Hospitality boats sold out!

With three weeks to go, the official corporate hospitality for the Auckland Stopover has sold out!

The packages, which include access to the exclusive Latitude Lounge on the third floor of the Viaduct Events Centre and close-up viewing of the racing action on the water from premium hospitality boats, have been snapped up.

Hospitality was available for the fleet arrival (scheduled for 8 March), the In-Port Race on Saturday 17 March and the Departure and Start of Leg 5 on Sunday 18 March.

"Auckland fleet welcomes and support are legendary in the history of the Volvo Ocean Race and 2012 will be no exception," says Port Director Tom Mayo.

Volunteer training day

One of the last general training day for Auckland Stopover volunteers was held on Saturday 11 February.

100+ members of the A Team, as the volunteers are known, were given a big picture overview and then spent time in role specific training with their Managers and Heads of Department.

"Many volunteers have already started work," says Ruth Tuiraviravi, Head of Volunteers. "The next big date for us is the start of the Race Village build on 20 February when many of the Venue Team begin work."

The volunteers are filling roles both on and off the water including accreditation, information services, media operations, Volvo Experience assistants, backstage positions, drivers, dock marshals, Try Sailing, spectator services and much more.

One will be dressed as Wisdom the Albatross, the official mascot of Keep the Oceans Clean! initiative. Others will be assisting with the Air Balls, the Grinding Challenge and the model Volvo Cars and Trucks. Groups will work in spectator services, shore team support, event operations, container storage and other support areas.

Pictured above are A Team members on a raft-building exercise from a previous training day.

Haka and dragons

The NZ delegation for the official Handover from Sanya to Auckland is on its way to China.

Led by Auckland Stopover chairman Sir John Wells and Port Director Tom Mayo, the delegation includes Auckland based group Pounamu who will perform kapa haka during the Handover and feature in the global television coverage of the Start of Leg 4 to Auckland.

Pictured above is Emirates Team New Zealand's CAMPER being welcomed on arrival in Sanya.

Sanya on TV One

TV One will be screening the in-Port Race from Sanya at 2.00pm this Sunday (19 February) followed by coverage of the official Handover to Auckland and the Leg 4 Start at 11.00pm on Monday 20 February. If you miss one, don't forget all programmes will be available on demand from www.tvnz.co.nz