America's Cup-2000-New Zealand

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America True & Nippon Circling

When the Louis Viutton Cup got going for the 2000 Cup in the Hauraki Gulf in Auckland New Zealand there were a lot of windy races. Most of the photographers griped about the dull days but I liked the drama of the big waves and dark skies.

This is my favorite shot: two boats, the ocean; nothing else matters.

Great Graphics-Great Sailing

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Adabracadabra

I loved the look of this boat from Hawaii and this is one of the good shots I got in the windy conditions; the Hauraki Gulf is kicking up,the spume is flying and Adabracadabra is smoking.

America True

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Setting the kite on a windy day

Dawn Riley and John Cutler and the rest of the crew get ready for a ride.

The sailing is good

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Nippon

The sailing is good in the Hauraki Gulf.

What New York Used to Be

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The Moment

What New York used to be was a whole boat, the hopes and pride of the New York Yacht Club. Now, in this instant, it all went south.

I'd turned my lens to the dark grey boat to see it tack and started shooting just as it came out of the tack and off a rather big wave. The first frame I took is this one, just as they hit that one big wave which did them in. This is the moment.

The Day New York Broke in Two

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One wave too many

Sailors know it's not the wind which causes the problems; its the waves. New York's pride found a wave which had their name on it.

Looking Very Wrong

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Broken Boat

We were on the scene in seconds and the New York boat was looking very wrong when we got there. The crew is stunned.

The Crew Hit the Water

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In the water

People swiming with the boat looking like it would go down any minute; the scene was unreal.

Stars & Stripe's Little Problem

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Oops!

It wasn't just New York that had problems in the blustery Hauraki Gulf sailing conditions. Here we see how Dennis Conner's boat just opened the trunk lid at an inopportune time.

Eye to Eye

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Eye To Eye

The Louis Vuitton Finals: Prada Faces America One. Here in a wild prestart dial up the two skippers make and hold eye contact.

Prada's Shocking Rounding

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Man overboard

It can't get much worse than this: The kite is in the water on one side of the boat, a crewman is in the water on the other, something is tangled up in the jib, maybe the pole lift, and the jib isn't coming in.

One Less Kite for America One

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Another Big Green One Goes


One mystery was why America One had so much trouble with spinnakers; they blew up several in their races and it always cost them dearly. Was it the green cloth?

Prada Surges Home Alone

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Surging home

Prada sails toward Auckland after crossing the line ahead.

Prada

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The Winner

Now the Kiwis enter the Fray

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Kiwi Afterguard

Here are the guys Prada has to beat; a hard task.

First Cross

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On the first cross, the Kiwi's are in front

New Zealand

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Kiwis Lead

By the top mark the Kiwis were leading.

New Zealand Keeps the Cup

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Winners

Champagne and happy sailors on the wharf in Auckland's Viaduct Basin

In 2003 They Sail Again

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Looking close

Three years later the AC yachts again compete for the cup in New Zealand and I was back for more photos. This time it was Alinghi against New Zealand in the cup match but with many of the top sailors from the previously unbeatable Kiwi team now sailing for the Swiss Alinghi team, the outcome was far different and it was never very close.

Alinghi Wins

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Victorious
And Alinghi wins.

Dean Barker Hangs his Head

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Dean Barker
After losing the cup things are quiet on board the New Zealand boat.

Bangkok Scenes with New Zoom Lens

After a day of shopping we took a few shots with the new lens and then popped into the Black Swan Bar on Sukhumvit for a pint or two.

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Taxis
Sky Train & Street
Street BBQ
Black Swan Bar
Pretty Bartenders


New Lens: Nikkor AF-S 24-70mm f2.8G
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Travelers meet in Bangkok

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Judy's new friend Mary Helen, and her travelling colleagues Gill and Denise.

Thai Girls Watching Elephants

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Ayutaya Trip-Watching

Wings Graphics

I took an image from the 2007 Western Circuit Regatta (provided to us on a CD after the regatta) and I used it as the basis for these graphics, one for MySpace (http://www.myspace.com/wingssail) and two for shirts.

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Graphic for MySpace

Graphic for Black Shirt
Graphic for White Shirt