VOLVO Ocean Race

27th February 2015 - 15th March 2015

Auckland, the world's premier sailing capital, is once again welcoming the Volvo Ocean 65s fleet home as an official Stopover of the Volvo Ocean Race 2014-15.

What is the Yacht Race?

The Volvo Ocean Race is an exceptional test of sailing prowess and human endeavour which has been built on the spirit of great seafarers - fearless men who sailed the world's oceans aboard square rigged clipper ships more that a century ago....MORE

The Route

The route will take in 10 cities in nine countries - Spain, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, China, New Zealand, United States, Portugal, France and Sweden - and will require the teams to cover 39,895 nautical miles - equivalent to 45,190 miles or 73,886 kilometres.....MORE

The Teams

Seven Teams started this race, but the Danish boat, Vestas Wind was stranded on a reef at Cargado Carajos Shoals in the middle of the Indian Ocean during the stage from Cape Town to Abu Dhabi on November 29 2014. The crew were forced to abandon the boat....MORE

Team Sca - All Female Team

Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing

Donfeng Race Team

Team Brunel

Team Alvimedica

MAPFRE

For a week now the work on transforming the Viaduct Harbour into a Race Village has been been happening at lightning speed.

The race village officially opened on the 27th February.

There was live entertainment every day and local sailing events.

You could have a go at sailing, visit the Another Day at the Office show and cinema, discover the SCA pavilion or crawl inside the Cross Section of the VO65 to find out how life is aboard. The Heineken Yacht Club and Stoneleigh Bar have popped up on Te Wero Island and you can check out the Boatyard and Team Pavilions.

The boats finally arrived in Auckland on March 1st, after being delayed due to lack of wind.

Below is a photo of 'SCA' the all women crewed boat, being lifted into 'The Boatyard', the other 5 boats have already been lifted.

Boats in 'The Boatyard'

The boats are now undergoing major work before they leave Auckland on the 15th March.

During this time you can watch the boats being stripped back and overhauled in 'The Boatyard', you can get so close you are almost standing underneath them.

As mentioned above you can take in the sights and sounds of the entertainment going on around you.

The beauty of all this? It was all absolutely free.

Have a go at sailing

Cross section of a boat

Ben Ratima live on stage

Jordan Luck Trio

 Below a model of 'SCA' made out of 100,000 Lego blocks

Me with the cup....Yay I am a winner today!!!

The boats are now back in the water after a week of maintenance and doing some racing on the Waitemata Harbour.

The boats are due to  leave on the 15th March, but there is a Cyclone currently in the Pacific which is bearing down on us.

The boats have been delayed 2 days and will now leave on the 17th March.

Here you can see Cyclone Pam heading our way.

Time to batten down the hatches.

The boats did leave on the 17th March, in great conditions.

It has been a terrific couple of weeks with so much happening in the City.

The beauty of working in the City is you get to see things like this.

Magic.

I know you've been waiting for it.....

....and here it is, finally a post for February. (I know we are nearly at the end of March already!!)
The first few months of the year are usually chaotic with so much happening, its difficult to keep on top of it all!!

A quick run down of what has been happening for February.

Friday 27th February 2015
Poppies!!
The Cruise Ship Queen Elizabeth is in port on her 2015 Anzac Voyage. 
Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Gallipoli Campaign, she is cruising up to Gallipoli in time for Anzac Day.
There were poppies being pinned to the numbers 100, which the Queen Elizabeth is taking with her when she sets sail later today. This is bio-degradable so we are hoping it will be floated at sea during the Commemoration...
..and of course I did put a Poppy on the wall

Below the 'Queen Elizabeth'

On a lighter note, a new piece of Street Art has popped up on Queens Wharf.

and to celebrate the 10 Days of Fashion, of course there would be Heels...

and Torsos...

 Wednesday 25th February 2015
So if you didn't know the Cricket World Cup 2015 is currently on and is being hosted by New Zealand and Australia, and haven't the games been great. (Go the Black Caps)
Today you could meet the NZ Black Caps at the Fan Zone in Takutai Square in downtown Auckland

There are giant screens so you can watch all of the matches..

...you can sit in a grandstand or laze back in bean bags

The Boys

Kyle Mills, Ross Taylor, Grant Elliot, Mike Hesson, Speaker, Mitchell McClenaghan

Uh Oh...think I have been spotted by Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson!

Mike Hesson, Tom Latham, Mitchell McClenaghan, Luke Ronchi, Trent Boult

Far Right - Kane Williamson and Adam Milne

Brendon McCullum and Selwyn College

MC - Martin  Devlin

Sir Richard Hadlee

Do you like this sign I spotted downtown.

Friday 20th February 2015

There were a couple of Cruise Ships in today.
Crystal Serenity at Queens Wharf

and Asuka II at Princes Wharf

There was also a bit of Music happening today, at Queens Wharf

Wednesday 18th February 2015

Summer of Colour is happening on Viaduct Corner.

During your lunch break on Wednesdays, you can get food from the Food Trucks and pop up eateries.

You can play table tennis, Jenga and Noughts and Crosses.

Or you can just sit in the sun.

Wednesday 11th February 2015

Today I went for a walk towards the Silo.

I came across the Speigltent in Daldy Street, currently showing 'Empire'

and some Art Work by Jeremy Shirley in Halsey Street

Monday 9th February 2015

The Cruise Ship 'The Albatross' is currently in port

Sunday 8th February 2015
A Tui outside my kitchen window in the Bottlebrush Tree.