From Bermuda to brrr . . .
Freezing temperatures, snow showers and rain in Christchurch have been blamed for pushing attendance at the city’s America’s Cup parade well below previous levels.
Celebrations in 1995 and 2000 drew estimated crowds of 150,000 and 80,000 respectively, whereas yesterday’s victory parade failed to attract 10,000.
But that did not dampen the atmosphere, which Team New Zealand helmsman Peter Burling described as ‘‘unreal’’.
‘‘It’s been an amazing reception, we’re blown away. We had no idea how big the support has been.’’
Christchurch NZ communications manager Adrienne Noon said the organisation, which organised the parade, estimated 5000 to 6000 attended with an extra 2000 at the Art Gallery, where speeches were given.
Yesterday’s victory parade went ahead despite an overnight snowstorm and ongoing rain, sleet and wind.
‘‘It’s hard to speculate on why people choose to attend or not but given it is the middle of winter and it is the coldest day of the year so far, this would have impacted on total turnout,’’ Noon said.
The cost of the parade could not be provided yesterday, because numerous Christchurch businesses provided special prices to help celebrate the victory.
During the parade, Team New Zealand chief executive Grant Dalton said plans were under way to bring the America’s Cup tour to the country’s southern heartland.
The tours in Auckland and Wellington were ‘‘magnificent’’ – ‘‘but I don’t think there is a guy up here who didn’t want to get back to mainland and come to Christchurch’’.
‘‘Ultimately we want to do a full regional tour with the cup to the smaller centres . . . that’ll happen probably in the spring,’’ Dalton said.
Burling said he had ‘‘sore arms’’ from parading the Auld Mug through the city.
‘‘It was hailing and snowing about 20 minutes ago and to see how many people have come out in the cold to cheer us on, it’s pretty special,’’ he said during the parade.
‘‘We head further south down to Dunedin [today] and I’m sure there’ll be a great turn-out down there.’’
Team cyclist Joe Sullivan, originally from Rangiora, was enjoying his first trip home since winning the cup. He told the crowd during speeches: ‘‘I’m proud to be here’’.
‘‘I came to the [1995] parade as an 8-year-old. To be able to come back in the parade is just overwhelming and a great honour.
‘‘It’s a bit chilly, but it’s fantastic.
‘‘We’ve just come from summer [in Bermuda] to here in winter, but the crowds have been just amazing and the people are braving the cold.’’
In the crowd was Sullivan’s childhood yachting coach, 84-yearold Ron Mackie, who bused from Rangiora to see the parade.
‘‘I was delighted to meet Joseph, because he’d been in my learn-to-sail class at the Waimak years ago,’’ he said.
Team cyclist and foil trimmer Blair Tuke said it was ‘‘a real honour to be here’’.
‘‘There’s been a few good parties since we finished . . . everyone has been drinking from the cup since we got it – the security guy slept with it,’’ he joked.
Afterwards, Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel said: ‘‘I’ve been singing ‘don’t rain on my parade’ all week.
‘‘It didn’t quite work, but we are delighted to have the cup here . . . especially to the Christchurch and Canterbury boys, welcome home.’’