Yachting: Big yachts gear for fourth ocean stint

It is all action at the Viaduct Harbour next weekend, as the boats competing in the Volvo Ocean Race prepare to head off on leg four to Rio de Janeiro on Sunday.

Auckland is the fourth port to play host to the fleet on their 32,700-nautical-mile circumnavigation of the world. The eight competing yachts are vying to be the first to reach Kiel, Germany, about June 9, after nine months of competition.

Since the Viaduct Harbour was upgraded for the last America's Cup, the area has been opened up to allow the public to see the big VO60 racing yachts up close, on and off the water.

Since the boats arrived early this month, the viaduct has had a festival atmosphere, with a civic welcome, an arrival concert and a jazz festival.

The fun continues next Friday, with DJ Greg Churchill cutting it up in Queen Elizabeth Square. From Christchurch is live drum and bass band Shapeshifter along with DJ Kirsty playing funky house tunes.

On Saturday the Sky City Starlight Symphony at the Domain will include the official Volvo Ocean Race leg-three prizegiving.

On Sunday the race fleet leaves the Viaduct Harbour at 10 am to head for the start line. The action will be covered live on the big screen in the Viaduct Harbour Volvo Ocean Race village.

Family fun will continue with street theatre, buskers and face painters, as well as activities and public exhibitions throughout the day.

The village will stay open on Auckland Anniversary Day (Monday) with public activities, exhibitions and family entertainment - including Jiggles the Clown, the Global Tourist and the Crazy Waiter.

For the kids, there will be a vertical bungy, bouncy castle and the Milky Way train.

Boating enthusiasts will be able to experience life on board a VO60 yacht, thanks to an interactive exhibition that demonstrates how few comforts the sailing teams have had during their months at sea.

Inquiring minds can explore the ocean environment through the Volvo Ocean Adventure programme and public exhibition on site.

The chairman of the Auckland City Council recreation and events committee, Scott Milne, hopes Aucklanders will turn out in their many thousands to give the boats a send-off.

"This is our chance to demonstrate, once more, how Auckland earned its reputation as the yachting capital of the world," he says.

The world has been watching, he says, as Auckland has showcased itself as a vibrant events centre during the race stopover.

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Volvo Ocean Adventure