Top tips for America’s Cup spectators

Top tips for America’s Cup spectators

The Auckland Regional Council Harbourmaster has two top tips for boaties wanting to enjoy this weekends’ America’s Cup racing – slow down and stay tuned to VHF channel 18.

ARC Harbourmaster James McPetrie says with the start of the long-awaited America’s Cup defence on Saturday thousands of boaties are expected on the water to urge Team New Zealand on to victory.

“Now is the time for us all to slow down and be very careful out there,” he says.

“There will be speed restrictions to provide for greater safety. Speed restrictions of 10 knots may be imposed in the morning as we make our way out to the racetrack area and will be imposed on our return to harbour on completion of racing for the day.”

A speed restriction of 5 knots will be imposed around the racetrack from around 12.30pm daily until 10 minutes after completion of racing.

Senior Sergeant Martin Paget, officer in charge of the Police Maritime Unit, says it is vital that all boaties obey the speed restrictions and respond immediately to any instructions from Police, ARC or Navy patrol boats.

“It’s going to be very busy so we are relying on the instant co-operation of all spectators to make this a safe and successful regatta,” Mr Paget says.

The ARC and New Zealand Police have combined to provide boaties with an excellent source of on-the-water information - VHF Channel 18.

Channel 18 will carry notifications of speed restrictions as they are enforced and lifted, other instructions for spectators and Peter Montgomery’s race commentaries.

Boaties who stay tuned to the channel and carry life jackets for all those on board their vessels will also have the chance to win spot prizes on the water throughout the regatta.

The ARC Harbourmaster says spectator craft have shown excellent standards of seamanship, safety and commonsense during the Louis Vuitton Regatta.

“We need to demonstrate these same high standards during the Defence series,” he says. “Let’s all have a great and exciting defence and let’s all come home safely.”

The Auckland Regional Council, the New Zealand Police and the Royal New Zealand Navy will be out there to advise and to assist spectator craft. Auckland Coastguard will also be there in their traditional role of breakdown assistance.

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