Sailing an America’s Cup Yacht

America's Cup Yacht

Auckland is known as the “City of Sails.” Boats belonging to all levels of society anchor in every bay and harbor. Seeing masts lined up like telephone poles is part of the landscape.

Sailing was Gene’s passion when I first met him. Being a non swimmer at the time, I enjoyed our excursions on Lake Ontario but it remained far from a passion for me. It was natural then that on this visit to New Zealand, our son Matthew, daughter-in-law Sharilyn and Gene booked a two hour sail on a 24 m America’s Cup yacht while I remained on terra firma taking the grandchildren to Chipmunks (an indoor fun place for children.)

The eleven guests and 5 crew members of the yacht, departed from the Viaduct Harbour and sailed into Waitemata Harbour where any willing guests got to take the helm or work the grinders (winches.) Rising to the challenge, Matthew, Sharilyn and Gene each took a turn at the helm. Sharilyn said, “You learn so much more by actually getting involved.”

While at the helm, Gene had the yacht heeled over to eighteen inches of freeboard (above waterline.) “An absolute thrill,” he said, “worth every penny.”

Whenever the boat tacked, they worked like mad on the winches to adjust the sails while being strongly encouraged by the crew. “We paid good money to have them to yell at us to work faster,” said Gene with a chuckle.

All was well until the slider that runs the inside sails of the mast got stuck at the very top. A crew member had to be winched up the 34.5 m sail in a trapeze to unstick it. As this work was done by the crew members, the guests had to resign themselves to relax for an additional half hour in lovely Waitemata Harbour, Auckland. Not hard to take I understand.