Red socks and memories as Dalton sails into harbour

By ALAN PERROTT AND NZPA

Maybe Sir Peter Blake was watching as the weary round-the-world yachtsmen sailed into the Viaduct he helped create.

Certainly he was in their hearts.

The crew of winning Assa Abloy wore red socks in tribute to his lucky red ones as they came home first in the Sydney-Auckland leg.

In second place, Grant Dalton - perhaps New Zealand's best-known sailor after Sir Peter's murder by Amazon pirates - thought about his old colleague and competitor as he sailed around Whangaparaoa Peninsula.

"Foremost in my mind was years ago when I chased Peter."

Twelve years ago, at the helm of Fisher and Paykel, he fought an intense duel with Sir Peter on rival Steinlager 2 before being pipped at the finish line by six minutes.

Sir Peter's mother, Joyce, was among the crowd welcoming the yachts.

"We're just ambling around, but it's a marvellous occasion and I'm looking forward to catching up with a few people."

The general hubbub hushed as Sir Peter's face appeared on the giant screen. Everyone turned and watched in silence as the man who helped bring the America's Cup to New Zealand, sparking the rebuilding of the Viaduct, described the hazards of sailing the Southern Ocean.

No one needed to remind Dalton. He was in some pain during the dash across the Tasman, having sustained cracked ribs and crushed vertebrae, even resorting to a special body cast for a few days, after a fall while enduring the rigours of the Southern Ocean on the second leg.

Five yachts finishing within four hours of each other meant the Sydney-Auckland leg lived up to its reputation as a drag race.

Third leg winner Assa Abloy established its winning break early by taking the most northerly course from Hobart to Auckland, but English skipper Neal McDonald could never afford to take things easy.

Behind the leaders, Tyco, illbruck and News Corp fought out a thrilling match race.

The three yachts had been in visual contact all the way from Hobart, and as they entered the Waitemata Harbour they engaged in an exciting duel to the finish line.

The sixth boat in the fleet, djuice, arrived in Auckland at 12.16 pm, while the seventh, Amer Sports Two - which had to stop in Hobart for repairs - expected to make Auckland tomorrow.

The Viaduct was a sea of brollies and fleets of damp boat shoes as welcoming fans turned out, despite the rain.

Pakuranga couple Pat and Tony Davis sang its praises as they hosted Derek Fiddes, a Canadian making his second visit to Auckland.

"It's a beautiful place to look at yachts, a great facility," said Pat Davis.

The trio had got in the mood with a ferry ride from Half Moon Bay in east Auckland and were planning a day of superyacht gazing and cafe hopping as the Volvo yachts drifted into harbour.

"I was here for the America's Cup a few years back," said Mr Fiddes. "With a following wind, I'll be here for the next one as well."

The rain continued as News Corp pulled up alongside the welcoming float about 11 am, then miraculously cleared with the appearance of bouquets of sunflowers to be presented to the crew by Mayor John Banks.

The Viaduct is hosting a free eight-hour concert at noon today featuring Dave Dobbyn, Che Fu, the Mutton Birds, stellar* and Greg Johnson.

Further free events will run over the next three weeks, and the Volvo Ocean Racers sail for Rio de Janeiro on January 27.