Anna Hewinson meets fellow Kiwi Blair Tuke in Bermuda. Photo/Supplied
Anna Hewinson meets fellow Kiwi Blair Tuke in Bermuda. Photo/Supplied
Seeing history made when Team NZ took line honours and claimed the America's Cup was a moment Whangarei's Anna Hewinson will never forget.
The 22-year-old former Whangarei Girls' High School student, now the chief stewardess on a super yacht sailing the world, was in the black sea of NewZealand supporters cheering and celebrating the win yesterday.Talking to the Northern Advocate from the racing venue in Bermuda Hewinson said the atmosphere was phenomenal.
"The race today was amazing. The atmosphere was phenomenal, the best I have personally seen it. It's funny how everyone always comes together to support NZ - it's very cool.
"I was confident the Kiwis would win today. Obviously still very nerve-wracking but surely they had to win at least one race today and fortunately it was the first. We were right on the finish line today so it was crazy when the boat came in."
After the race finished she was in the crowd at prize giving and got to see the Auld Mug lifted into the air by the New Zealand sailors, including Northland's own Blair Tuke.
"All credit to Team NZ - they have been absolutely insane and done us all proud. Such a great moment to be a Kiwi and be amongst all the action. We are very, very privileged," Hewinson said.
"I am so stoked to be here and the last month has been a very memorable experience, something I will never forget."
Anna Hewinson and Whangarei's Michael Cate join in the celebrations after Team NZ won the America's Cup.
PHOTO Supplied
Hewinson and the rest of the crew on a super yacht sailed into Bermuda at the beginning of June to see a few of the challenger series and then the Louis Vuitton series.
Witnessing the action from the America's Cup village has provided some close-up viewing.
"Seeing the boats race first-hand has been absolutely insane. You don't realise how fast 30-plus knots is on television until you see it in real life. They are flying."
And to get closer to the action she has been out on the water on the race-course boundary.
"They have a VHF radio channel with the commentary we would listen to while out there so we could have all the latest info as it happened."
During the regatta Hewinson said the Team NZ crew wandered through the crowd and it was then she got to meet Blair Tuke for the first time and get a photo with him.
She said it was a great vibe being able to send off the boats in the morning and greet them back after the race was over.
Once the buzz of the America's Cup win has subsided in Bermuda, Hewinson will continue on her ocean adventure stopping in Maine, before heading to New England, then New York and across the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean for the rest of the summer.
