Quote Originally Posted by 34_40 View Post
We agree on all that! It has become all so much drama and taken away from the competition. Being born and raised here on the coast, and with the Cup races 20 - 25 minutes away.. It was good times to grow up around it! And all the girls that arrived from around the world didn't hurt!

I have actually sailed on a couple 12 meter yachts! The old racers are usually bought by some mega-wealthy person and to help offset costs they hire them out to various companies to put the craft to work. Some of these are "friendly" races between these old boats with a hired on crew from various companies that use this as a team building exercise. I'll act as a "mate" and help the "captain" keep the boat organized and all the newbs acting as a "crew". It is a huge thrill to stand on a deck operating a hand driven winch, with the boat heeled over enough to put your outside leg in seawater up to your knee but your inside foot is still dry! And it's on a vessel built in the late 50's or early 60's!

It seems a shame to see what it's all become!
Yup,,years ago,,it was GB,USA,various continental countries,who raced for the cup,,as you said,,it started on your coast,,and like a lot of ''sporting''events,has turned tits up,one way or another,due to money..I know what you mean about those big yachts..They heel over a long way..in my earlier days,of high school,,a friend or two from more affluent families,had up to 45 footers,,and it was kool to spend a weekend on the water,,ummm,,,especially those guys with sisters.. We got quite familiar with the small uninhabited islands around Auckland's Hauraki gulf..