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Team New Zealand boss Grant Dalton - Source: Photosport -
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Maritime history abounds in Plymouth, the navy port in south
west England steeped in it.
In part thats because it keeps on making it, and this week is no
exception with New Zealand yachties to the fore again.
Before heading to a new life in New Zealand almost 20 years ago, I
spent a decade working for the BBC in the South West and Plymouth
Sound was my main sailing venue for work and play.
Of course in historical terms its most famous for Sir Francis Drake
calming playing bowls up on Plymouth Hoe while the Spanish Armada
gathered offshore.
Grant Dalton, who also has strong affilliations with Plymouth,
reckons if the tide was flowing out Drake would have had plenty of
time such is the strength of the currents here.
Dalton and his crew used Plymouth as their base working up Fisher
and Paykel for the Whitbread Round the World Race and Plymouth is
of course the finish for the famous or infamous Fastnet Race which
has been won by a number of Kiwis.
In addition this northern hemisphere city of sails has also seen a
Kiwi team lift the Admirals Cup which in its time was the top
yachting event in the world outside the Americas Cup.
But Ive also seen the spectacular starts of Single-handed
Transatlantic Races in what we thought then were huge
trimarans.
And the boat I sailed on most when I arrived in Plymouth was
surrounded by history, moored alongside Suhaili&the boat in
which Sir Robin Knox Johnston because the first man to sail single
handed non-stop around the world.
Now this week more history is in the making in the form of the
Americas Cup World Series which runs until Sunday.
The AC45s have already proved hugely entertaining with plenty of
spills and thrills.
I will soon be riding as sixth man on the back of the ETNZ boat. I
shall report back.. I hope.
