Viaduct fully booked

By BERNARD ORSMAN

It will take a deep pocket, a slice of luck or your own boat to watch Team New Zealand square off with Alinghi live on Saturday for the first America's Cup race.

And it will take a lot of phoning around to get a bed in Auckland. Needless to say, you can flag away any hope of a restaurant booking at the Viaduct Harbour.

Auckland is all but booked out to watch Dean Barker take on Russell Coutts, catch a glimpse of supermodel Cindy Crawford or simply soak up the anticipation.

But late arrivals should persevere. Not every charter seat is taken and accommodation is still available - mostly outside the central city.

About 100 charter boats will join the spectator fleet on the Hauraki Gulf on Saturday. Most have been hired by companies but the public have about 30 to choose from, with packages ranging from $175 to $1685 a person.

Liz Smith, whose Luxury Charters of New Zealand has 10 boats for the cup, said they were booked out for the first five races at daily prices from $5000 to $12,000 a boat.

The Base Club is still offering all-day deluxe packages for the first four days at $1685 a person.

A Tourism Auckland spokeswoman said visitors would be lucky to get a hotel room in central Auckland this weekend, with only premium-rate rooms available.

The Auckland City Youth Hostel and backpacker hostels are full and the Auckland president of the Motel Association, Debby Duin, urged visitors to phone ahead because accommodation was tight.

The Hilton Hotel on Princes Wharf had been full since Monday and would stay that way until the end of this month, said general manager John Ingram.

The luxury 166-room hotel, which charges more than $2000 for the top suite, is a favourite with overseas celebrities, but Mr Ingram would not say if Crawford was among the guests.

As well as the America's Cup, Auckland is gearing up this weekend for the horse sales at Karaka, polo at Clevedon and the Lantern Festival at Albert Park, marking the end of the Chinese New Year celebrations, which is expected to attract more than 100,000 people.

Valentine's Day tomorrow is another bonus for the Hilton. Its White restaurant is fully booked for a meal costing $120 a head.

Some restaurants in Viaduct Harbour have been booked out on Saturday for weeks.

The bar manager at Milano Restaurant, Fraser Mackenzie, said it would be madness from the word go at 10am.

The nearby Soul Bar and Bistro is fully booked tomorrow and Saturday night and only has a few bookings available for Saturday lunch.

Kermadec restaurant is full on Saturday.

The only other occasion to eclipse Saturday, said restaurant and bar owners, would be the final day of the America's Cup - especially if Dean Barker lifts the Auld Mug above that boyish face.

nzherald.co.nz/americascup

Racing schedule and results