Fuji America's Cup Portsmouth 2015 - testing the weatherproofing...

Lightmancer

Legend
Location
Sunny Frimley
Name
Bill Palmer
My wife and I were very fortunate to be invited to a "corporate" down in Portsmouth for the America's Cup World Series 2015. (This isn't the "main event" but one of the qualifiers). We were down for the Saturday night (I had a dinner to go to in the Mary Rose) and then for the racing on the Saturday - which didn't happen due to atrocious weather conditions. I had armed myself with my X-T1 and the 55-200, 18-135 and new 90mm lenses as well as my trusty Ricoh GR. We went down on the Saturday afternoon and were able to see the yachts both coming into harbour and at anchor that evening - just as well, since there was no racing at all on the Sunday for safety reasons. We did get to tour the boatyard and meet the USA Oracle BMW boat crew and go to the awards ceremony (based upon the Saturday results) with prizes given by the Duke and Dutchess of Cambridge. Again, the 90 came in handy - the lighting in the auditorium was alternately dim and blinding as all the press flashguns went off. My X-T1 got a soaking more than once, particularly on the Sunday morning when the rain was Biblical - and horizontal... I need not have worried; the weatherproofing proved itself big time. I am liking that 90 more and more, too. It got most use alongside the 18-135, with the 55-200 not getting a look in. It delivers the goods - what more could one ask? Anyway, here's some more shots from the event - enjoy!

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America's Cup Portsmouth 2015 Saturday Oracle 1
par Lightmancer, on ipernity

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America's Cup Portsmouth 2015 Saturday Artemis 2
par Lightmancer, on ipernity

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America's Cup Portsmouth 2015 Saturday GR At Anchor 5
par Lightmancer, on ipernity
At anchor - the calm before the storm (GR)

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America's Cup Portsmouth 2015 Sunday meet the team 1
par Lightmancer, on ipernity
Team USA bods with the 18-135

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America's Cup Portsmouth 2015 Sunday meet the team 2
par Lightmancer, on ipernity
...and another with the 90

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America's Cup Portsmouth 2015 Sunday Softbank 3
par Lightmancer, on ipernity
The rain was drenching by this point...

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America's Cup Portsmouth 2015 Sunday Emirates 3 on the hook
par Lightmancer, on ipernity
This is how they get the boats in the water. "Fly Emirates" indeed... The crane is only rated to 25mph winds and the gusts were up to 40...

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America's Cup Portsmouth 2015 Sunday meet the team 4
par Lightmancer, on ipernity
The Team USA skipper, with the 90. Note the wafer-thin DoF.

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America's Cup Portsmouth 2015 Sunday Awards Ceremony William & Kate 6
par Lightmancer, on ipernity
Kate dishing out a medal

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America's Cup Portsmouth 2015 Sunday Awards Ceremony William & Kate 11
par Lightmancer, on ipernity
...and Sir Ben with the trophy. Think William had had a dodgy canapé earlier...

And finally...
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America's Cup Portsmouth 2015 Sunday Awards Ceremony Celebrations 1
par Lightmancer, on ipernity
...splat!
 
It's definitely a rich man's game. There were some classic examples of "more money than sense" among the spectators. As my dear old Grand-dad used to say, "The sights you see when you don't have your shotgun..." ;)
 
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