Great news announced this morning. The Louis Vuitton series is coming back to Auckland in Feb and March 2010. But bigger than better than ever. Last year it was a one off Pacific series, now it is a 4 leg World series where Auckland will be the second leg.
The rules are essentially the same as this year 10 teams, identical boats.
Last year the people of Auckland really got behind the racing, I certainly enjoyed it. I hope for more of the same this year.
Okay it is obvious that Alinghi has no interest in the rules of fair play or even putting on a show for the spectators.
The next America’s Cup Regatta currently held up in court rooms because of Alinghi’s desire to be able to change the rules and remove any competitor whenever they desire.
And yesterday they flew a Maori sovereignty flag off the back of their boat in an aparent attempt to stir up some emotions and controversy.
But todays debarcle takes the cake.
Refusing to race Team NZ.
On the news tonight Dean Barker could only repeat two words: “Pissed Off” over the incident.
Alinghi are claiming that racing would be of no benefit to them. Well even if you are leading the regatta it is still decent to race. Especially when it is a hyped rematch of the final of the last America’s Cup.
It seems Alinghi are running scared when they cannot control the rules for the regatta.
My first band for the day was Edwin Derricutt on the Deluxe Stage at 1.10pm, Edwin is a great artist and it was a very entertaining set including audience participation and special guest artists helping out on songs. It was a great way to chill out and really begin the day.
Edwin Derricutt
At 2.20 was the great Kiwiana Party aka The Great Indoor Cricket Battle: The Americans (Family Force Five and Kutless) vs The Punters (randomly picked campers). It was a bad but funny idea to send The Americans into bat first. No one explained to them that cricket is not baseball. Firstly you hold the bat differently, and secondly you don’t drop it after hitting the ball. The cricket match was a great way to get out of the sun though.
About half the crowd that had packed into the Palladium to see the cricket
That is not a baseball bat, and that is not how you hold a cricket bat!
About three quarters through the cricket I left to see Season Pass play. They were awesome! For a band that has not played together for more than a year and only had a few practices. Also partly because I know almost everyone in the band so it was a more personal performance than most other bands.
Luke Oram and Evan Cooper
Evan Cooper, with Steven from Mumsdollar playing Bass in the background
The entire Season Pass band with Gareth Hodges on keys and a guy from The Ember Days on drums
The link above is to the TVNZ Olympics Message Board.
But unless you want to be disgusted at the attitude of the majority of posters I wouldn’t recommend clicking on the link.
TVNZ is doing an amazing job covering the Olympics. They have four channels of coverage (TV One, Freeview Ch20 and two online channels).
But despite all this people are still complaining. I personally enjoyed the NZ vs Brazil soccer game which was aired on TV One (the main NZ channel).
New Zealanders need to get a grip and be thankful for how much coverage they are getting for free.
TVNZ surely paid top dollar to get the coverage, Sky TV would have been surely trying hard to out bid them.
Imagine the Olympics on Sky. a) Not everyone could get it – Sky costs, TVNZ is free. b) Unless you paid more it would not be in High Def. c) You would not have four channels of coverage – three channels at the absolute max. d) You would still have ads – like the live Formula 1. e) People would still complain.
