The world's most-southerly superyacht regatta begins this week
by Isla McKechnie 29 Jan 10:39 GMT
Millenium Cup Regatta 2024 © Jeff Brown
The 2025 New Zealand Millennium Cup begins with welcome festivities this Saturday, 1st of February.
With courses dotted amongst the volcanoes, islands and channels of Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf, this year’s regatta is shaping up to be a showdown of epic proportions with yachts re-turning to the race, and those making their regatta debut.
In the second consecutive edition to be raced in Auckland after its Bay of Islands tenure, the 2025 NZ Millennium Cup will welcome back Kawil for the first time after her Bay of Islands win in 2020. Also returning to the Cup are two regatta favourites.
Royal Huisman’s Sassafras has a long history of hitting the New Zealand Millennium Cup race course with elegance and panache, belying her fierce approach to racing. Fellow repeat campaigner, Janice of Wyoming has established a sterling reputation as a competitive entry with a crew as fun as her signature cowboy spinnaker.
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.
Classic sailing yacht Innismara, will race in the Pacific Cup Class, crewed by the same group of young sailors who restored the 1969 launch to her former glory. Alongside her in the Pacific Cup Class, Lion New Zealand and Steinlager, will race presented by the NZ Sailing Trust.
Combined with twenty one industry sponsors and a wide-range of world-renowned sailors, the 2025 New Zealand Millennium Cup is lining up to be a showcase of the way New Zea-land’s cruising grounds and penchant for racing has created a sailing culture all of its own.
The regatta takes place in the centre of Auckland from 1-4 February 2025 and will include the world regatta debut of 81 metre Sea Eagle, and the first NZ Millennium Cup appearance of Sharlou.
“Racing the regatta in the heart of our harbour city is an experience we love to give to our guests,” says event organiser, Stacey Cook.
“These are the waters which have hosted America’s Cup showdowns, Volvo Ocean Race starts and honed generations of New Zealand sailors, so we know they’re a challenging, and very picturesque, place to race.”
Follow race updates at www.millenniumcup.com