KEY POINTS:
Staff at Auckland's Spencer on Byron Hotel are believed to have been forced to close areas of the hotel after Italian yachties staying at the complex began acting more like rock stars than sailors.
The Italians, in Auckland for the 420 World Yachting Champs, are also understood to
have become involved in a fracas with German yachties sharing the North Shore hotel.
One concerned guest contacted the Herald yesterday claiming management had been forced to shut the pool area after it was messed up by crews staying at the hotel.
The yachties had also thrown beer bottles from their windows at residents' cars, the guest said.
One man, whose parents were staying at the hotel while visiting from Russia, said they had been kept awake until 3am by rowdy guests, and two Australian team members said they had heard reports that guests on the fifth floor could hear revellers on the 18th floor.
North Shore City Council events manager Paul Dunphy, who played a large part in organising the champs, yesterday confirmed there had been "a gathering" in rooms occupied by members of the Italian team.
"The Italian team had a few drinks and things", but there had been "no major structural damage" and the matter had been resolved with management, he said.
Mr Dunphy confirmed reports beer bottles had been lobbed from hotel windows.
He described the team's behaviour as "a little bit disappointing", but put the shenanigans down to Italian "exuberance".
"These guys are wearing their county's flag on their uniform," he said.
"They have got to be responsible for that."
He said he had learned of "an altercation" between the Italians and Germans, but had heard nothing more. He thought the Italian team would "get a bill" from the hotel.
In competition, which wound up on Tuesday, Italy managed seventh place in the women's finals, and fourth and seventh places in the Open Silver Fleet. It failed to finish in the top 10 in the Open Gold Fleet final results.
Overall, Mr Dunphy said he was "over the moon" with the success of the 420 championships, which saw the teams in Auckland for the better part of a month.
Spencer on Byron manager Graham Smith yesterday told the Herald the hotel often closed the pool "for different reasons".
He said the behaviour of teams staying at the hotel was "nothing out of the ordinary" and no worse than that of other visitors, including rugby teams or corporate groups.
The champs were hosted by Takapuna Boating Club.
Club president Grant Cunningham told the Herald yesterday there had been some "kids having high jinks" at the completion of competition, but the matter had been satisfactorily resolved in a "debriefing" with hotel management.
Mr Cunningham said he had "nothing but positive thoughts" about the championships.