KEY POINTS:
The Auckland party season has officially started now that the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series kicked off on Friday. That means racing in the harbour by day; parties by the dockside by night.
It kicked off with the lavish international media launch party on Saturday night hosted by Tourism
New Zealand and SkyCity at the fabulous Pacific Bar on Halsey St. All the who's-who of the racing world was there, like BMW Oracle skipper Russell Coutts, who's so very rarely seen at the glamour-girl events he's practically listed on the endangered species list of partygoer seamen.
Unlike Brad Butterworth who appears to love a good knees-up, if his regular presence at events of late have been anything to go by.
Click here for a short promotional video from the party, where yours truly was one of the ones giving their two cents worth, along with Gilda Kirkpatrick, Denise L'Estrange-Corbet, Pebbles Hooper and Paul Holmes.
(Pictured above from left; Paul Holmes, Gilda Kirkpatrick and Russell Coutts.)
Oracle billionaire owner Larry Ellison (Russ's boss) was a no show, like Ernesto Bertarelli (Russ's former boss), but the Swiss mogul has reportedly snubbed the whole regatta series completely. Pity, really. There's nothing like the presence of a nation's nemesis to inspire a competition, despite the fact they're calling this regatta the "friendly series." Friendly schmiendly. While the America's Cup is held up in court (thanks Larry and Ernie), the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series has sparked that regatta rivalry we know and love.
Lazza probably flagged Saturday night's shindig in favour of a nice night in on his 56m floating palace Zenji following a tiring day on the water earning his keep on BMW Oracle's boat. It didn't do him much good. We, as in Dean Barker, nailed the race and beat Coutts. A good omen, surely.
Ellison, for those who haven't heard of the Silicon Valley billionaire, is filthy rich, worth around US$27 billion. It's a coup to have him in the country for this event, and it will, no doubt, attract the gold-digging hordes hoping to be future wife No.5... if, of course, he ever divorces romance novelist wife No.4.
They (the gold-diggers) will be out in force on Wednesday night at the Pacific Series gala dinner at SkyCity where the likes of Grant Dalton, John Bertrand, Bruno Trouble, Sir Michael Fay, Dean Barker, Russell Coutts and John Key will speak in front of Auckland's society types. I'll bring you all the goss and the glamorous piccies.
Rules of the Road cocktail party
A small exclusive soiree was held last week for the skippers, the harbour master and all the Louis Vuitton officials to formally announce the rules of the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series.
The event was held at the Club Lounge at the SkyCity Grand Hotel. Click here for photos taken at the event by Norrie Montgomery.
Robin Malcolm: I'm not leaving NZ!
Oh dear. Poor Robyn Malcolm is hopping mad. And who can blame her? The celebrated actress has been receiving messages from friends and family wishing her well for her life in Australia, ever since a Sunday newspaper printed inaccurate reports yesterday about her moving to Sydney. She isn't.
She's so mad about the false story she hit the Outrageous Fortune blog with this message:
Hey everyone,
Just responding to all the hooha in the papers today the Sunday News and the gossip section of the Sunday Star Times printed a story about how I was in the process of leaving NZ for Aussie.
I've had txts all morning saying "We're sorry you're going Mate", so I thought in this instance an official response was required.
I am not leaving for Australia. I have enrolled my kids in school and kindy here. I audition for work here, Australia and the States. It's what actors do, always have done.
I've spent quite a bit of time in Australia promoting Outrageous Fortune and I took some meetings. The quotes were from an interview I did with an Aussie reporter. I was having a joke and the article was tongue in cheek. It was, as often happens, taken entirely out of context and quite frankly I am embarrassed about it.
If I do leave NZ for work elsewhere however, you can be sure I won't be telling the papers! However as said in the Sunday News "Mum ain't Leaving" and Antony Starr didn't get a job in Ugly Betty. Please check your facts thoroughly before putting something in print Star Times!
Best
Robyn
Malcolm may be mad, but I'm not. As a born and bred Westie (Oratia was home for me as a kid), I love, love, love Robyn on Outrageous Fortune. Who doesn't? The show, and Malcolm, has won accolades all over the world. It didn't seem plausible that she was going to ditch it for the possibility of fame and fortune in Sydney.
Rachel Glucina
Pictured above: Louis Vuitton Cocktail Party, Auckland. From left; Paul Holmes, Gilda Kirkpatrick and Russell Coutts. Photo / Norrie Montgomery.
