Two days ago I finally found the perfect vantage point. It is a 30 minute bus ride from Orewa (oh-REE-wa) where I’m staying. The place itself is in the town of Manly on the Whangaparaoa peninsula. If you want to visit me, look for the reserve (aka park) halfway down Tiri Rd, just east of Little Manly Beach.

Yesterday I watched my first races from there and everything worked perfectly. Well, Team Dennis Connor lost to OneWorld, so not everything, but still. I brought my Therm-a-rest inflatable pad and the conversion kit to turn it into a chair. I brought my radio which covers the TV band. I brought my mini 10x25 binoculars. I do wish the binocs were a tad more powerful, but you can’t have everything.