Left: 49er and International Moth ‘God’ Nathan Outteridge drives Artemis Racing’s first AC45F. The team’s first development boat has been configured as closely as possible to the deck layout of an AC48, with flared topsides accommodating wheel steering. Above: it’s hoped that the limited runway on Bermuda’s Great Sound (on left) will make for tough mano-a-mano battles in 2017
get a driver’s licence, and rent a house with a ‘unique assessment number’ that allows that house to own a car.
Not every house has such a number available so check before you rent… (In some instances, a homeowner may have already registered a car with the house number which precludes the tenant from using that number.) And if they do have that all-important number free to use, there is still only ‘one four-wheeled vehicle per person or family or household’ anyway. So other transport will be a fact of life for all families on the island.
That comes down to scooters, bicycles or public transport – the buses and ferries. The trains were discontinued in the late 1940s when cars were first introduced, but this now means the old railway is a wonderful track, the length of the island (though divided into half a dozen or more sections) for safe walking, running or cycling. WARNING: driving scooters in Bermuda can be (will be) dangerous to your health! The roads are narrow; passing on blind corners is a game; and to the scooter driver the posted speed limits are treated more as a suggestion.
FACT: Bermuda has a horrendous record of serious scooter accidents and the majority of fatalities every year involve scooters, not cars. Every team will be visiting fellow team members in the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital at some time. Rumour has it Oracle has already had four in there at the same time, for a variety of reasons; very fortunately, the boys are all OK. I am not being pessimistic, I am being a realist. The numbers just work that way. The bus and ferry system is great during daylight hours. Not always to the published timetable but they do seem to work. We like the bus, it’s a great way to become immersed in the local culture. The bus drivers are fabulous. Funny how you can become a local in no time when you’re at the same bus stop each day. I have had one bus driver open his door and yell ‘you’re late! The boat went in the water 20 minutes ago!’ Another tour bus driver stopped, opened the door and motioned me in. Not sure if it was a good idea or not, I asked ‘You going to Dockyard?’ (site of the base). His response, ‘I am not going to London, am I?’ One thing you do, and everyone does, is greet the people as you board the bus. Something like ‘beautiful day’, ‘hello, everyone’, or even ‘God bless you all’. If you don’t, you’re considered rude. The drivers won’t start until you’re seated (correct bus ‘etiquette’) so there is no rush. And don’t get up at your stop until the bus has come to a complete stop (more bus ‘etiquette’). No rush, we all get there. Maybe that is why the timetable gets a wee bit out of whack at the end of the route?
Oh yes, you get an unlimited bus and ferry pass for $US62 per week… or $US69 per month. Go figure.
As an event the America’s Cup has gone through remarkable changes and hopefully Bermuda can capitalise on the spin-offs of the 2017 regatta. Big challenges are ahead for all.
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