Kate Middleton sports a nautical look ahead of the yacht race
THE Duchess of Cambridge was sporting a casual nautical look when she and Prince William flew to Auckland today to meet service families ahead of a much-anticipated yacht race in the harbour.
Kate, 32, wore a navy jacket from Zara, a Breton style top from Me and Em and navy skinny jeans and navy Stuart Weiztman wedges for the visit to a Royal New Zealand Air Force Base at Whenuapai in Auckland, the country's largest city.
She and William chatted to around 200 air force personnel and their families before heading into the city's Viaduct Harbour to race each other in Americas Cup yachts.
Kate arrived at the harbour carrying a backpack containing some deck shoes and a change of clothing for the yacht race.
There will be a bit of competition tomorrow
It had been sunny all morning in the city but the bad weather that has followed them everywhere came back to haunt them.
It started pouring down just after they arrived.
Kate was the favourite to win, as she has a background in sailing.
When she was younger she sailed with her family regularly in the Solent and also worked as a deckhand.
During a meeting with New Zealand Prime Minister John Key last night, William said he was looking forward to the race. "There will be a bit of competition tomorrow," he smiled. "A bit of healthy competition."
The royal couple were due to spend an hour and a half racing in the spectacular Waitemata Harbour, Auckland, which has one boat for every four people, is known as the City of Sails.