The talk this morning is all about fish - and who has caught the most and biggest while waiting between races. What had begun as a humorous diversion seems to have become a bit of a competition, with Peter Reggio, the principal race officer, allegedly catching seven yesterday. Even being so close to the city, Auckland's outer harbour is full of fish.
I'm on one of TeamOrigin's chase boats, following the British team as it heads out to the race course. It's a tense day for the Brits, as they stand a real risk of being eliminated from the series after two losses yesterday. (Never mind the fact that the second of those races, against Artemis, was the most aggressive, exciting race of the series, with protest flags galore from both sides.)
Today, however, the team is in sober, focus mode and so the original plan to take me on their coaches' boat has changed since any distraction is too much of a distraction. Having coaches on the water is fairly new to sailing - unlike football, for example, where they have always been a constant presence at the edge of the field, gesticulating, grimacing and occasionally looking very pleased with themselves. I never did find out exactly what TeamOrigin's coaches do while their boys are racing but I'm sure it's none of the above.
We're bouncing around out here today: there's a stiff breeze and whitecaps all over the choppy water. A squall passes, wiping out the sun, whipping up the wind, then disappearing as quickly as it came.
Whether it's something TeamOrigin's coaches said or not, as soon as the 10-minute gun fired Ben Ainslie and his crew get serious, turning the boat in tight circles around All4One, determined to get the advantage at the start.
It's astonishing to see such big, powerful boats being manoeuvred like the Lasers that Ainslie sailed to Olympic gold. All the more impressive with today's wind whipping the water up over the boats' bows. It could almost be a visit from the Fremantle Doctor, which made the 1987 America's Cup in Perth so memorable.
Ainslie is just one of the stars that have been packed into TeamOrigin since it was established in 2007 by Sir Keith Mills. There's Iain Percy and his Olympic teammate Andrew Simpson, Mike Sanderson, who has won just about everything there is to win on the water... the list goes on. Today they live up to their credentials and sail a great race to ensure that they stay in the competition.
On the radio we hear James Spithill, fresh from winning the 33rd America's Cup at the helm of BMW Oracle: "At this stage of the regatta anyone could win.... they key is to create momentum but not peak too early." Looks as if that's what TeamOrigin is working on.
At the end of the day we troop over to the Maritime Museum where the Auld Mug is making a guest appearance, courtesy of Spithill and the BMW Oracle team. It's a pretty powerful way of underlining the link between the Louis Vuitton Trophy and the America's Cup (and, by the way, the trophy travels in its own, made-to-measure Louis Vuitton trunk - and does not get relegated to the hold, either).
It's strange to be in its presence, frankly, knowing that this ugly piece of overblown Victorian silverware is what drives this whole world on.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, second leg:
Liverpool (0) v Barcelona (3), Tuesday, 11pm UAE
Game is on BeIN Sports
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
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Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
SPECS
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Company profile
Name: Back to Games and Boardgame Space
Started: Back to Games (2015); Boardgame Space (Mark Azzam became co-founder in 2017)
Founder: Back to Games (Mr Azzam); Boardgame Space (Mr Azzam and Feras Al Bastaki)
Based: Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Industry: Back to Games (retail); Boardgame Space (wholesale and distribution)
Funding: Back to Games: self-funded by Mr Azzam with Dh1.3 million; Mr Azzam invested Dh250,000 in Boardgame Space
Growth: Back to Games: from 300 products in 2015 to 7,000 in 2019; Boardgame Space: from 34 games in 2017 to 3,500 in 2019
Jawan
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Indoor Cricket World Cup
Venue Insportz, Dubai, September 16-23
UAE squad Saqib Nazir (captain), Aaqib Malik, Fahad Al Hashmi, Isuru Umesh, Nadir Hussain, Sachin Talwar, Nashwan Nasir, Prashath Kumara, Ramveer Rai, Sameer Nayyak, Umar Shah, Vikrant Shetty
'The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey'
Rating: 3/5
Directors: Ramin Bahrani, Debbie Allen, Hanelle Culpepper, Guillermo Navarro
Writers: Walter Mosley
Stars: Samuel L Jackson, Dominique Fishback, Walton Goggins
Company%20Profile
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BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
The specs
Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now
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Three ways to boost your credit score
Marwan Lutfi says the core fundamentals that drive better payment behaviour and can improve your credit score are:
1. Make sure you make your payments on time;
2. Limit the number of products you borrow on: the more loans and credit cards you have, the more it will affect your credit score;
3. Don't max out all your debts: how much you maximise those credit facilities will have an impact. If you have five credit cards and utilise 90 per cent of that credit, it will negatively affect your score.
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
The bio:
Favourite holiday destination: I really enjoyed Sri Lanka and Vietnam but my dream destination is the Maldives.
Favourite food: My mum’s Chinese cooking.
Favourite film: Robocop, followed by The Terminator.
Hobbies: Off-roading, scuba diving, playing squash and going to the gym.