The Duchess of Cambridge ruled the waves today after she thrashed her husband in a yacht race around Auckland Harbour.
Standing at the wheel of an 80ft America’s Cup sailing vessel, Kate even gave William a cheeky victory salute as she sailed past him back to harbour.
The couple were in Auckland to visit the home of New Zealand’s America’s Cup team.
Ahoy, there! The Duchess confidently took the
wheel of an Emirates Team New Zealand Americas Cup yacht as she sailed
around Auckland Harbour in a race with William
All smiles: The Duchess, a keen sailor, grinned
broadly despite some unfavorable weather as she prepared to sail the
harbour on Friday
No hard feelings: It was Kate who proved victorious, winning not one but two races against her husband
Say cheese: The Duke and Duchess pose for a quick photo with members of the New Zealand's Americas Cup Team
Once they reached open water, the Duke and Duchess were invited to take the helm of their two yachts, and race around a series of buoys.
The Duchess, wearing a white Breton-style striped top by Me + Em, skinny navy jeans, deck shoes and a baseball cap, with her hair in a ponytail, was out for revenge after the Duke beat her in a dragon boat race the last time they competed on the water, in Canada in 2011.
Earlier the couple had laughed and joked as they boarded another luxury boat, Imagine, where they changed out of their civvies into sailing gear.
That's how it's done: The Duchess offered a sympathetic look to William after she beat him in not one but two races
The Duchess waved proudly to onlookers from her yacht, but did appear pensive for a moment
Safety first: The Duchess ensured her life jacket was strapped on tight before the race
As they set off on their respective yachts the Duchess patted William on the back and said: 'Take care!'
'Yeah, see you later,' he replied.
Grant Dalton, the managing director of Emirates Team New Zealand, had already predicted the couple would give each other 'no quarter'.
And Dean Barker, the skipper of Team New Zealand who was on the team when his country successfully defended the Americas Cup in 2000, had previously met the Duke when he took him sailing in Auckland in 2010.
Friendly competition: The Duke lost the challenge on the seas to his wife in not one but two races
In it to win it: The Duke concentrated as he steered his yacht around the harbour in a race with his wife
A Royally good race: The Duchess appeared keen to win against her husband, playfully calling out to her competitor at one point
Keen sailor: During her gap year in 2001 Kate
worked as a deckhand on a 72 foot sailing boat in the Solent, looking
after important clients for companies including Barclays and BT
'At the time Prince William said Kate would be very envious of the fact that he had been sailing, because she was a very keen sailor in her early days,' he said.
'He was really into it, really quite focused on things. He did not mind lending a hand getting the sails up. He was not afraid to get his hands dirty.'
He said that outings such as this seemed to provide the Duke with a welcome break from the other engagements on a royal tour.
'It seems like it was an opportunity to catch his breath, ' he said.
And they're off! Kate prepares to go match-race sailing on America's Cup yachts with Skipper Dean Barker
Kate enjoyed a bit of girl talk aboard an America's cup yacht
'With all the formal parts of the tour, the functions and the different appearances, it must be nice to do a few of the fun things like going for a sail. It's good to see that they are human and like to do all the things that we all like to do.'
The Duke was in NZL 41, which previously raced under the Japanese flag in the Louis Vuitton series. The Duchess was in NZL 68, a former training boat for Team New Zealand.
As the Duke disembarked his yacht he joked: 'We were sabotaged!"
Kate was overwhelmed with adoring fans as she traveled to the Marina
Hush! Kate seemingly tells the waiting fans (or
perhaps William) to quieten down as she holds a bouquet meanwhile
William had made some fans of his own
Kate leans in to shake a delighted fan's hand
Prince Charming: a local girl seemed starstruck when meeting the Prince
An observer said the Duchess was looking pleased and he replied 'I bet she is! Selfless husband! I wanted a quiet night.'
Grant Dalton joked : 'We did exactly what we were told to do this morning. We were following instructions. We didn't want to break protocol.'
Eric Haagh, 36, the skipper of the Duke’s boat, said the Duchess had won both of the two three-mile races.
He said his boat had developed a problem with a lock at the top of the main sail, which locks it onto the mast, meaning it ended up out of shape. There were also problems with the spinnaker sail.
Oops! The Duke got a little flustered trying to get through to the marina with his umbrella in tact
Mr Haagh said: 'William was a bit nervous at the start. These boats are very powerful and he just wanted to get on the grinder (sail winch) to begin with.
'When we wiped out because of the problem with the sail we were near to some rocks and Wiliam said "that’ll be a good photo".
'William was a good sailor but Kate pushed us around into a bad position. She did very well.
'William was very competitive right from the start - he didn’t want to lose. When Kate won both the races he just said "at least she’ll be happy".'
After the race the Duke and Duchess had a thrilling, bouncy ride across the harbour in an amphibious vehicle. Both the Duke and Duchess grinned broadly as they took turns at the wheel of the Sealegs, which reached speeds of 40 knots.
Afterwards they were given a miniature Sealegs custom-made for Prince George. 'It's an inflatable, amphibious little contraption for youngsters,' said Sealegs chief executive David Glen. 'It is absolutely bespoke. It was finished yesterday - four weeks from conception to completion.'
The Duke and Duchess were 'astounded,' he said. 'They cannot wait for it to get to Kensington Palace. But they have to work out where to use it. The Duchess said she regretted he was not here to give it a try now.'
Grant Dalton said the request to go sailing came from the Palace. 'As far as my understanding goes, they wanted to do it.
'There are no friends on the water, though. No quarter given. I'm sure that Prince William would not want to be beaten by his wife.'
Sporty chic: The Duchess of Cambridge travels by Sealegs craft to Westpark Marina in Auckland - and still looks cool
Timeless style: Kate wears her staple Breton striped tee as she enjoys her 19-day official visit to New Zealand and Australia
The Kate effect: The Duchess' Me+ Em striped top, £48, is sure to be a sell out like so many of the fashion pieces she wears
All in good fun: A keen sailor she is, but the
Duchess didn't take the race too seriously, mucking around with the crew
throughout the event
Coordinated couple: Kate and William are known
to match their outfits, and it was no different as they donned identical
black jackets presented to them by their sailing teams
Sea legs: Kate seemed at ease aboard the yacht
One of the gang: Kate is welcomed with open arms by the crew
Winners are grinners: Kate clearly enjoyed her victory against William, laughing and smiling after the race
Friends again: Kate and Wills share a tender moment after a competitive morning
Kate and Will seemed to be in a flirty mood down at the Marina
The couple arrived in Auckland amid squally showers, with a crowd of thousands lining the road to the harbour.
During a walkabout Hayley Heartbreak, 30, an illustrator, presented the couple with a poster she had made showing the Duke and Duchess with George on a beach.
She said: "Kate said, 'Oh little George - you've got his likeness!' And William asked for a copy - they were really happy with it.
'I thought it would be nice to give them this, because it is a typical Kiwi thing - a day on the beach, making sandcastles, enjoying the sunshine. Unlike today.'
Victorious! Kate offered a thumbs up to the waiting crowd after pipping William at the post
No hard feelings: The couple looked like they
were able to put their competitive edge behind them after the race as
they posed with the crew
A tight race: The Duke and Duchess and their crews raced around Auckland Harbour
After returning to land, the Duke and Duchess boarded another type of boat entirely - this time a Sealegs amphibious craft.As the name suggests, the Sealegs is a boat that can be driven seamlessly from dry land into the water that is now being marketed around the world.
It took the royal party to Westpark Marina, where they were transported back to their jet and home to Prince George.
Riding along: After returning to land, the Duke and Duchess were back on the water on a Sealegs vessel
The Sealegs is a boat that can be driven seamlessly from dry land into the water that is now being marketed around the world
The Sealegs took the royal party to Westpark Marina, where they were transported back to their jet and home to Prince George
Hold on! The Duke and Duchess pull into the Westpark Marina after their journey on the Sealegs
And they're off: The Royal couple faced off on
Auckland Harbour, competing against each other in Emirates Team New
Zealand Americas Cup yachts
It was dress down Friday for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge as they arrived in Auckland for a day of engagements Friday morning.
The couple began by visiting families at the largest RNZAF base in New Zealand at Whenuapai, home to more than a thousand serving airmen and women.
The meeting was a chance for the couple to greet staff and their families and thank them for their service. Many have recently served on operations overseas.
Getting clucky, Kate? The Duchess couldn't hide her joy over two baby girls
Kate displayed her maternal instincts as she cooed over a baby girl
A Duchess in our midst: Kate, 32, charmed the waiting Air Force personnel
Sweet: A serving Air Force member and his family greet William, the young girl handing the Duke a gift
The Prince was spotted doting over one baby at the Air Force base
A shy little girl meets the Prince who seemed
concerned about her injured arm while Kate was delighted to be
introduced to more babies
Prince William chats with young Lachlan Adam at the Air Force base
Prince William joked today how he and wife Kate were regularly being offered potential partners for little Prince George.
'We mentioned how well-paired she and George would be in the future,' says mum Karen, 40.
A royal tour: Kate and Will are shown around by Air Force personnel
Kate enjoyed mingling with the staff at the Air Force base where she was presented with a hot pink bouquet of roses
William replied, "There have been a few babies touted to us!" Karen adds, 'He could see the funny side.'
She and husband, aircraft technician Jason, 41, were among 200 RNZAF servicemen and women and families meeting the royal couple in a hanger at an air base just outside Auckland on Friday. "We were talking about their similar ages of the babies and he said how much fun they were,' Karen, a paramedic adds. "He was very personable."
Emily spat out her dummy just as William approached and he gallantly stooped to pick it up. 'He said he was well-practiced at baby duties,' Karen adds.
What's so funny? A member of the Air Force has the Duchess in giggles
Smile for the Duchess: Kate attempted to get a small child to crack a grin as she greeted RNZAF personnel and their families
Kate was as charming as ever as she met well-wishers at the Air Force base
And William reassured another young couple with a five month old baby that things get easier with the passing months. Beej (corr) Williams, a sgt aircraft technician was with his wife Leanne Williams, 36, who cradled five month old daughter Haley Beej says, 'William mentioned that at around five months George started sleeping mostly through the night and it was easier from that point. He was saying you have good times ahead.'
Kate, in Me & Em breton-style top and navy Zara jacket and navy skinny jeans, worked one side of an aircraft hanger, while William worked the other.
The couple arrived from Wellington on the same RNZAF Boeing 757 that they'd been flown into the country on Monday.
Kate asked some of the young parents how it was being a mother and whether they had taken maternity leave. She was given was lollipop sweets which she shook playfully in front of one baby and sympathised over the parent-baby life balance.
Touch down: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge
arrived at Whenuapai Royal New Zealand Air Force base just outside of
Auckland on Friday
Warm welcome: The Cambridges were met by RNZAF officials after they touched down on the tarmac
The grand tour: The Royal couple spoke to each
other with interest as they were shown around the base at Whenuapai,
just outside of Auckland
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrived at Whenuapai Royal New Zealand Air Force base just outside of Auckland on Friday
Melissa Tilbury, 28, who held baby five month old Madeleine said, 'She said when George was much younger William was away a lot in the beginning -- but that you get by.'
Madeleine had been getting sleepy and Kate had some flowers to entertain her. 'She was really good with Madeleine,' Melissa -- who's married to the base's accountant Jono Tilbuy, 30. 'She spoke to us about the balance, about having the time as a couple and with the baby.'
Flight lieutenant Andy Armstrong praised the couple for coming to the base. William only left the RAF, where he was a search and rescue helicopter pilot, last year. 'It's an honour to have them here and for them to meet our vets yesterday. It's poignant for all of us New Zealanders.'
On Saturday William will visit Pacific Aerospace, while Kate will visit Rainbow Place Children’s Hospice.
The Royal couple will fittingly open the Cambridge velodrome in Hamilton and visit Cambridge War Memorial.
Duke and Duchess spend time with the Royal New Zealand Air Force
All smiles: The duchess grinned broadly as she interacted with the Royal New Zealand Air Force families
Royal supporters made their presence known on the water as well as on land
Local school children awaiting the arrival of the Duke and Duchess
Meanwhile a small plane displays a protest
banner in the sky above where the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will be
aboard a yacht on Auckland Harbour
A mother and daughter get the best possible to seat to view the race
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