PIT STOP
As New York is just a pit-stop, they are only here for two days, so the crews will be taking it easy, while the teams’ PR squads will be going flat out to maximise coverage in this epicentre of the universe. The fleet will be based in North Cove marina on the Hudson.
THE CITY THAT NEVER SLEEPS
New York never sleeps, so there is something to do at any hour of the day or night. In fact if the crews do fancy an hour or two on the tiles after work, everything is on hand just a short step from the marina. Plenty to do for the sponsors as well, with Wall Street being just up the road from North Cove marina; financial meeting old boy? If all else fails, come to the Race Village and hang out with the guys and girls.
LEG 7 – START 11 MAY 2006, START TIME 1300 LOCAL TIME
There isn’t far to go to the start line for the boats. They come out of the North Cove and tootle down to the end of Manhattan, just off the shore at Battery Park and there, against the backdrop of the financial district, they will jockey for position. When the gun goes, it’s off down New York harbour, Statue of Liberty to starboard, thread The Narrows again, then on towards the Ambrose light. Good vantage points for land-based spectators will be at Battery Park, on Governors Island if you happen to be on a boat trip, from the shore at Bay Ridge on Brooklyn or Rosebank on Staten Island. Then you can get a great view from either side of the Verrazano Narrows Bridge and after that, probably Norton Point on Coney Island just before the fleet gets into open water. Immediately outside New York harbour is the spindly-looking tower of the Ambrose light, which has to be left to port. Just in case there is any chance of an Atlantic record, the times will be taken at the light as the boats pass. The traditional Atlantic record is from the Ambrose Light to the Lizard in Cornwall, where another scoring gate will allow the boats to rack up some more points towards the total. With a bit of luck too, there might be a new Atlantic record to celebrate. The current (September 2005) record stands at nine days, 15 hours, 55 minutes and 23 seconds, set by Robert Millar’s 145ft Mari Cha IV on the New York to Cowes race. Two thousand nine hundred and seventy five miles at an average speed of 22.77 knots was her time for the Ambrose to Lizard run. Given the right conditions, any Volvo Open 70 should be able to better that.