Zealand shore crew.
RNZYS Vice Commodore and Chair of Sailing, Gillian Williams was part of the delivery crew who sailed the old fleet to BBYC on the afternoon of Friday the 9th February.
“The fleet has done us proud and has produced world class sailors who have gone on to achieve great success around the world and we are excited to now have BBYC take on the boats, so they can enhance their development programs,” said Williams.
“It was time for RNZYS to upgrade with more international sailing and match racing events coming to the shores of the Waitemata Harbour. Now there will be 20 one-design Elliott 7s in Auckland, which means even more opportunities for sailors, and interclub regattas. It’s an exciting time,” continued Williams.
Sailors such as Gavin Brady, Leonard Takahashi, Nick Egnot-Johnson, Megan Thomson, Celia Willison and current Hardy Cup champion helm, Josh Hyde, have gone through the RNZYS Youth Training Program and have achieved results on the world stage ever since.
Dalton continued by saying “this is the kind of legacy that we are determined to leave to the people of Auckland, and New Zealand. Having more one-design match racing boats means greater opportunities for everyone.”
Dalton also shared the news ,with those gathered to celebrate the launch, that Emirates Team New Zealand will donate $500,000 to the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron International Sailing Fund to ensure world leading sailing opportunities on the international stage are available for our membership moving forward.
Gillian Williams commented ‘that this incredible donation by the team further reinforces their commitment to ensuring the success of our programs and to ensure our sailors can compete on the world stage – we are incredibly grateful to Grant and their team’.
Andrew Aitken, Commodore of RNZYS, is thrilled to be leading the club through the launch of the new Elliott 7 fleet, which is part of the ongoing reset journey the club has undertaken.
“The new fleet of Emirates Team New Zealand Elliott 7’s is a significant milestone for our club, as is the generous contribution to our International Sailing Fund, and these generous donations by Grant Dalton and Emirates Team New Zealand ensure the successful future of our youth offerings as we move forward. In addition to this, being able to have the existing fleet remain in Auckland will be beneficial for the entire sailing community, and we are looking forward to creating more events and racing with the fleets combined,” said Aitken.
“We aim to leave a legacy for the next generation of sailors, and this is an important step in this process,” continued Aitken.
Emirates Team New Zealand, who represent RNZYS, has the America’s Cup proudly on display for members and visitors alike to admire. The America’s Cup is the oldest sporting trophy in the world, and have claimed the Auld Mug four times - 1995, 2000, 2017 and most recently in 2021. Their goal is to successfully defend the America’s Cup for an unprecedented 3 rd time in a row in Barcelona in October of this year.
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Josh Hyde and Waitemata Racing win the New Zealand Youth Match Racing Championships
The best youth match racing teams in the country competed at the 2024 New Zealand Youth Match Racing Championship this weekend 14th-15th September at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron.
Eleven teams from Auckland, Wellington & Nelson raced in the RNZYS’ new fleet of Elliott 7’s donated to the Squadron by Emirates Team New Zealand earlier this year. Saturday’s round robin saw a mixture of conditions across the race course with light winds in the morning preceding squally conditions from midday. While Sunday looked more like spring with sunshine and a fresh 15-20knt south-westerly.
RNZYS Performance Programme sailors Josh Hyde and his Waitemata racing team showed a strong performance in the round robins with 9 wins from 10 races. However, it was Nelson Yacht Club’s Noah Malpot who took the first win of the finals. Malpot chalked up another win in race four pushing Hyde to sudden death in race five. The final start between Malpot and Hyde was close. Hyde took an early lead at mark one and continued to stretch the lead downwind securing the win and their spot as New Zealand Youth Match Racing Champions.
The final race of the 2024 New Zealand Youth Match Racing Championships. Hyde and Malpot have a close start. Photo: Adam Mustill / Live Sail Die.
The final race of the 2024 New Zealand Youth Match Racing Championships. Hyde extends a lead on the first downwind. Photo: Adam Mustill / Live Sail Die
Hyde continues to go from strength to strength in 2024 with a win at the RSYS’ Hardy Cup in February and a back-to-back win at the RNZYS’ Youth International Match Racing Cup in March. Their latest win this weekend secures their spot to represent New Zealand at the 2024 Youth Match Racing World Championship hosted by Jeddah Yacht Club from 29th November to 2nd December.
RNZYS Performance Coach Zak Merton was pleased with the tight racing between the teams remarking “the closeness of the matches across the fleet really highlights the calibre of teams we have competing, it’s great to see the work these sailors are putting in paying off. I’m very excited for the season ahead.”
67 races were completed over two days, RNZYS wishes to thank our race management volunteers and umpires who worked tirelessly to execute a fantastic match racing programme. Thankyou also to Royal Akarana Yacht Club, Ponsonby Cruising Club and Zephyrus Racing for lending RHIBs for the event.
The top three skippers also gained entry into the 2024 NZ Match Racing Championships to be sailed at the RNZYS from 15-17 November 2024.
Photos: Adam Mustill / Live Sail Die Full gallery and images available for download at livesaildie.com
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America's Cup 2024
Archived event.
This event is currently archived due to its postponement or because we have yet to receive further plans for its recurrence in the foreseeable future. Please liaise with your lifestyle manager for more information.
The 37th America's Cup will be raced between a yacht representing the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron and a yacht representing either the United Kingdom's Royal Yacht Squadron Racing Ltd or a yacht representing another non-New Zealand yacht club that wins a challenger series, such as the 2021 Prada Cup.
The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron will be the defender of the 37th America's Cup, after its yacht Te Rehutai, owned and sailed by the Emirates Team New Zealand syndicate, was the successful defender in the 36th America's Cup, beating the challenger Luna Rossa, representing Circolo della Vela Sicilia, 7-3 in a first-to-seven series raced from 10-17 March 2021 in the Waitemata Harbour and Hauraki Gulf off Auckland, New Zealand.
The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron was founded in 1871 as the Auckland Yacht Club and took its current name in 1902 after receiving a warrant in the name of King Edward VII.
Our dedicated lifestyle concierge team is on hand to provide tickets and bespoke hospitality experiences at the America's Cup 2024 . Our offering is catered to your heart's desire and we cover all aspects of your experience, from event access, accommodation and transportation arrangements, to entertainment and local guides in Barcelona. Secure your VIP tickets for the America's Cup 2024 today with our boutique concierge service.
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He said the club’s Reset Committee wrote off 247 assets no longer in the club’s possession as well as assets with a value below $2000 - totalling $467,489.
It also wrote down the value of boats owned by the club but which it is selling - including Elliott Fleet, Pembles, the Etchells and Phantoms - by a value of $240,199.
Aitken said other costs contributing to the loss included costs associated with training material, IT service losses of $33,480, sailing event losses worth $90,000 and a $110,000 loss designated as “members subscriptions and debtors adjustment”.
Media outlet Business Desk reported in March that unnamed sources suggested the club had also suffered membership losses because of its decision last year to allow the next America’s Cup to be sailed in Barcelona rather than Auckland.
Emirates Team NZ won the last America’s Cup in Auckland in 2021 but then argued it was not financially viable for the 2024 event to be held in New Zealand.
BusinessDesk said high-profile RNZYS members to have resigned over the Barcelona decision included original backer of NZ’s bids for the cup, Sir Michael Fay, Auckland KC Jim Farmer, Alan Sefton and Andrew Johns, who was the legal adviser for Fay’s three NZ bids.
Aitken, meanwhile, raised the possibility of a number of changes in members’ services in the newsletter update.
“Many of our members love the experience of dining or enjoying refreshments in our Members Bar,” he said.
However, the bar hasn’t broken even for a “number of years”, Aitken said.
To do so it will need to make an extra $700 in sales each day it is open.
As a result the club is going to survey members on what services they want and in the meantime has reduced the bar’s opening hours during winter from seven days a week to six.
The club is also consulting members on its club racing programme, Aitken said.
Aitken did not wish to comment when contacted by the Herald .
But he concluded his newsletter update to members by saying significant work is under way to “ensure that as we move forward, a sustainable business model is in place so that the club breaks even”.
“The Reset Committee are of the view that it will take a minimum of two years to reach this breakeven position, given the considerable amount of change that is required to do so,” he said.
“While breaking even before depreciation for the 2023/24 year is desirable, we recognise this is a substantial challenge with current forecasts showing significant work is still required to deliver this.”
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TEAMS ON THE BRINK ON DAY THREE OF THE LOUIS VUITTON CUP SEMI-FINALS
For two of the most famous yacht clubs in the world, both with winning histories in the America’s Cup, today could see the end of their representative team’s challenges by two clubs that have never won the Cup.
The Société Nautique de Genève, that won the Cup in 2003 and defended in 2007, and the New York Yacht Club that famously still holds the record for the longest winning sporting streak in sports history, having defended the trophy for 132 years, know that any defeat today and their challenges will be extinguished by the Royal Yacht Squadron and the Circolo della Vela Sicilia, respectively.
The teams, Alinghi Red Bull Racing and NYYC American Magic both stand on the brink of elimination at 4-0 down in this first-to-five series and, with no room for error, it’s a considerable challenge to stage a come back. That’s not to say that it hasn’t been done before or can’t be done this time – the America’s Cup has a tradition of noble fightbacks from the cliff-edge of elimination, but with INEOS Britannia and Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli both performing at a very high level, it’s a tough ask.
Mother Nature often has her say in sailing competitions and today the conditions look tricky. After a morning of bright sunshine with the wind draining off from the north, as the afternoon progresses the forecasters are suggesting a six to nine-knot southerly ‘Migjorn.’ Recent days have seen more, much more, than expected as the velocity of southerly airflow is dictated by a number of variables, including offshore wind patterns and the effects of the mistral to the north.
The Port Vell is a busy place at the moment with an armada of yachts of all sizes in harbour, matched by the crowds at the free-to-enter Fanzones at Bogatell and Plaça del Mar whilst the Official Race Village along the Moll de la Fusta has been thronged with engaged fans thoroughly enjoying the spectacle of the Louis Vuitton Cup on a daily basis.
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Alinghi Red Bull Racing (Port Entry) vs. INEOS Britannia
Now or never for the Swiss, this is do-or-die as they stand on the brink of elimination. Lose and their campaign ends abruptly. Win and it’s game on. Conditions are light and tricky so both boats are on their biggest J1 jibs. After a short delay due to failing the wind-limit, the race got underway with both boats struggling to maintain flight and keeping a very notable distance between each other to avoid the effects of wing-wash.
On the lead back to the line, Britannia gybe on the face of Alinghi Red Bull Racing and set up to start to leeward, forcing the Swiss above the start line. As both boats ducked back behind the line for the final approaches at the port end, the pair wound up and the Swiss were called over the line by just 4 metres and the subsequent 75 metre get-behind penalty could be telling. Long race to come though, and plenty of jeopardy. Britannia holds the initial advantage and up the first windward leg it is all about pressure spotting and keeping manoeuvres to a minimum.
At the top gate, INEOS Britannia leads by 17 seconds and the Swiss split tactics initially down the first run, but at the first cross the British are ahead and gybe to cover. It’s close down this first run, and at the end both boats are sailing high angles to stay on the foils with the Swiss struggling to stay airborne. Britannia round the first leeward gate with the margin up to one minute and 10 seconds but on the first tack at the boundary, the British fall off the foils and the Swiss take full advantage, riding high on their foils through their first tack to seize the lead. The British manage to get up again before the right boundary but then fall off again through the tack. The Swiss build a lead out to over 500 metres as the Race Committee shortened the course legs to a distance of one nautical mile. By the second windward mark, Alinghi Red Bull Racing’s lead was up to a full leg ahead as the British fell off the foils again, copped a boundary penalty and look to be really struggling in the conditions.
For Alinghi Red Bull Racing, welcome news came over the headset that the Race Committee were shortening the course to just five legs but on the next gybe, with the leeward gate in sight, they fell off the foils themselves and now both boats are in displacement mode with the British struggling to get to the second windward mark.
Now it’s a race against the race time-limit of 45 minutes as the wind shuts down across the course with the Swiss less than a nautical mile from the finish. Slowly they ghosted up the final windward leg, sailing super-wide angles to try and build speed. It was looking touch & go as to whether the sailors could will ‘BoatOne’ across the line within the time-limit, but in the final quarter the zephyrs filtered down just enough and the Swiss have a lifeline. It’s 4-1 in this side of the Louis Vuitton Cup Semi-Final.
Alinghi Red Bull Racing bt. INEOS Britannia INEOS Britannia lead 4-1
NYYC American Magic (Port Entry) vs. Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli
After a short delay for the wind to build in, racing got underway with Magic entering the pre-start box bang on cue to make the cross but both boats are being super-careful to avoid wing-wash and keeping a wide separation.
On the lead back to the line, Magic goes very early and attempts to catch the Italians on a port/starboard which is avoided and at the start both boats dip in from the windward side of the the line with Luna Rossa to windward. Immediately Luna Rossa goes into a high mode with more speed and all the pressure is on Magic on the drag race to the boundary.
Both boats tack in sync but it’s the Italians with the crucial boat position to windward and Magic losing ground before being forced to tack mid-course to clear their wind. Italy and ignores the move and heads straight to the port layline whilst Magic sets up on the starboard layline. The delta is 17 seconds to Luna Rossa and Magic split the tactics downwind. As the boats come together mid-course, neither boat has gained or lost and the helms are looking for the pressure patches further down the course.
Luna Rossa executes the downwind well, keeping manoeuvres to a minimum and rounds with the lead still at 17 seconds. Crucially Magic splits the course and heads right initially on the second upwind which brings them back in contention as they come back on starboard tack and force Luna Rossa to make a huge dip to avoid, during which the Italians get a penalty for a boat boundary infringement that is easily washed off as the boats split sides of the course.
It’s all about the pressure up at the top end of the course now and again there’s a port/starboard incident with Italy getting another penalty for crossing too close ahead. Again the penalty is expunged easily, but at the top mark Magic has the lead with a three second advantage whilst Luna Rossa raises a protest for another close port/starboard incident in the final approaches to the gate. No penalty.
Thrilling race, downwind at the first cross, Magic holds the starboard advantage and cross ahead but give the right side up to the Italians as both boats go to either side of the course before coming back for another cross. This time, Magic has gained a boatlength and crosses ahead to get to the right for the final approaches on the port layline.
Luna Rossa come inside at the same starboard marker attempting to force an incident within the two-boat circle around the buoy and it’s a call that simply doesn’t work. American Magic take the appropriate avoiding action and sail around the outside as the Italians fall off the foils. In these conditions and on a boundary course it becomes almost impossible for Luna Rossa to build speed to re-attain flight and Magic builds an impressive lead of well over 1500 metres. All American Magic have to do is stay on the foils and this race is theirs.
Down the final run, Tom Slingsby and Lucas Calabrese make no mistakes, converting the opportunity with great flight control from Andrew Campbell and Mike Menninger, scoring a brilliant win to keep their Louis Vuitton Cup semi-final hopes alive and take the scoreline to 4-1. This has been coming for a while. Great execution by NYYC American Magic.
NYYC American Magic bt. Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli 4-1
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The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron is New Zealand's leading yacht club, with an illustrious history dating back to our formation in 1871. The RNZYS is still the official home of the America's Cup after Emirates Team New Zealand, representing the RNZYS, defended the oldest sporting trophy in the world at the 36th America's Cup in ...
The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron traces its origin back to the 1871 incarnation of the Auckland Yacht Club, with 30 yachts and 120 members on its register. By then, the city had grown from a scattering of tents and shacks into a much more substantial and thriving venture, with the harbour playing a central role in its progress. ...
The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron is a New Zealand yacht club, and the club behind New Zealand's America's Cup campaigns, under the guises of New Zealand Challenge and Team New Zealand. It held the America's Cup from 1995 until 2003, becoming in 2000 the first non-American holder to successfully defend the trophy.
The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron is New Zealand's leading yacht club, with an illustrious history dating back to our formation in 1871. The RNZYS is still the official home of the America's Cup after Emirates Team New Zealand, representing the RNZYS, defended the oldest sporting trophy in the world at the 36th America's Cup in ...
The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron is the oldest and most successful yacht club in New Zealand, and the current home of the America's Cup. With over 3,200 Members, the club is thriving and enjoys a yearlong calendar of activities that cater to all our Member's needs.
The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron is New Zealand's leading yacht club, with an illustrious history dating back to our formation in 1871. The RNZYS is the official home of the America's Cup after Emirates Team New Zealand, representing the RNZYS, defended the oldest sporting trophy in the world at the 36th America's Cup in Auckland in 2021.
Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron (RNZYS), Auckland, New Zealand. 12,184 likes · 100 talking about this · 12,281 were here. New Zealand's leading yacht club and the official home of the America's Cup
The following is an edited extract from Salt in our Blood, tracing the origins of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron in 1871.. For the best part of a century and half, the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron has taken 1871 as the date earlier faltering efforts at setting up a yacht club finally took hold. Part of this conviction arises from a club legend recounted by Noel Holmes in his book ...
The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron made the announcement on Friday in Auckland. Royal Yacht Squadron Racing presented its challenged two days earlier, immediately after Emirates Team New Zealand successfully defended the Auld Mug with a 7-3 victory over Italy's Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team on the Hauraki Gulf.
The first superyacht regatta in the world for over a year takes place in Auckland today with the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron Mastercard Superyacht Regatta. ... The event is part of the Royal ...
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On March 17th 2021, the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, on behalf of the Defender Emirates Team New Zealand, accepted the Notice of Challenge for the 37th America's Cup (AC37) from Royal Yacht Squadron Ltd and INEOS BRITANNIA (formerly INEOS TEAM UK) and were announced as the Challenger of Record for the 37th America's Cup. This will be the first British Challenger of Record to compete ...
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The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron is New Zealand's leading yacht club, with an illustrious history dating back to our formation in 1871. The RNZYS is still the official home of the America's Cup after Emirates Team New Zealand, representing the RNZYS, defended the oldest sporting trophy in the world at the 36th America's Cup in ...
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Founded in 1871, The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron is New Zealand's senior yacht club and home of the 36th Americas Cup! The RNZYS's reputation on the international yachting scene ensures it occupies a position of high prestige, nationally and internationally.
The Royal Yacht Squadron entered the 2021 America's Cup in Auckland, New Zealand, with the Ineos Team UK syndicate led by Sir Ben Ainslie, but did not win. In March 2021, an entity associated with the RYS, called Royal Yacht Squadron Racing Ltd, was officially accepted as the Challenger of Record for the 37th America's Cup competition.
Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron - RNZYS, Auckland, New Zealand. 570 likes · 5 were here. Learn to Sail at the RNZYS with our full range of Learn to Sail courses! From beginners courses righ
The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron is New Zealand's leading yacht club, with an illustrious history dating back to our formation in 1871. The RNZYS is still the official home of the America's Cup after Emirates Team New Zealand, representing the RNZYS, defended the oldest sporting trophy in the world at the 36th America's Cup in ...
Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei welcomed members of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron (RNZYS) onto Ōrākei marae yesterday and along with the squadron members was the oldest international sporting ...
The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron will be the defender of the 37th America's Cup, after its yacht Te Rehutai, owned and sailed by the Emirates Team New Zealand syndicate, was the successful defender in the 36th America's Cup, beating the challenger Luna Rossa, representing Circolo della Vela Sicilia, 7-3 in a first-to-seven series raced from ...
SUBSCRIBE to the official America's Cup channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/americascupLike America's Cup On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/americascup Fo...
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