Daily Report, February 8, 1999
Well, we said we wanted to get used to operating in Auckland so we could
smoothly transition when we mobilized in October for the beginning of the
races. I can report that returning here after two weeks in San Francisco,
"transitioning" back into life at Base #2 in the America's Cup Village was
piece of cake. Got off the plane, Sarah O'Kane picked me up, back in the
apartment by 7:30, quick shower and down to the base,- boom - 8:30
department head meeting, weather briefing, boat launch and off the dock by
10:00.
This place is humming along like a Swiss watch (Rolex, of course).
In just two weeks, the difference is very noticable. Our sponsor pavillion
("The Opera House") is nearly completed. Rich Hackett has advanced our
sailing crew training regime with some really inovative sports theory
concepts. The sailors and shore crew have really smooth and cohesive working
relationship.
The America's Cup hasn't lost its sense of humor either. Our friends at
America True had their newly applied Golden Gate Bridge logo creatively
amended last night. When the 'Truthes' arrived at their base this morning,
they found a scale logo of Godzilla straddling the middle of their bridge,
complete with bodies being hurled off and attacking airplanes. Some
creative group had "entered" their compound and applied a set of carefully
crafted logos under the cover of darkness. The Truthsters were as amused as
anyone and took it like good sports and even suggested that who ever did it
come back and do the other side of the hull tonight.
Sailing today was at the high end of the wind scale, 18-20 knots. We were
sailing by ourselves today - practicing manuevers. We were able to complete three full
windward-leeward laps as the wind slowly built into the afternoon. Our crew
alertly noticed a small problem with the bolt rope track in the mast and
we did not need any more encouragement to curtail the days activities.
It's now 8:00 pm and the repairs are complete and boys are heading home for dinner.
It's nice to be back.
Bob Billingham,
Chief Operating Officer
