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America's Cup- The Kids are all right - Opti sailors taste the AC45

by Gilles Martin-Raget on 30 Apr 2011
New Zealand Optimist team line up for the big day out on an AC45 Gilles Martin-Raget / Oracle Racing

After the Toyota National Optimist Championships concluded in Auckland, New Zealand on Easter Monday, the five sailors in the New Zealand team were invited out for a sail on Oracle racing's AC45. A good picture speaks a thousand words, but the looks on these young sailor's faces speak volumes.

Does it get any better than this when you are a kid?

We don't think so.

For the sailors' view of the day http://www.sail-world.com/NZ/Americas-Cup:-From-Opti-to-AC45---the-stuff-of-dreams/82937!click_here

New Zealand national Optimist Champion, Leonard Takahashi-Fry on the handlebars of the AC45 © Gilles Martin-Raget / Oracle Racing
New Zealand national Optimist Champion, Leonard Takahashi-Fry on the handlebars of the AC45 © Gilles Martin-Raget / Oracle Racing


New Zealand national Optimist Champion, Leonard Takahashi-Fry on the handlebars of the AC45 © Gilles Martin-Raget / Oracle Racing
New Zealand national Optimist Champion, Leonard Takahashi-Fry on the handlebars of the AC45 © Gilles Martin-Raget / Oracle Racing


New Zealand national Optimist Champion, Leonard Takahashi-Fry on the handlebars of the AC45 © Gilles Martin-Raget / Oracle Racing
New Zealand national Optimist Champion, Leonard Takahashi-Fry on the handlebars of the AC45 © Gilles Martin-Raget / Oracle Racing


New Zealand national Optimist Champion, Leonard Takahashi-Fry on the handlebars of the AC45 © Gilles Martin-Raget / Oracle Racing
New Zealand national Optimist Champion, Leonard Takahashi-Fry on the handlebars of the AC45 © Gilles Martin-Raget / Oracle Racing


New Zealand national Optimist Champion, Leonard Takahashi-Fry on the handlebars of the AC45 © Gilles Martin-Raget / Oracle Racing
New Zealand national Optimist Champion, Leonard Takahashi-Fry on the handlebars of the AC45 © Gilles Martin-Raget / Oracle Racing


The foils are taller than me! © Gilles Martin-Raget / Oracle Racing
The foils are taller than me! © Gilles Martin-Raget / Oracle Racing


Russell Coutts tries to beat Leonard’s numbers © Gilles Martin-Raget / Oracle Racing
Russell Coutts tries to beat Leonard’s numbers © Gilles Martin-Raget / Oracle Racing


Yep, these are seriously cool! © Gilles Martin-Raget / Oracle Racing
Yep, these are seriously cool! © Gilles Martin-Raget / Oracle Racing


Russell Coutts finally gets the handles bars back © Gilles Martin-Raget / Oracle Racing
Russell Coutts finally gets the handles bars back © Gilles Martin-Raget / Oracle Racing


Taking in the moment - an unforgettable experience © Gilles Martin-Raget / Oracle Racing
Taking in the moment - an unforgettable experience © Gilles Martin-Raget / Oracle Racing

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