Maxiyachts favourites for Millenium Cup Race to Kawau Island

The 30 nautical mile passage race to Kawau Island, the highlight next month of the four-day New Zealand Millennium Cup Superyacht Regatta 2003, has attracted a stellar cluster of challengers intent on leaving Mari Cha III, the 147-foot reigning champion in their wake.

To be sailed February 10-13 on the Hauraki Gulf, the superyacht regatta will be the curtain raiser to racing for the America's Cup, which starts two days later on the 15th.

The 90-foot Alfa Romeo and the 97-foot Canon Leopard have both arrived in Auckland and are preparing to race. The 80-foot Travelex, formerly the maxi racer Nicorette, has also entered and is expected to arrive soon.

Alfa Romeo was the line honors winner in Australia's recent Rolex Sydney Hobart Race, logging the second fastest-ever time, with Canon Leopard finishing third and Travelex finishing fifth, in a span of just five hours.

There is visible evidence of the arrival of more superyachts in the increasing forest of tall white spars gracing the docks and quays of Auckland's American Express Viaduct Basin.

The ketch rigged Mari Cha III, home ported in England and owned by Bob Miller, was the fastest yacht in the inaugural Millennium Cup three years ago. She has set records for the West to East transatlantic crossing, and for the run from Sydney to Hobart. Designed by Frenchman Philippe Briand, she was built in New Zealand by Marten Marine and outfitted by Sensation Yachts, with spars by Southern Spars. For racing, some 16,000 Kg of her elaborate John Munford-designed mahogany-paneled interior furnishing can be removed and left ashore.

Alfa Romeo is the latest water-ballasted Shockwave maxi for Sydney-based New Zealand businessman Neville Crichton. The Reichel/Pugh design won this year's Sydney Hobart Race without the benefit of water ballast and with a keel bulb five tons heavier than the sleek bulb she sports when racing with water ballast. Crichton has predicted speeds of up to 35 knots when sailing with water ballast to supercharge her performance. Built in Australia, she was outfitted in New Zealand with her Southern Spars mast and rig.

Canon Leopard, the brainchild of her British owner Mike Slade, was launched in June 2000. Reichel/Pugh designed her for a multi-faceted role, including charter work with racing charters and sponsorship. Green Marine of Southampton, England, built the hull, deck and primary structures while Ken Freivokh Designs handled the yacht's interior and exterior design. In 2001 she set a new record for the Hoya Round the Isle of Wight passage. She also holds the Cowes-Dinard Race record.

"You'd have to favor Mari Cha to win the race to Kawau," Slade said. "But a lot depends on the wind direction and speed and the sea state. It all depends on the day. We can't pretend to be a flat out racer but we've raced Mari Cha in the Caribbean and the South of France in the past and beaten her. We have an edge on a windward leeward course."

The Swedish maxi Travelex is coming from Sydney and will be skippered by her owner Ludde Ingvall. A water-ballasted Simonis-Voogel design, she was the line honors winner in the stormy 2000 Sydney Hobart Race.

To date, 41 vessels have entered, while additional entries are still coming in. The full entry list for the New Zealand Millennium Cup Superyacht Regatta 2003 and the entry form can be found on the event web site at www.millenniumcup.com

The Millennium Cup 2003 is proudly supported by Cartier, Jaguar New Zealand and United Airlines, platinum partners for this year's prestigious event. Tourism New Zealand is the Media Partner.