Shot Alive

Auckland's subtitle name is City of Sails on account of it having so many yachts and marinas, and the highest ownership of yachts per capita of any major city. It also has two harbours, the Waitemata harbour on the shore of which Auckland central city is found, and the Manukau harbour to the South. The tides in these two harbours are 3 hours different, an unusual situation for a single city in a country as small as New Zealand.

Yachts in Auckland's Waitemata Harbour

It is late Friday afternoon, and the Yachts have gathered for a race, but the starter has them waiting because the wind is too light.

Ready to go

Just waiting for the starters gun.

Auckland Central Business District

The view from Northcote Point, just below the harbour bridge.

To the right is seen Shoal Bay through the pillars of the Auckland harbour bridge as it descends to Northcote point.

"The Auckland metropolitan area or Greater Auckland, in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest urban area of the country. With over 1.2 million people it has over a quarter of the country's population, and demographic trends indicate that it will continue growing faster than the rest of the country. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world. In Māori its name is Tāmaki Makau Rau, or the transcribed version of Auckland, Ākarana.

Auckland straddles the volcanoes of the Auckland Volcanic Field. The 50 volcanic vents in the field take the form of cones, lakes, lagoons, islands and depressions, and several have produced extensive lava flows. Most of the cones have been partly or completely quarried away. The individual volcanoes are all extinct, although the volcanic field itself is merely dormant.

The most recent and by far the largest volcano, Rangitoto Island, was formed within the last 1000 years, and its eruptions destroyed the Māori settlements on neighbouring Motutapu Island. Rangitoto's size, its symmetry, its position guarding the entrance to Waitemata Harbour and its visibility from many parts of the Auckland region make it Auckland's most iconic natural feature. It is eerily quiet as almost no birds and insects have settled on the island because of the rich acidic soil and type of flora that has adapted to grow out of the black broken rocky soil." (Wikipedia article on Auckland)

Rangitoto Silhouette

Looking through Northcote boat yard and Shoal Bay and its marina with Rangitoto Island beyond. In Auckland's North Shore, New Zealand.

Reflecting on Auckland

Auckland, "City of Sails", Sky City and boats in the late afternoon Sun, along with reflections of them all in the side of a yacht up on Northcote boat yard.

City of Sails

Auckland, "City of Sails", seen from Northcote boat yard. The seagull is catching the last bit of Sun as it disappears behind Northcote Point.

Mt Eden watches over Waitemata

Mt Eden, one of many volcanic cones, is a popular viewing spot in Auckland. The yachts are in front of Westhaven marina, one of about half a dozen around the Waitemata harbour.

Gold in the City, Gold in the Sails

The late afternoon Sun lights up a golden building and a golden sail in Auckland.

Peaceful Waitemata

A little too peaceful for these Friday night would be racers as they await the starters gun. He awaits the breeze. Auckland city as seen from the North Shore at Northcote.

Yachts in the Waitemata

Beyond the harbour are the many masts of yachts in the Westhaven marina.