John Tamihere and David Seymour having a beer together at the America's Cup races. Photo / Alex Burton
John Tamihere and David Seymour having a beer together at the America's Cup races. Photo / Alex Burton
Politicians, ex-crims and retired real estate moguls were all drinking together and enjoying the America's Cup frivolities yesterday at Auckland's Viaduct Basin.
The sunny waterfront bars were humming with laidback patriotism as the second day of races in the Christmas Regatta kicked off.
At a large table outside Headquarters barACT Party president David Seymour was having a beer with former Māori party co-leader John Tamihere as the 3pm races began.
"It's been a hell of a year for everybody and I had meetings at 1 o'clock and 4 o'clock and somewhere in between you've got to have lunch," Seymour said.
"I used to have red socks and Peter Blake was a hero. Maybe I'm a bit old-fashioned but I liked it when it was slower and you could hear them talking and creating tactics.
"Merry Christmas to the Herald."
Act Party politicians Brook van Velden and David Seymour watching the racing at the Viaduct Harbour on Day 2 of the America's Cup Christmas Regatta on the Hauraki Gulf. Photo / Alex Burton
Headquarters owner Leo Molloy said the crowd had been fully embracing the races, and wasn't worried about Team NZ's loss to American Magic yesterday.
"On that fifth leg when they got outside them and forced them out wide around the mark the crowd here went nuts," Molloy said.
Crowds on the waterfront viaduct in Auckland gather to watch Day 2 of racing in the America's cup world series. Photo / Alex Burton
"It was like a heavyweight fight. People were screaming, literally screaming."
Crowds on the waterfront viaduct in Auckland gather to watch Day 2 of racing in the America's cup world series. Photo / Alex Burton
One of Molloy's new employees, Donny Anderson, had just turned up for his shift.
Anderson was getting his life back on track after two jail stints for robbing banks.
"Yeah I've done two eight year lags for robbing banks, Australia and here," Anderson said.
An eclectic mix gathered to watch the America's Cup racing at the Viaduct. Photo / Alex Burton
"I was deported years ago, in 95 after an eight-year sentence. Came back here and started robbing banks again over here again and got caught for one and did another eight years.
Police on duty at the America's Cup village. Photo / Alex Burton
"Since Leo's taken me on it's changed my whole lifestyle. I see life as chapters. I've left that life behind and I'm enjoying working.
"Dealing with the punters is good, mate. I watched bits and pieces of the races yesterday. We're very lucky. There's millions of people in the world who would like to be standing here like us."
Leo Molloy and Donny Anderson at Headquarters bar on the Viaduct. Photo / Alex Burton
And at the Mumm Champagne bar, local Viaduct resident Linda Coleman was enjoying one of her many America's Cup experiences with her daughter Amanda.
"I just live right in the Viaduct. I've been to every America's Cup," Coleman said, who had sold her real estate business a few years ago.
Crowds on the waterfront viaduct in Auckland gather to watch Day 2 of racing in the America's cup world series. Photo / Alex Burton
"When the Prada team came out and we lived up at the Heritage Hotel. The grinder on the Prada team at the time, he didn't speak any English and so his wife and I went to antenatal classes together.
"I love champagne, it's my drink. I'm just enjoying it here with my daughter."
A sunny afternoon at the Viaduct. Photo / Alex Burton
And Remy Jaboulet, who was running the Mumm Champagne pop-up bar, said they had been fully booked and sales had been booming since yesterday.
"It's been incredibly busy. We're selling hundreds and hundreds of bottles of Champagne," he said.
Punters watch Team NZ up against Team UK in the Christmas regatta. Photo / Alex Burton
Murray and Sandra Gentil had driven down from Whangārei for the weekend to simply enjoy the vibe in the Viaduct.
"The wine's been lovely, the food's been good, and the atmosphere's great. I like just watching sailing," Murray Gentil said.
Crowds on the Auckland waterfront gather to watch Day 2 of racing. Photo / Alex Burton
