Crossing the Bay, a challenge on race day




Sunset at Brisbane Marina




Team New Zealand - other boats watching the race

While moored at Brisbane Marina, we worked on several boat projects, including polishing all the stainless, caulking around the hawse openings (boat cleats), and caulking the “splash rail” along the hull of the boat.  Additional projects will have to wait until haulout scheduled for August 22^nd at KKMI Boat Yard in Richmond; more about that in subsequent blogs.  We departed Brisbane on August 21^st and headed for Richmond located across the Bay, keeping clear of the Louis Vuitton Cup racecourse - an opportunity to see some of the 72 foot-catamarans in action.  We spotted the large orange cones marking the start line and turning points along the course.  It had been published that pleasure boats should not linger near the racecourse while traversing the Bay, but we saw boats who were clearly taking their time.  Yachts, sailboats, and tour boats were crossing in all directions, all hoping for a close up view of the races.  Our traverse proved to be rather challenging, keeping one eye on the race while constantly watching out for boat traffic. 





Team New Zealand with Team Italy in Hot Pursuit

We lucked out and could see off our portside Team New Zealand and Team Italy within a boat length of each other; it appeared to be an exciting, close race.  The Louis Vuitton Cup, part of the America’s Cup Challenger Series, is the regatta that determines which challenger races the defender in the America’s Cup Finals.  Past history has shown that the Louis Vuitton Cup series enhances the chances of the challenger due to the number of intense races, which improves tactics and crew experience.  It will be interesting to see if the challenger can beat Oracle USA, the America’s Cup defender.  

Oracle USA Checking the Competition

Indeed, Team Oracle was circling the race course checking out the competition.  The Emirates Team of New Zealand won the race that day and leads Luna Rossa of Italy in the series, 5-1.  The Kiwis need just two more wins to close out the Louis Vuitton Cup and become the challenger in the America’s Cup Finals scheduled for September 7^th – 21^st.  The America’s Cup is often referred to as the oldest trophy in sport, dating back to 1851.  It all began when Commodore John Cox Stevens, member of the fledgling New York Yacht club, formed a six-person syndicate to build a yacht and take her to England for competition in regattas and match races.  Boat designer George Steers built the 101 foot schooner christened America, a state-of-the-art vessel for its day.  It raced against 15 yachts of the British Royal Yacht Squadron around the Isle of Wight.  America won, finishing 8 minutes ahead of the closest rival!  Members of the America syndicate donated the Cup via a “deed of gift,” specifying that it be held in trust as a perpetual challenge trophy to promote friendly competition among nations.  

Attractive Brickyard Cove

We left the race still in progress as we continued northeast to Richmond, passing Brickyard Cove before turning to port and heading down Harbor Channel, an industrial area similar to our Ship Canal in Seattle.  We tied to the docks at Richmond Yacht Harbor and settled in for the evening; our haul-out would be early the next morning.

Heading down Harbor Channel