From the water, one sensed the mood of the crowd 11,000 strong, banked above Naval Point, Lyttelton - souring, and then turning against an unlikely villain. A Hector's dolphin/upokohue had been sighted by the dolphin spotters, leading to a delay to the start of the first day's New Zealand Sail Grand Prix racing. Two young women in SailGP T-shirts and shorts in front of the "Ultimate Fan Zone" were doing their best to keep the crowd looking forward, but even the bursts of singalong staples from the Exponents - with individuals picked out by the "Dance Cam" and projected onto big screens weren't going to keep spectators happy for ever.
The 10 F50 catamarans milled around the harbour, their foils mostly hidden. Occasionally, they sailed close to the fans to give them something to cheer about, even if it was only the sight of these sleek boats capable in the right conditions of approaching 100km/h-dawdling by at the pace of a human jog. Later that day, as the chance of racing grew ever more remote, some of the teams - the athletes attired as if for combat, helmets stuffed full of communications technology, their lifejackets resembling bullet-proof vests - draped themselves in puffer jackets as the easterly's presence grew in the weakening autumn sun. Sailors raised their hands in apologetic greeting as our boat passed near.
Still, the dolphin refused to budge, and eventually word was transmitted that the day's racing had been cancelled. That same news soon came over the loudspeakers, and the booze that had been fuelling the party atmosphere since the race village opened four hours earlier now began to curdle it. "I'm going home for dolphin soup," one man with a sun- and booze-reddened face said with real anger as the crowd slowly funnelled towards the waiting buses. On the trip back through Lyttelton Tunnel and into the city, many similarly ill-tempered mutterings passed among the passengers.
CALVING SEASON
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة May 04-10, 2024 من New Zealand Listener.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة May 04-10, 2024 من New Zealand Listener.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
Roman scandals
Sarah Watt reviews two major titles at this year's Italian Film Festival.
Rising tide
Twenty years on from the foreshore and seabed hikoi, the issues behind it have not subsided.
The balance of Powers
The Naked and Famous star is unashamedly indulgent in his new solo album.
Love, love me Who
New Doctor Who Ncuti Gatwa and producer Russell T Davies talk about getting by with a little help from their friends.
Raising the barre
Why acclaimed Kiwi director James Napier Robertson-took on the bruising true story of an American ballerina in Russia.
A dickens of a novel
Historical novel is rich in women characters from all levels of Victorian society - including some from real life.
Parental advisory
A vibrant collection of essays sets out to answer one less-than-simple question: what makes a mother?
Unhappy endings
Leslie Jamison anatomises her broken marriage in a candid new memoir - but who or what was really to blame?
'I am still quite overwhelmed'
Ginette McDonald is good with voices. Now, a new anthology celebrates the long and varied career of the actor who brought us Lynn of Tawa. Just don't call it a valedictory.
A long Trekka north
Almost forgotten in this country, NZ's only homedesigned, mass-produced motor vehicle has a new following in Europe.
