Monday

Normandie had pre purchased ferry tickets for Sat and Sunday, and had bought us tickets for the races on Monday, but we did not have ferry tickets to get there, and as it turns out, there is no way to buy tickets except on the internet. We did not have internet to buy the tickets, and if we could buy them there was np way to print them to take them to the ferry. Things don't open here until 10:00, and while we were fumbling around going from hither to yon trying to find out how to get ferry tickets, the commuter ferry came and left. This is what we eventually determined: There are two ferrys, the regular commuter ferry that takes bus tokens, and a special ferry just for America's Cup folks. The AC ferry goes to the America's Cup Village, the commuter ferry goes to a ferry landing about a mile away, at the Dockyard. By the time we learned the rules both ferrys had come and gone. But in spite of our tribulations we had a delightful 1.5 hour bus ride out to the Village, and got there early enough to get good seats in the grandstands, directly behind the broadcast booth.
Have I mentioned a cold front? it is now an occluded front from Florida, right across Bermuda. The weather forecast calls the weather "unsettled". New Zealand needed one more win to become the challenger. The race started in about 12 knots of wind. (In 12 knots of wind the boats can go 45 mph!)And the wind started dying. By the third leg NZ was ahead, and the boats were going about 15 knots in 5 knots of wind. Then the boats were not going fast enough to stay up on the foils and they dropped down into the water. It became an old fashioned light air sailboat race, at about 3 mph. The crew was doing things like holding the "sails" out with their hands to catch that little bit of wind. I found it exciting, and lots of fun. Then there was the only disapproval I have heard since being in the delightful community, boo-ing. They stopped the race due to no wind. BOO- BOO-!
New Zealand was ahead, and the race was stopped, just like the race in 2014 when Team US won The Cup.
We milled about, enjoying the people and the experience, seems that there was rain involved in this, and then and hour or so later the wind picked back up and they started the second race. Now it is history, NZ won the race in a near perfect performance, making them the challenger to race the US Boat in the America's Cup Race. I think it will be best 5 out of 9, scheduled for the next two weekends.
The one mile walk to the commuter ferry, and a delightful ride back to St George's. On the way Will met the couple sitting beside us, delightful people from Australia, Ocean Cruising Club members, who had just bought a boat in Newport, and this was the first of their cruising the US east coast. (sailing back to US from here.)
Back to the boat and the dark 'n stormy evening, still not knowing how to buy ferry tickets.
Bill Doar
s/v Advent II