Valenica

Valencia was added to the itinerary to incorporate the America´s Cup. Morocco will always be there; the America´s Cup won´t be in Europe again for a while we predicted, over-confidently. So we rock up in Valencia in time to watch the fourth race which as we now know was won by those Swiss dudes. Ben´s uni friend, Kylie, kindly sorted us out with some accommodation and we were good to go. Except we had turned up in time for a rest day! So we spent the first day mooching around in the very different world of the have-yachts, catching up with Kylie, and organising our viewing for race 5.

Ben´s mate Evan kindly pointed us in the direction of a kiwi expat from the States who was willing to take NZ supporters out in his boat to watch the races. Now, after many boat trips all ending the same way - violently ill - Joanna should have said "no thanks" to going out on the water. However, she´s invincible and it won´t happen this time ...

For the price of a bottle of wine we hopped aboard the Dreadnaught (registered in Otago) and set sail (or at least motor). It didn´t take long for Joanna to feel a little green and start Day One of the America´s Cup diet. It wouldn´t have been so bad if TNZ´s spinnaker hadn´t split and they had kept ahead, but it wasn´t meant to be. But we had a great time on the boat, so thanks to Stanley (middle) for have us aboard, Jo (left) for arranging it all for us and Joe (right) for rubbing Joanna´s back.


Here´s what Ben was looking at whilst Joanna fed the fishes:


Next, Barcelona ...