Well, it's all over but the shouting (and the locals are doing plenty of that given the win by ETNZ's Dean Barker & co.) and the prizegiving this evening at 19:00. Nice job by Dean to best Team Bert 3-0 today in the finals. Dicko's gang were equally dominant in the consolation final, easily handling Cameron Appleton 2-0 to finish 3rd overall. Look for the race report by Ivor Wilkins that the intrepid Jane Eagleson will have posted on our team website later Sunday morning (Europe time).


By midday today there was a good crowd in the grandstands in the
parking lot adjacent to the squadron, taking in the action on the water
along with PJ Montgomery's commentary.


BMWOR sailing team member and NZL native Phil "Blood" Jameson
enjoying his last few days of holiday at home before heading back
to Valencia for the 2006 season, with Cameron Appleton's wife
Nicole.


Up in the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron members were enjoying
the action and a good view, including Sue Dickson (Dicko's better half)
along with MRX Fleet Manager Freddy Prohuber. The Farr-designed MRX
yachts are as good an equalized match racing fleet as there is anywhere
in the world.


The view from the Squadron upper deck of the closing moment of the
series as Dean Barker gets the gun to win "match point" over BMWOR's
Team Bert.


As we were leaving the Squadron we came across one of the event's
official cars, a BMW X3. Our thanks to the organizers of the Auckland
Match Racing Cup and their sponsors, including Auckland City
and BMW, for reviving major match racing in Auckland and putting
on a nice event. A good start to the 2006 season for BMW ORACLE
Racing.