Following the final race Sunday afternoon, there was a "Moet moment" (though, truth be told, it was some other champagne) for the winning team in the Viaduct near the Loaded Hog -- giving the general public at the Auckland Harbour Festival a taste of the Auckland Match Racing Cup.

The formal prizegiving and party was Sunday evening in the Viaduct at the old Alinghi base, which has served as the event HQ. The friendly, relaxed atmosphere was enjoyed by the sailors, officials, sponsors and a number of prominent NZL yachties. There was a strong contingent of BMWOR team members and friends in attendance, including of course Dicko and Bert.

Monday is "Auckland Anniversary Day," a public holiday in much of the "Northland" so no one was in a rush to leave last evening's party, with the exception of a few of sailors who had Sunday-evening flights home or to their next regatta.


Not quite sure what this represented, but this piece of
performance art (yes, it's alive) greeted the guests at Sunday
evening's prizegiving party. Maybe it's something Alinghi left
behind in their old base.


Peter "Montcommentary" Montgomery, the voice of NZL yachting,
emceed the prizegiving with his usual flair-- and, no surprise, some
obvious enthusiasm for the win by the "home team."


Each of the teams from 10th place up were introduced. Finishing 3rd on
a good performance all week, Team Dicko were warmly received by those
assembled. CD thanked the organizers and complimented the winners on
behalf of BMWOR, and cheekily offered to deliver Cameron Appleton's
check when the fourth place team was a no-show at the prizegiving
(having dashed for flights).


Bert also complimented the winners, and said how nice it was to be back
racing in Auckland. Zach was the only member of Bert's crew who didn't
have a flight to catch. Bert had a lot of nice things to say about Zach and
the rest of his crew for a stellar performance in their 2nd place finish.


Victory Challenge trimmer/tactician Lars Linger (left) with his Swedish
AC (and AMRC) skipper Magnus Holmberg (right), flanking RNZYS
Commodore David Charlesworth.


Stuart Alexander (GBR), one of the veteran UK Cup journalists known
as the Three Musketeers (maybe should be updated to Los Tres
Amigos?) making a point about the quality of Spanish vino tinto
to Principal Race Officer (and Deputy Senior Race Officer for AC 32)
Harold Bennett (NZL).


Claudia (Mrs Peter) Montgomery, Billie Barker (Dean's mom), Mandy
(Mrs Dean) Barker, and Peter Montgomery. In the background, ETNZ
chief Grant Dalton.


Congrats to Kiwis Hal and Trudie Wagstaff who were also celebrating their
51st wedding anniversary last evening. Hal is a former President of the
New Zealand yachting federation and long-time international official. He
was one of the many volunteer officials (race committee in his case) who
make these regattas possible -- and for whom BMWOR and no doubt all the
teams are grateful.


Fuku and Flipper, who raced with Dicko this week, said they enjoyed
the regatta here but are looking forward to getting back at it in
Valencia in a few weeks.


Bert and Dicko -- competitors and colleagues -- off to a good start in
2006. Now let's get them back onto the same boat and picking up at
Valencia in May where they successfully left off in Trapani last October.