New Zealand Millennium Cup is underway
by Isla McKechnie 2 Feb 01:46 NZDT
NZ Millennium opening - Auckland - February 1, 2025 © Jeff Brown, Breed Media
The world’s most-southerly superyacht regatta is underway tonight, with Auckland’s mayor welcoming the fleet to the City of Sails.
“We’d love to warmly welcome and acknowledge our visitors to the city of sails,” said mayor Wayne Brown.
“It was a special treat to meet the owner of Janice of Wyoming who’s been a visitor to our city for many years. The course has been designed to showcase the beautiful Hauraki Gulf, and explore its gulf islands.”
“Enjoy the hospitality and all the city had to offer, enjoy the regatta, and I’m looking forward to the racing.”
Superyacht visitors injected $212m into the New Zealand economy in the 2023/4 season, and this key market is promoted via attraction initiatives like the New Zealand Millennium Cup.
Regatta organisers, Peter Busfield and Stacey Cook welcomed owners, captains and crew to the 15th edition of the regatta at an event on Auckland’s waterfront, sponsored by Southern Spars. As the sun set over the Hauraki Gulf, personalised bags from Silver Sponsor Coast were presented to each yacht to commemorate the regatta.
“Have a good evening, but more importantly have a good race,” said Peter Busfield, NZ Marine CEO.
Yachts were presented with the coveted Coast New Zealand bags which have become a sig-nature of the regatta. First to be welcomed to the regatta was Janice of Wyoming, with her owner noting it was the 15th year the Alloy Yachts-built yacht had competed.
The regatta attracts yachts with adventurous tendencies as they journey to New Zealand to take part in the world’s most-southerly superyacht regatta.
The regatta is raced on Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf, an historical sailing tie-in that isn’t lost on entries. The fleet will be taking on the Auckland conditions which have been enjoyed by the world’s leading yachtsmen in America’s Cup and Round the World races, and experiencing the beauty of a harbour which turned a nation into sailors.
Many of those sailors will be familiar with both Lion New Zealand and Steinlager 2. Presented by the NZ Sailing Trust, the two yachts have played key roles in New Zealand’s sailing history and this year will represent the NZ Sailing Trust’s work to empower New Zealand youth through sailing adventures.
Follow race updates at www.millenniumcup.com