Charter boats empty as fever fades

By HELEN TUNNAH

America's Cup weather hitches have wreaked havoc with charter boat bookings as operators report waning public interest in the regatta.

Refunds are being offered and prices discounted for remaining races after delays caused by wild weather.

There has now been no racing since Team New Zealand's third loss to Alinghi in as many races on Tuesday last week. The Swiss team need just two more wins to take the trophy to Europe for the first time since 1851.

Sunsail's financial manager, Fraser Smith, said the company had only a few bookings for their boat the Oleanda at the weekend.

"People are just giving up," he told the Herald yesterday. "The phones have stopped."

He said refunds were given for any postponed races.

The owner of Nick's Cruises, Sally Lewis, said the weather delays were annoying, but there was nothing that could be done about them.

However, bookings throughout the entire season, including the challenger series, had been weaker than during the last cup, especially because there had been no racing over the peak holiday period around New Year.

"We just have to be patient. There's one thing we can't control and that's the weather.

"People are a little more upset this time - we started a month earlier, and then there was no racing over the holidays, which really upset a lot of people. That was so dumb.

"The tourists didn't come. The last America's Cup was a lot more fun for me, it was really humming, now it's boring."

She said that if sailing had gone ahead yesterday she would have had only seven people on board.

"We can't control the weather, bookings are down, but I'm sure that's because of the way it's been scheduled."

Northern Charters operator Patrick Foot will still take clients out sailing on board the Wahoo even if racing is postponed, so they can enjoy a spot of fishing and sightseeing.

"People are losing a bit of interest."

The Wahoo, which can take 25 guests, is booked for this weekend.

Spirit of Adventure Trust chief executive John Lister said tickets for the sailing ship Spirit of New Zealand were now being sold on a daily basis, and at $200 were less than half the original price.

"It's been very difficult for us. A couple of things special about Spirit of New Zealand is that all our volunteer crew come from all over New Zealand at their own cost."

He said that yesterday there were four volunteers from Christchurch and Wellington, but they had not seen any racing.

Tickets were refunded if the Spirit did not sail, but for the first six scheduled days the ship had taken 100 people a day out to the race course.

"Only half them got a race, but they all had a wonderful time.

"We're literally selling off the deck from now on, but we've got no bookings because the public's lost interest."

Mr Lister said the cup had been a great success for the trust, despite weather delays.

"We've done very well out of it. We paid a GST cheque the other day for $26,000. We normally don't pay GST.

"All of a sudden a little charity like us is paying money into the tax system because of the America's Cup, and I think that's wonderful.

"It's given us the opportunity to put some money in the bank for our kids."

Fullers ferries, which can take 600 people out to the racing each day, did not return calls but their booking agent Ticketek said there was plenty of space available this weekend.

nzherald.co.nz/americascup

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