By KATHERINE HOBY and MATHEW DEARNALEY
The cash is flowing, the bubbly is popping and the beautiful people are in town as the America's Cup finally fizzes.
Yesterday, as Cindy Crawford was telling the press what an honour it will be to start the first race as Omega's "ambassador", a few
hundred metres away bars and restaurants were packed tighter than a supermodel's little black dress.
Thousands of people paraded through the Viaduct keeping an eye out for Tom Cruise and Penelope Cruz, who are thought to have slipped into Auckland this week.
Rumour has it they are staying on one of the more than 50 superyachts, valued at way over $1 billion, waiting for today's first race. Or they could be responsible for booking the penthouse of the Hilton Auckland at the end of Princes Wharf for the past month at $2500 a night.
All rooms at the Hilton for the racing fortnight have been booked out for months. Rooms there start at $350 a night.
Its restaurant, White, is fully booked for all meals, breakfast included, this weekend. "We have ordered extra Moet, and lots of extra food," said a spokeswoman.
Taking in the mood of the city is New Zealand-born model Kylie Bax. In a passing of the model torch, she will be around but Rachel Hunter, who was dockside at the last cup, is staying at home in Los Angeles.
Prince Albert, from the European principality of Monaco, is also in Auckland for the showdown. Monaco is keen to play host if Alinghi beat Team New Zealand.
If European royalty is not good enough you could pick a host of billionaires.
Auckland has got used to the sight of Larry Ellison ($40 billion) and his Oracle challenge, but there is also Paul Allen ($50 billion), the co-founder of Microsoft; Hasso Plattner ($8 billion), the German co-founder of software giant SAP; Patrizio Bertelli ($2 billion), boss of Prada; telecommunications king Craig McCaw ($7 billion); and a couple of New Zealand entrepreneurs like Sir Michael Fay and David Richwhite (tiddlers at $1.2 billion between them).
Dining on lamb and champagne at Mecca last night were Bud Schuyler, who made his millions from real estate in New York, and his wife, Kiki.
He believes she has a serious shopping problem, so in Auckland she is on a $10,000 daily shopping limit.
If she keeps under it, he gives her prizes. Last night she was wearing her latest prize - a $100,000 diamond necklace.
"If she keeps to her limit for the next week she gets the ear-rings to match," said Mr Schuyler, wearing diamond cufflinks in the shape of yachts.
(Unfortunately, Mrs Schuyler has so far made a bad start this week and is well over budget.)
The times have also been good for a freelance cocktail waiter at the Viaduct like Scott.
"There are people with big wallets of cash who are just opening them up and spreading it around."
Scott (largest single tip: $200) tells of millionaires throwing credit cards on the bar and shouting drinks all night.
There is a serious economic spin-off to this spending, says Heart of the City business association general manager Alex Swney.
Things have picked up since the slow economic start to the Louis Vuitton opening rounds in October, and he is confident national economic benefits will top the $640 million estimated to have been reaped from the 2000-2001 event.
"It's all that mystique - mate against mate," he said of the extra interest generated by two Kiwi skippers slugging it out for line honours. "Mind you, it feels like we've been waiting for ever."
Mr Swney said his members recorded a 12 per cent increase in sales in December from the same month in 2001, and he expected a similar result once a full survey was completed of January trading.
The challengers' budgets had also been higher this time and there were "some staggering stories of America's Cup-related high-rollers walking off a cruise ship and just dropping $10,000 in a shop".
Part of the spin-off was the influx of tourists, especially from the two cruise ships now in Auckland.
Havana House Cigars manager Phillipa Preston likes the tourists too - especially the Americans, who are big buyers of the Cuban cigars they cannot get at home.
Stock - especially medium to high-end cigars at $40 and $50 - had simply been "walking off the shelves".
Cabbie Ahmed Nour, doing some people-watching as he waited for a fare at the Viaduct Harbour, has never seen anything like it.
"People are happy, and happy to spend. That suits me. For a change I have a lot of work."
nzherald.co.nz/americascup
Racing schedule and results
By KATHERINE HOBY and MATHEW DEARNALEY
The cash is flowing, the bubbly is popping and the beautiful people are in town as the America's Cup finally fizzes.
Yesterday, as Cindy Crawford was telling the press what an honour it will be to start the first race as Omega's "ambassador", a few
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