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One point was all it took for Royal Akarana Yacht Club (RAYC) to snatch a win from Murrays Bay Sailing Club (MBSC).
The inaugural Toyota Kiwi Cup Regatta was hotly contested and I had the privilege of capturing the action alongside industry-leading photographers.
Hosted by the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron (RNZYS) with the support of Live Sail Die, 49 young sailors from across New Zealand spent three days training before battling it out in the Emirates Team New Zealand Elliott 7 fleet on the Waitemata Harbour.
The 10 youth sailing teams, aged 16 to 18, were accommodated in tents within the RNZYS ballroom. Affectionately nicknamed ‘tent city, the quality of the lodging earned humorous feedback from the winning crew. On a more serious note, skipper Louis Quere shared the biggest challenge for the race winners was the, “shifty conditions, picking the right shift would make or break your race”.
Content creators Anna Dold (16) and I, were right in the middle of tent city alongside the sailors, to experience the spirit of the regatta first-hand. Invited by Live Sail Die to be a part of the media team, our role on the water was to capture the action through videography and photography before diving into afternoon editing sessions and creating exciting content for social media.
Working alongside industry-leading photographers at a large-scale event was a big step forward in my photography journey. It was exciting to be part of something that merges my passions for photography and sailing. Anna echoed my sentiments, “To be selected is an absolute honour, which excites me and scares me at the same time. This will provide me with new opportunities to enhance my two passions, photography and sailing.”
Over the week, Anna and I received training from Live Sail Die founder Suellen Hurling and photographer Adam Mustill. We also had gear support from Canon New Zealand to help showcase the event. It’s an understatement to say we gained valuable insights into the world of sailing media. This experience was unforgettable, from the unique music played for wakeups to the late-night activities even while we should’ve been asleep.
It was an honour to be a part of this historical regatta and more so to farewell the America’s Cup before it left for Barcelona. Media plays a crucial role in sailing and regattas, helping increase the sport’s attraction and grabbing the attention of a broader audience. It captures the excitement and beauty of sailing, bringing the event to those who can’t be there in person.
Jayden Murdie, Gulf Harbour sailor & photographer
