OMEN
02-19-2006, 11:24 PM
http://www.stuff.co.nz/inl/common/imageViewer/0,1445,224264,00.jpg
SHORT AND SWEET: Volvo Ocean Race yachts head out of Wellington yesterday for Rio de Janeiro - 10,700 kilometres away.
Thousands of spectators flocked to Wellington's waterfront and harbour vantage points to see the Volvo Ocean Race yachts the city leave after their brief but enjoyable stay.
In sunny weather and light winds, the boats crossed the starting line at 2.30pm. They had begun arriving in Wellington from Melbourne on Thursday, heralding the start of a weekend of waterfront activities.
Among the spectators yesterday were hundreds of entrants from the Round the Bays fun run who found enough stamina to stay downtown and watch the yachts go. Khandallah resident Donny Clark took his 22-month-old son Kaleb to watch the yachts leave.
"It's good to make the most of the weather. It's a spectacle."
Stephen Cooper, visiting from Berrigan in New South Wales, said watching the yachts leave capped a great weekend on the waterfront.
"For a capital city, it's very nice to be able to see the water like this."
Keen boatie Robert Carew, from Mt Cook, had a great time with the crowds. "It pays to get down early. I think it's fantastic for Wellington."
http://www.stuff.co.nz/inl/images/masthead/dominionpost.gif
SHORT AND SWEET: Volvo Ocean Race yachts head out of Wellington yesterday for Rio de Janeiro - 10,700 kilometres away.
Thousands of spectators flocked to Wellington's waterfront and harbour vantage points to see the Volvo Ocean Race yachts the city leave after their brief but enjoyable stay.
In sunny weather and light winds, the boats crossed the starting line at 2.30pm. They had begun arriving in Wellington from Melbourne on Thursday, heralding the start of a weekend of waterfront activities.
Among the spectators yesterday were hundreds of entrants from the Round the Bays fun run who found enough stamina to stay downtown and watch the yachts go. Khandallah resident Donny Clark took his 22-month-old son Kaleb to watch the yachts leave.
"It's good to make the most of the weather. It's a spectacle."
Stephen Cooper, visiting from Berrigan in New South Wales, said watching the yachts leave capped a great weekend on the waterfront.
"For a capital city, it's very nice to be able to see the water like this."
Keen boatie Robert Carew, from Mt Cook, had a great time with the crowds. "It pays to get down early. I think it's fantastic for Wellington."
http://www.stuff.co.nz/inl/images/masthead/dominionpost.gif