Auckland-a city of sails!

This morning  we walked through the city on a mission to purchase some art supplies. I had so much fun with the watercolor class that I would like to continue learning. Auckland is a city of made from volcanoes so anywhere aside from the harbor means a walk up hill. 

The bottom of a steep hill to get into Albert Park.I think I counted 149 steps and then it was a continued rise up for hundreds more steps without the stairs. When we got to the top I was out of breath but the view was marvelous! 

Queen Victoria 

Worth every step to get up here!

What a lovely park to spend time in. There were huge trees, blooming flowers and an incredible quiet in the middle of the city. 

Our treck for art supplies ended at the University of Auckland at Gordon Harris art supply. With help we got everything I will need to continue my quest to learn watercolor painting. The luckiest part of the journey is that it’s all downhill to get back to the ship!!below are some sights along the way back to Queen Street and the ship.

Art museum 

Civic theater 

Street art

Again, old and new intermixed

This was our last stop before lunch at the ship. I’ve developed a heck of a head cold ( tested neg for the C word) and didn’t really have much for a non productive cough. Here we found the most delightful pharmacist who helped us get a cough syrup with a med we had never heard of- turns out it can’t be sold in the US and is a schedule 1 narcotic- and NZ can’t sell dextramethoraphane.. go figure- anyway here a pharmacist can prescribe drugs and after a conversation about my current drugs and usual health, I came away with the syrup( works great) and cough drops. Al was quite impressed with the pharmacist and felt very good about his prescription. It’s always interesting how other countries handle their health care systems. 

After lunch we left for our big event of the day and number one on Albert’s wish list:

Sailing on an Americas Cup Ship

The cloudy rainy day broke and the blue sky and sun came out just in time!!

The ship we are sailing on today is NZL41. It came 2nd to Team New Zealand in 1995 and completed the semi finals . Later it was used as a training boat racing in the 150th Americas cup jubilee in 2001. It remains in the original configuration as when she was raced with minor alterations including hand rails . She even had the honor of having Prince William sail her during the Royal Tour in 2016

Her length is 80ft/24 meters and the mast height is 113ft/34 meters. We could participate as much or as little as we wanted. 

The helm

Before the action

The sail needs to be raised

Al checking things out. The handles in the foreground are a set of four that are used to raise and lower the sails. 

Sails full

It was at this point I realized I’m not cut out for sailing..when we started flying at 9-12 knots and the ship was sideways I became frozen in my spot, grasping the handrails. 

What you can’t tell from this picture is the yacht is practically tipped on it’s opposite side..

Al working hard

He was having a great day!

At the helm

Heading under the harbor bridge. There was only a couple of meters clearance 

It was a glorious day on the water. The weather cooperated ( after we got on land and into our rooms the skies opened up and rained) I survived without falling overboard and most importantly, Albert got to work and sail on an Americas Cup Ship.. our lives sure are blessed!!  Tomorrow is our last day here in Auckland. It has bee A wonderful port stop and worth a further visit someday!