The United States Ambassador to New Zealand, Charles Swindells, and his family joined OneWorld Challenge during a training session with USA65 and USA67.
Swindells, originally from Oregon, spent the day on the water with fellow Pacific north-westerners and OneWorld sailors Brian Ledbetter, Charlie and Jonathan McKee andMark Newbrook.
Not to be outdone by their parents the 95 or so children at Oracle BMW Racing have their own set of wheels to race around in.
As one of the team's sponsors, the automobile company has given Oracle 20 BMWs to drive around in. It has also provided the kids of Oracle Racing three pedal cars to burn around it. Needless to say, there is traffic mayhem at Oracle.
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Dennis Conner is busy defending his world No 1 ranking in the Etchells class in the North American championships this week.
In the build-up to the event, Conner won the Etchells class at the 44th annual Alamitos Bay Labour Day regatta in Long Beach, California.
Conner is expected in Auckland next week, where he will celebrate his 60th birthday on September 16.
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FRA79, one of Le Defi Areva's fluorescent green yachts ventured into the Hauraki Gulf for the first time this week. The syndicate's second yacht, FRA69, is expected to make its maiden voyage this week.
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There is still time for people to enter OneWorld Challenge's environmental art competition.
With $20,000 worth of Microsoft software and OneWorld gear up for grabs, the deadline for the art work is October 15. Individuals are encouraged to submit two-dimensional environmental art works no larger than 40cm x 50cm.
The Art for Earth exhibit opens at the National Maritime Museum on November 1 and runs until January 15. It will be displayed in the Maritime Museum from October 31.
For further details contact Sean Brealey at sean.brealey@.oneworldchallenge.net.
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To assist the Royal Zealand Yacht Squadron spinnaker fund, renowned marine artist Tony Blake, brother of the late Sir Peter Blake, has donated a painting of Team New Zealand's NZL60 beating Prada in the 2000 cup match.
The oil-on-canvas painting will be auctioned at the meet-Team New Zealand-evening on November 21. The squadron's campaign to raise $70,000 for a new spinnaker has reached $60,000 already. A new target of $100,000 has been set.
