The maximum average weight per sailor who participates in the America's Cup is 87.5 kilograms, and team members must weigh in and weigh out every Monday and Friday. Photo by Sam Greenfield
The maximum average weight per sailor who participates in the America's Cup is 87.5 kilograms, and team members must weigh in and weigh out every Monday and Friday. Photo by Sam Greenfield
The maximum average weight per sailor who participates in the America's Cup is 87.5 kilograms, and team members must weigh in and weigh out every Monday and Friday. Photo by Sam Greenfield
The maximum average weight per sailor who participates in the America's Cup is 87.5 kilograms, and team members must weigh in and weigh out every Monday and Friday. Photo by Sam Greenfield

Behind the scenes: Team Luxury flies to Bermuda ahead of the America’s Cup


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A trip to the island of Bermuda to interview the professional competitive sailors participating in the America's Cup and learn about the technical aspects of the sport, is not the average writing assignment for a journalist who specialises in fashion. But, Officine Panerai was announced as the official watch brand of the 35th America's Cup, and this presented the perfect opportunity to learn more about the sport.

The America’s Cup, which is actually the oldest sporting trophy in the world, takes place every few years. The last winning team, Oracle Team USA, got to pick the location of the 2017 races, and they chose Bermuda: a British overseas colony characterised by beautiful waters and picturesque pastel buildings.

The competing teams are all stationed at Boaz Island, where they work tirelessly to improve their race boats and practice on the water.

Read more about the America’s Cup in Luxury magazine, out with The National on Thursday, May 11.

hlodi@thenational.ae

Dust and sand storms compared

Sand storm

  • Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
  • Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
  • Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
  • Travel distance: Limited 
  • Source: Open desert areas with strong winds

Dust storm

  • Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
  • Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
  • Duration: Can linger for days
  • Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
  • Source: Can be carried from distant regions
Three-day coronation

Royal purification

The entire coronation ceremony extends over three days from May 4-6, but Saturday is the one to watch. At the time of 10:09am the royal purification ceremony begins. Wearing a white robe, the king will enter a pavilion at the Grand Palace, where he will be doused in sacred water from five rivers and four ponds in Thailand. In the distant past water was collected from specific rivers in India, reflecting the influential blend of Hindu and Buddhist cosmology on the coronation. Hindu Brahmins and the country's most senior Buddhist monks will be present. Coronation practices can be traced back thousands of years to ancient India.

The crown

Not long after royal purification rites, the king proceeds to the Baisal Daksin Throne Hall where he receives sacred water from eight directions. Symbolically that means he has received legitimacy from all directions of the kingdom. He ascends the Bhadrapitha Throne, where in regal robes he sits under a Nine-Tiered Umbrella of State. Brahmins will hand the monarch the royal regalia, including a wooden sceptre inlaid with gold, a precious stone-encrusted sword believed to have been found in a lake in northern Cambodia, slippers, and a whisk made from yak's hair.

The Great Crown of Victory is the centrepiece. Tiered, gold and weighing 7.3 kilograms, it has a diamond from India at the top. Vajiralongkorn will personally place the crown on his own head and then issues his first royal command.

The audience

On Saturday afternoon, the newly-crowned king is set to grant a "grand audience" to members of the royal family, the privy council, the cabinet and senior officials. Two hours later the king will visit the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, the most sacred space in Thailand, which on normal days is thronged with tourists. He then symbolically moves into the Royal Residence.

The procession

The main element of Sunday's ceremonies, streets across Bangkok's historic heart have been blocked off in preparation for this moment. The king will sit on a royal palanquin carried by soldiers dressed in colourful traditional garb. A 21-gun salute will start the procession. Some 200,000 people are expected to line the seven-kilometre route around the city.

Meet the people

On the last day of the ceremony Rama X will appear on the balcony of Suddhaisavarya Prasad Hall in the Grand Palace at 4:30pm "to receive the good wishes of the people". An hour later, diplomats will be given an audience at the Grand Palace. This is the only time during the ceremony that representatives of foreign governments will greet the king.