VO65 Haulout - Volvo Ocean Race - Auckland Stopover after Leg 6 Finish, Auckland, February 28, © Richard Gladwell
While still at the dock the boats were stripped ("gashed" in airline parlance) of all the easily removable gear which was taken away for disposal, cleaning or servicing.
Then as dawn broke the second stage of the exercise began - haul the whole fleet and drop them into cradles outside the Viaduct Events Centre - the focal point of the Boatyard activities for the Stopover.
The masts have now been unstepped and white plastic shrouds attached to the deck framework to allow work to be undertaken with minimal influence from the Auckland weather.
The boats are serviced by a team from the Boatyard with team support crews doing individual specific boat work not included in the whole of fleet service.