The New Zealand Millennium Cup’s Notice of Race has been released this week.As the regatta returns to Auckland for the second year in a row, early entries have been quick to confirm their participation prior to the Notice of Race release, with six entries already signed up and more to come after an exceptional 2024 edition.“We really enjoyed our time at the New Zealand Millennium Cup regatta. From the first contact right through to racing, the people are genuine and it was the most down to earth, real, fun and welcoming experience; it’s a regatta the way regattas should be,”… Read More

The final day of racing on Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf saw the fleet competing in light air on a course which gave them 23nm for one last push to reign supreme. The yachts took off from Motutapu, to the Noises, then D’Urville Rock, Rakino, the Haystack, and home again, though over the substantial length of the course they weren’t able to shake clear of each other. Millenium Cup Regatta 2024 Perseus^3 crossed for home first while behind her, Janice of Wyoming, Sassafras, Cat+Ion and Kotuku clung together in a drag race. Yesterday’s grey, moody Auckland sky was brightened as Janice of… Read More

She’s got it; Sassafras takes the win! At the morning’s briefing, principal race officer Harold Bennett told owners, captains and crew he was sending them on two of the Cup’s longest courses. 
“With 15 to 18 knots of wind forecast, our race committee is sending you out into the Hauraki Gulf. The Multihull Division is bound for Gannet Rock and a drag race, while our NZ Millennium Cup division is taking on the longest course they’ll tackle over the regatta.”

And tackle it they did, with the superyachts out on 33.2nm course four, and multihulls taking on course five’s 41.6nm. The NZ Millennium Cup division was… Read More

New Zealand’s largest on-water boat show will play host to this year’s new boat releases when it forms part of Moana Auckland this March. Preparations are underway now for the huge selection of boats journeying to Auckland for the Auckland Boat Show. With more than 500 marine brands, and 150 boats on display, the 2024 show will host this year’s new boat releases with an enormous array of vessels from sailing yachts, to RIBs; trailer boats to luxury motoryachts. It’s a jewel in the crown of Moana Auckland; New Zealand’s Ocean Festival. The city’s deep connection with the water will… Read More

The clock is on! The New Zealand Millennium Cup gets underway this week, marking the start of Auckland’s inaugural ocean festival. The southern hemisphere’s longest-running superyacht regatta gets underway this week in Auckland. The final countdown is on to the New Zealand Millennium Cup, which will see striking superyachts gather to race in Auckland from this Friday. This year’s Cup is a standout edition of the event, marking the start of Moana Auckland; New Zealand’s ocean festival. Credit: Robert Gleed, Breed Media With the festival creating a month-long celebration of Aucklanders’ connection with the ocean, the harbour city makes the… Read More

Superyacht crew and industry gathered in Auckland to celebrate New Zealand’s annual superyacht welcome function last night. The event, hosted by NZ Marine, is the largest superyacht networking event in the southern hemisphere and sees local industry companies host captains, crew and guests. Crew from more than 35 yachts were invited to the event, held on Auckland’s waterfront, with those celebrating their first season in New Zealand mingling with crew glad to be back.  Credit: Matt Crawford Photography NZ Marine’s Peter Busfield welcomed superyacht captains and crew and thanked them for choosing to come to New Zealand, as well as acknowledging… Read More

The South Pacific’s superyacht regatta will move from the Bay of Islands to Auckland next year, running from 23-26 February.The New Zealand Millennium Cup regatta, known for promoting superyacht cruising in the region, will move to Auckland next year, it has been announced. “As our sister regatta the Superyacht Cup Palma gets underway this week, we’re very pleased to share the New Zealand Millennium Cup will add its name to the superyacht regattas raced in the heart of port cities,” says organiser Stacey Cook.“When the New Zealand Millennium Cup is raced from 23rd – 26th February 2024, it will be… Read More

Next year will see New Zealand host a world-first superyacht sport fishing competition in the Bay of Islands, showcasing one example of the adventure to be found on New Zealand shores. The fishing competition, held prior to the NZ Millennium Cup superyacht regatta, will be open to yachts over 24 metres with entry for up to five anglers per yacht. Entry to the regatta includes temporary membership to the Bay of Islands Swordfish Club. The club is the oldest game fishing club in New Zealand and second oldest in the world, and will be on-hand to provide expert guides, equipment… Read More

A total of 11 events including superyacht regattas, J Class regattas, superyacht fishing competitions and island cruises will entertain superyacht visitors to New Zealand during America’s Cup racing over 2020 and 2021, it was announced today. The events have been designed to help visitors discover some of New Zealand’s most beautiful cruising grounds with the activities run by the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron and NZMarine between January 2020 and March 2021. Events are designed for both visiting S/Y and M/Y vessels and timed to fit around America’s Cup World Series, Prada Cup Challenger and America’s Cup Match events. “New… Read More

NZ Marine race day of the NZ Millennium Cup drew to a close on Saturday 2 February and Tawera was crowned the winner.  The eleventh edition of the NZ Millennium Cup has ended and 28-metre ketch, Tawera has won the world’s most southerly superyacht regatta. “There’s a special feel to this regatta,” said race officer of the day, Harold Bennett. “The amazing sense of togetherness, the way the competitors get working together and complement each other – it’s the Corinthian way of our sport. The racing’s been really good – and I’m impressed with the help of both Bruno Finzi… Read More