Auckland will make its long-awaited SailGP debut in 2025.
After a false-start this year, the City of Sails will host the New Zealand Sail Grand Prix, the second stop on an expanded 14-event SailGP calendar for 2024-25, for the first time on January 18-19.
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Auckland was due to host the New Zealand leg of SailGP last summer but unresolved issues surrounding a plot of unused land at Wynyard Quarter wanted for use as a spectator zone saw the event move at late-notice to Christchurch's Lyttleton Harbour.
That regatta was not without its issues, with day one of racing cancelled when a dolphin was spotted in the racing area.
The New Zealand SailGP team, led by America's Cup hero Peter Burling, have had a successful 2023-24 season, winning five of 12 grands prix to top the standings and qualify for this weekend's Season 4 Grand Final in San Francisco.
With New Zealand's four-year deal with SailGP called for Auckland and Christchurch to alternate hosting a regatta. With Christchurch having hosted the first two visits, the focus now shifts to Waitemata Harbour.
“Eleven F50s lighting up Auckland harbour will be an awesome sight and with a grandstand super close to the racing, it’s going to be unbelievable,” said Black Foils driver Burling.
“It’s so exciting to be going into the season grand final this week and know that we have a home event locked in for next season. The whole team is stoked to know we’ll be bringing Amokura to race in Auckland. There’s nothing like racing the F50 in front of a home crowd and hearing them cheer.”
The New Zealand Sail Grand Prix will follow the season-opening Dubai Sail Grand Prix on November 23-24, with the Australia Sail Grand Prix making a fourth visit to Sydney Harbour on February 8-9.
The USA will host three of the next four grands prix - in Los Angeles (March 15-16), San Francisco (March 22-23) and New York (June 7-8) - with the Brazil Sail Grand Prix in between, on May 3-4.
The series then shifts to Europe, with stops in Great Britain, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and Spain in July through October, before the regular season ending regatta at a yet-to-be-confirmed Middle Eastern venue on November 7-8 and the Season 5 Grand Final in Abu Dhabi on November 29-30.