New Zealand Millenium Cup gears up for European debut

On 19 June 2007 in Palma de Mallorca, The New Zealand Millennium Cup will provide a stunning finale to the 2007 Palma Superyacht Cup.

First raced in Auckland in 2000 (between the Louis Vuitton and America’s Cup) and again in 2003, the New Zealand Millennium Cup has become a successful brand that is synonymous with the New Zealand Marine industry. This is the first time that the New Zealand Millennium Cup has been held in European waters. Around 60 yachts are expected to take part in what promises to be the largest ever superyacht regatta staged in Europe. Some of the worlds most glamorous and high profile sailing yachts have already registered including Hyperion, Maltese Falcon and Velsheda.

The Palma Superyacht Cup is an annual superyacht event usually held in October in Palma de Mallorca. For the past six years New Zealand has sponsored a day called the New Zealand Day. For 2007 the Palma Superyacht Cup has moved to June to add a new element to pleasure sailing between the Louis Vuitton Cup and the final of the 32nd America’s Cup challenge in Valencia. This provided a prime opportunity for the New Zealand Cup to maintain its race tradition with the America’s Cup and to stage the race in European waters. Major sponsors of the New Zealand Millennium Cup, the country’s economic development agency New Zealand Trade and Enterprise sees the event as a key opportunity to put the spotlight on New Zealand’s vibrant marine industry.

“New Zealand has an excellent reputation in the sport of yachting and the industry contributes a significant amount to New Zealand’s export earnings. By sponsoring the New Zealand Millennium Cup, we see this as adding our support for a burgeoning industry and helping to add to New Zealand’s profile in this area,” says Georgina Langdale of New Zealand Trade and Enterprise.

Paul MacDonald, Chairman of the New Zealand Millennium Cup added, “The buzz around the New Zealand Millennium Cup for 2007 is really heating up now and we are looking forward to seeing this event make its European debut. Many of the yachts registered have been built in New Zealand or include a New Zealand component which in effect makes it one of the most significant showcases of New Zealand marine capability this year”.

Those registered to compete in the Palma Superyacht Cup will automatically be entered into the New Zealand Millennium Cup as it provides the last day of racing of the Palma Superyacht Cup which runs from 16th to 19th June

In addition to the action on the water, New Zealand is also providing live bands and Maori cultural performances to add to the celebrations at the end of the regatta.

The sponsor list of the New Zealand Millennium Cup reads like a “who’s who” of the New Zealand marine sector. Platinum sponsors include Alloy Yachts and Robinson Marine Interiors. Gold sponsors High Modulus, Marten Spars, Southern Spars, Events Clothing, Lloyds Register, Yachting Developments and the New Zealand Marine Industry Association.

The Marine Industry in New Zealand is one of New Zealand’s largest non-primary based manufacturing sectors last year totaling $535 million in exports. The Marine Industry Association of New Zealand anticipates that the marine sector will double in size by 2015, growing from around NZ $1.3 billion in 2003 to NZ $2.4 billion by 2015.