About NZ Millennium Cup

The 3rd New Zealand Millennium Cup is taking place in Palma, Mallorca on June 19th 2007

The New Zealand Marine Industry announced last year that the 3rd New Zealand Millennium Cup regatta will take place in Palma, Mallorca on June 19th 2007.

First raced in Auckland in 2000 (between the Louis Vuitton and Americas Cup’s) and again in 2003, the New Zealand Millennium Cup has become a successful brand that is synonymous with the New Zealand Marine industry making it possible for the event to be raced again within Europe under a New Zealand banner.

The New Zealand Millennium Cup will be held on the final day of the Superyacht Cup Regatta, an annual fun and laidback superyacht event usually held in October in Palma Mallorca. For the past six years New Zealand has sponsored a day called the New Zealand Day, which will be called the New Zealand Millennium Cup this time around. In 2007, the New Zealand Millennium Cup will take place as part of this much larger series of events that will be known as the Palma Superyacht Week. There are estimated to be 70 superyachts racing and many of these superyachts will also race in the Superyacht Cup Regatta.

The New Zealand Millennium Cup is an opportunity for international superyachts of 30 metres or more to take part in a sailing event that not only showcases the best of New Zealand marine technologies but in addition adds a new element to pleasure sailing around the America’s Cup.

NZ Millennium Cup Chairman, Paul MacDonald is delighted two platinum sponsors Alloy Yachts and Robinson Marine Interiors signed up at a $150,000 respectively at the beginning. Mr MacDonald confirms that seven Gold Sponsorships have been taken up by New Zealand marine companies Events Clothing, High Modulus, Lloyd’s Register, Marine Industry Association, Marten Spars, Southern Spars and Yachting Developments with a number of corporates giving serious consideration to becoming involved in the event.

There is also support from Cervina Electrical Design, Matrix Masts, Mulcahy Engineering, Oceanbridge Shipping and Vectek Electronics.

Mr MacDonald added, “The New Zealand Millennium Cup 2007 is well under way and promises to be one of the most significant showcases of New Zealand marine capability undertaken offshore. This event will almost certainly entrench New Zealand as a boat build centre of excellence in the minds of leading global influencers”.

The Marine Industry in New Zealand is extremely successful and is one of New Zealand’s largest non-primary based manufacturing sectors last year totalling $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.