The destination of choice for superyachts in February is back, as racing returns to the South Pacific with the New Zealand Millennium Cup in 2023.

The New Zealand Millennium Cup’s notice of race has been released.

After a hiatus in 2022, the 2023 edition of the race is already drawing in yachts with a number of early entries signing up before the official release. Raced in New Zealand’s Bay of Islands, the New Zealand Millennium Cup is the world’s most southerly superyacht regatta with superyachts journeying from across the globe to race in the sailing Mecca of New Zealand.

The 144 islets of the Bay of Islands make a startlingly beautiful backdrop for the superyachts which compete in the Cup. February’s summer weather and rising afternoon winds provide perfect racing conditions for this regatta, which has become renowned for its on-water competitiveness and on-land hospitality.

Hoek-designed, Pendennis-built 39 metre Halekai will join the racing for the first time this year, seeing Truly Classic lines return to the Bay. She’ll line up against repeat competitors like 34 metre Royal Huisman-built Sassafras and 40 metre Ed Dubois designed Janice of Wyoming.

“As long-time competitors in the New Zealand Millennium Cup, Sassafras and her crew are excited to be returning to the Bay of Islands for the 2023 edition of this regatta. After missing the 2022 season we look forward to once again racing in one of the world’s best sailing venues,” says S/Y Sassafras captain Matt Lovett.

“I encourage all superyachts visiting the South Pacific to seriously consider entering this extremely well-run, great-fun regatta. As sailors taking part in the NZ Millennium Cup, we enjoy fair competitive racing on the waters of the Bay of Islands, and excellent social events ashore.”
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As the refit and charter base of the South Pacific, which is proving an increasingly popular charter destination, the regatta provides another drawcard to New Zealand. The Pacific nation is equipped with world-class refit facilities and charter friendly legislation.

Find the Notice of Race and entry form online now and see Superyacht New Zealand to plan your journey.

​Coordinated superyacht chartering procedures in the main South Pacific countries, eased border restrictions, safe cruising, diversity of sights and new marina and refit facilities, have created irresistible cruising in the world’s most undiscovered destination; the South Pacific.

Earth’s playground is open for business. New Zealand, Tahiti, Fiji and Australia have coordinated superyacht procedures for ease of cruising across this ultimate destination.

Each country boasts widely-differing and interesting cultures, sights and cruising grounds, but with the added bonus of closely aligned charter and entry rules. This allows yachts to enjoy multiple seasons across the vast blue of the South Pacific, including consecutive charter seasons.

All four countries have announced removal of Covid-19 border restrictions and from August 2022, visiting yachts can stay two or more years in each country on a revolving basis that now allows them to enjoy the South Pacific indefinitely.

The coordination allows superyachts to create multiple charter seasons across the wide blue spaces of the South Pacific. With the countries dotted down the Pacific and each equipped with superyacht
infrastructure, yachts are able to plan seasons in Tahiti and Fiji, before moving on to spend time in New Zealand and Australia, and back into the islands if they choose. The refit hub of New Zealand allows for warrantee repairs and service schedules for new builds, or complex refits to be undertaken to facilitate multiple seasons.

The South Pacific offers a year-long summer climate for charter yachts, with the Tahiti and Fiji season from May to October and the New Zealand and Australian season from October to May.

The islands of the South Pacific deliver idyllic atolls, white sand beaches, crystalline waters and rich cultural experiences, while New Zealand boasts an adventure around every headland, award-winning hospitality, the adrenaline capital of the world, and ancient landscapes. Australia is a haven for wildlife found nowhere else on earth, cosmopolitan cities, and long reaches of white, sandy coastline.

With endless stretches of islands and beaches, untouched dive sites, superyacht-friendly legislation, safe destinations and welcoming cultures, the South Pacific is well on its way to becoming the world’s next great charter hot spot and ultimate getaway for superyacht owners.

How to get there? Superyacht New Zealand has produced a summary of the entry rules for each South Pacific country and a fact sheet for superyachts visiting New Zealand, which can be found at superyachtnewzealand.co.nz

New Zealand’s sea and air borders are opening.   

In a government announcement on 11 May, the next step in New Zealand’s border reopening has been set, with sea and air borders effectively open for visitors and vessels from 1 August.

The move has been met with delight by the superyacht industry as the final step in New Zealand’s reopening, inviting visitors to return to the gateway to some of the most adventurous cruising in the world, and the renowned refit hub of the South Pacific.

Superyachts, their owners and crew, can now enter easily by land and sea, enjoying simple access to New Zealand’s safe shores, high-quality refit services and world-renowned scenery.
Foreign flagged yachts visiting New Zealand benefit from a superyacht-friendly framework that includes newly completed refit facilities, a 24 month Temporary Import Entry (TIE), and refit services and supplies which are exempt from New Zealand’s 15 per cent goods and services tax (GST).

New Zealand has spent the past two years expanding superyacht offerings across the country’s marine destinations, with additional inner city berthage in Auckland cementing its position as a leading city, globally, where superyachts can be moored in the heart of the CBD. In addition, the rapid expansion of New Zealand’s superyacht refit facilities have included a multi-year, large scale development of specialised superyacht refit facilities, including a new 820 tonne travel lift in the central city, adding to exisiting central Auckland haul out and slipway facilities which include 1500 tonne, and 600 tonne slipways and a 181 metre dry dock.

Central Auckland boasts 75 superyacht berths in close proximity to FBO airports and steps from award-winning hospitality precincts, with 40 berths for yachts between 25 and 40 metres LOA, and 30 berths capable of accommodating yachts between 40 metres and 100. For the largest yachts in the international fleet - those over 100 metres - Auckland has five berths designed to cater to their needs.

In the north of the country, the expansion of the Bay of Islands Marina with casual berthage available to visiting cruising yachts and a new 120 metre superyacht berth, is the first in a string of new facilities dotted down the country. Next along New Zealand’s coast is an expanded superyacht refit facility in Whangarei and the newly-enlarged Vessel Works haul out yard in Tauranga.

The reopening of New Zealand completes the traditional South Pacific loop for yachts, with most
superyachts favouring a journey which takes them through the islands of the Pacific, including beauty spots like Tahiti, Fiji, and then on to the peak of the South Pacific, New Zealand. There, they refit, bunker, provision, explore, charter, and often create a base over several seasons, before heading back into the Pacific and onward on their journeys.

The ultimate superyacht destination
The world’s most-southerly superyacht regatta, the NZ Millennium Cup will return in 2023. Taking place among the 144 islets of the Bay of Islands, it’s a four day celebration of camaraderie and fierce competition, set to a backdrop of daily dolphin vanguards and relaxed hospitality in one of the world’s great natural playgrounds.
Safe and secure berths designed specifically for superyachts can be found around New Zealand, with sub-tropical bays and islets to explore in the north of the country’s North Island, right down to mountains, fiords, and ancient fiords in the South Island.
To enable visitors to fully experience New Zealand, with its adventure around every headland, the 24 month TIE was created to enable foreign flagged yachts to clear into the country and cruise for two years, as well as charter for up to 65 per cent of their time in New Zealand, without paying duties and GST for 24 months after entry.

Two years perfecting the heart of Pacific superyachting
Through 2020 and 2021, the New Zealand superyacht industry turned inward to come back with a refined offering.
Auckland’s expanded superyacht refit facilities in the heart of the central city offer yachts a refit experience which is unrivalled across the region for proximity to the central city, size of travel lifts and haul out abilities, range of skilled on-site marine trades, sustainable water treatment plant, expansive hardstand, in-water workspaces, and on-site worksheds.

Additional refit facilities to the country’s north and south provide extra capacity to accommodate visiting yachts, in this nation designed around its extensive coastlines and seafaring history.

New Zealand’s packed summers of superyacht racing are set to continue with the release of the 2022 NZ Millennium Cup notice of race

Four superyachts have already declared their interest in racing in the world’s longest-standing southern hemisphere superyacht regatta, as the 2022 New Zealand Millennium Cup Notice of Race was released today.

The Notice of Race’s release comes at the tail end of an exceptional season of racing in New Zealand, with more to come in 2022. March’s 2021 edition of the New Zealand Millennium Cup was the icing on the cake of a yachting extravaganza which saw America’s Cup sailing vie with superyacht events for the attention of global yacht enthusiasts.

The coming year will once again draw the marine world’s eyes to New Zealand as superyachts take to the country’s waters in various events including the NZ Millennium Cup, a world-first superyacht fishing competition, and a series of regattas held by Auckland’s Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron.

“I now have the absolute best opinion of New Zealand. This event was thoroughly enjoyable, low key, great company and I will be remembering this for a long time to come”, said the owner of 45m S/Y Catalina.

Excitement is building for the series with one previous Cup entrant telling organisers he plans to purchase a larger yacht to enter the 2022 regatta.

The notice of race and entry form are online now and Millennium Cup sponsors have been quick to confirm their backing of the regatta. The Cup enjoys the support of high-calibre supporters from across the both marine and wider sectors, with long term sponsors including returning platinum sponsors Orams Marine, alongside last year’s Royal Huisman, with newer supporters like award winner EuroCity; recently named Volkswagen’s Customer Experience Excellence New Zealand Dealer of the Year.

The regatta was first held alongside the 2000 America’s Cup and is the longest running superyacht regatta in the South Pacific, garnering a reputation for its camaraderie and fierce competition. The race will run in 2022 from 14th to 17th February.

The final day of the NZ Millennium Cup was noticeably lacking in breeze, though entrants didn’t let that dampen spirits.

While the race committee worked to plan a race around the conditions, the fleet headed to Motuarohia Island to make the most of the beautiful weather; and the opportunity to swim with dolphins.

Unfortunately at 3pm the announcement was made to cancel racing for the day.

“Due to the unstable nature of current weather conditions, and the time which it would take to get underway before the cut off point, we will now display AP over A; no more racing today,” was the declaration from principal race officer, Harold Bennett.

The cancellation of today’s racing left plenty of time for competing yachts to enjoy some of the best of the Bay of Islands. The local dolphin pod has become a much-loved feature of the regatta and crew were thrilled to be joined by them as they cooled off in the turquoise Bay of Islands waters.

The race day turned into a fun day as crew dived into the waters of Motuarohia with curious dolphins watching on as they swung from halyards and dived from bow sprits.

Returning to the race’s HQ in Russell, Aschanti IV cruised through the other yachts already at anchor before Catalina shot off a cannon and whipping across the Bay towards Waitangi. With sails up and sailing strongly, spectators on the shore of Russell, Paihia and Waitangi were treated to the sight of the 1956 Burmester-built yacht in full flight.

Prizegiving was held at the Duke of Marlborough Hotel where Miss Silver was crowned the 2021 winner. The 36.2 metre Alloy Yacht won three of three races which were handicapped by the ORCsy using the PCS system; a first in superyacht regattas.

“The spirit of this regatta is like nothing I’ve ever seen before,” said Sean Whitney, captain of Catalina as the formalities came to an end and celebrations got underway.

The regatta, which has run from 28-31 March, is one of the must-do regattas on the world superyacht circuit and has garnered a reputation as a fun, hospitable, but fiercely competitive regatta. The Cup marks the final stanza in an exhilarating season of racing in New Zealand.

The regatta was first held alongside the 2000 America’s Cup and is now in its 15th year. It’s the longest running superyacht regatta in the South Pacific and has built a reputation for its camaraderie and fierce competition.

Planning is already underway for next year’s regatta, returning to Russell and the Bay of Islands from 14-17 February, 2022.

​The Tawera Rum Barrel Challenge is a much-loved feature of the regatta. Each year, yachts' crew swap their sails for oars, jump into skiffs and battle it out for the top prize; a 20 litre barrel of Mount Gay Rum. 

This year's race was no different. Catalina's team started strong in the first heat - before an in-boat tumble took a toll. Aschanti IV overcame questionable technique to be the first to return to the beach, though forgetting to run to to the barrel nearly cost them the race. Limited skill and plenty of enthusiasm made for an exciting tournament. Go Hard lost an oar in the finals, losing a likely lead, while Tawera's Foul Play powered ahead to take out the competition. 

The chicken-costumed crew celebrated in style - with the 20 litre barrel of Mount Gay Rum shared among competing crews via an ice luge overlooking a Bay of Islands sunset. Thanks to Mike and Tracey Mahoney for the generous use of their skiffs for this ever-popular competition. 

Day two, Boat International race day has come to a close at the New Zealand Millennium Cup.
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Brilliant and breezy was how Tawera owner, Mike Mahoney described the day which saw Miss Silver maintain the overall lead. After today’s two races, characterised by good breeze, an appearance by the local dolphin pod and close racing, Miss Silver emerged as the leader in the race for the 2021 Cup.

The first race of the day began with Aschanti IV crossing the line near to the committee boat, taking a high line across the Bay with Sassafras following; both heading smartly for the first mark.

The rest of the fleet crossed with an escort of dolphins to send them on their way. The day’s initial race proved close, with Catalina and Aschanti IV pressed together towards the second mark and Aschanti IV taking the upper hand around the mark.

While Sassafras took line honours in both races of the day, no-one could hold back Miss Silver and she was declared winner of race two and three, as well as winner overall so far.

The day finished with the hotly-contested Tawera Rum Barrel Skiff Race. Each year, yachts' crew swap their sails for oars, jump into skiffs and battle it out for the top prize; a 20 litre barrel of Mount Gay Rum. 

This year's race was no different. Catalina's team started strong in the first heat - before an in-boat tumble took a toll. Aschanti IV overcame questionable technique to be the first to return to the beach, though forgetting to run to the finishing barrel nearly cost them the race.

Limited skill and plenty of enthusiasm made for an exciting tournament. Go Hard lost an oar in the finals, losing a likely lead, while Tawera's Foul Play powered ahead to take out the competition - to much celebration by spectators on the beach.

The regatta, which runs from 28-31 March, is one of the must-do regattas on the world superyacht circuit and has garnered a reputation as a fun, hospitable, but fiercely competitive regatta. The Cup marks the final stanza in an exhilarating season of racing in New Zealand.

The regatta was first held alongside the 2000 America’s Cup and is now in its 15th year. It’s the longest running superyacht regatta in the South Pacific and has built a reputation for its camaraderie and fierce competition.

The regatta will be available to watch live at millenniumcup.com.

Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions have amendments issued, and can be found at millenniumcup.com.

On a rare rainy day in the Bay of Islands, Miss Silver took the first win of the NZ Millennium Cup on Orams Marine Race Day.

Racing in the 2021 Cup started today, putting to the test an innovative scoring system which is being used for the first time in a superyacht regatta. With the two leading yachts finishing within four seconds of each other, race officers are pleased with how the system is working.

Racing began under glowering skies, unusual in this part of the world, and saw returning competitor Aschanti IV cross the line first in the start sequence.
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The 1954 Burmester yacht has returned to the Cup, alongside captain Kalle Ebner, with both racing in the inaugural NZ Millennium Cup in 2000. However, her lead wasn’t to last for long, with former Cup champion Tawera passing her before the first mark after a higher line from the start saw her make good time towards the first rounding mark.

Catalina and Miss Silver rounded the first mark within one minute of each other, with Sassafras two minutes behind, setting the tone for a close race which remained tight until the end.

From the Nine Pin, the fleet gave spectators a glimpse of the quintessential NZ Millennium Cup sight; yachts dotted across the famous waters of the Bay of Islands as they stretched out for home.

Coming down to the final mark, Tawera and Miss Silver locked into battle before a gybe saw Miss Silver pick up more pressure close to the line. On corrected time they were just four seconds apart but it was Miss Silver who was declared the winner of the first day’s racing.

Guests gathered for an evening function sponsored by Propspeed, introduced by Nona Pedersen general manager of Propspeed, and with a wine tasting carried out in person by Josh Scott of Allan Scott Family Winemakers.

Owners and captains will be onsite at a breakfast briefing presented by Ocean Media on Tuesday morning, before Boat International Race Day begins and competitors dive further into the competition.
The regatta, which runs from 28-31 March, is one of the must-do regattas on the world superyacht circuit and has garnered a reputation as a fun, hospitable, but fiercely competitive regatta. The Cup marks the final stanza in an exhilarating season of racing in New Zealand.

The regatta was first held alongside the 2000 America’s Cup and is now in its 15th year. It’s the longest running superyacht regatta in the South Pacific and has built a reputation for its camaraderie and fierce competition.

The regatta will be available to watch live at millenniumcup.com.

Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions have amendments issued, and can be found at millenniumcup.com.

The NZ Millennium Cup is underway, with an innovative handicapping system new to superyacht regattas.

New Zealand's summer of racing continues, as the NZ Millennium Cup gets underway with a welcome function at the Duke of Marlborough, sponsored by Southern Spars. 

The Sunday evening function marks the start of the South Pacific’s longest-running superyacht regatta and also heralds a new era in superyacht ratings systems.

This year’s regatta promises to be particularly exciting with the introduction of a different handicap scoring method developed for superyacht racing by the Offshore Racing Congress (ORC). This is the first time it will be used in a superyacht regatta, though it’s used by ORC for non-superyacht regattas, and uses an average wind speed experienced on the race course and computed on the elapsed time around the course of the winning boat in corrected time. 

The new system; Performance Curve Scoring was adopted by the race’s handicappers (ORC) and competitors specifically for the NZ Millennium Cup regatta, with representatives of each yacht expressing excitement about the new method to be used in the coming week. 

At a pre-race briefing, principal race officer, Harold Bennett, expanded to competitors on the plans for the race. Citing the drive to ensure exciting racing, Bennett explained morning races would be windward/leeward around the Ninepin as the top mark, while afternoon races would be longer, using a combination of the many islands of the Bay of Islands, plus occasional buoys, to ensure yachts are tested with on the wind, reaching and downwind legs.

With racing formalities out of the way, owners, crew and guests settled in to enjoy the hospitality of the Duke of Marlborough, including Mount Gay Cocktails which were a nod to Russell’s colonial-era reputation as one of the wildest ports in the Pacific. With Mount Gay’s Missionary’s Downfall in hand, guests were regaled by Bruno Trouble, as they prepared for racing in one of the world’s great natural playgrounds to begin on Monday morning.

The regatta, which runs from 28-31 March, is one of the must-do regattas on the world superyacht circuit and has garnered a reputation as a fun, hospitable, but fiercely competitive regatta. The Cup marks the final stanza in an exhilarating season of racing in New Zealand.

The regatta was first held alongside the 2000 America’s Cup and is now in its 15th year. It’s the longest running superyacht regatta in the South Pacific and has built a reputation for its camaraderie and fierce competition.

The regatta will be available to watch live at millenniumcup.com.

Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions have amendments issued, and can be found at millenniumcup.com.

With the NZ Millennium Cup Welcome Function about to start, there was one annual tradition which needed to be observed - the Mount Gay Welcome cocktail. 

Each year Mount Gay creates a series of cocktails for the Cup, setting the tone and inviting owners, guests and crew to enjoy the regatta's on-land events. This year's welcome function cocktail paid homage to the wild and varied history of Russell. 

Named Missionary's Downfall, this minty mix was a nod to Russell's early European reputation as the hell hole of the Pacific. 

Missionary's Downfall

• Mount Gay Black Barrel
• De Kuyper Peach Schnapps 
• Lemon 
• Mint 
• Pineapple 
• Honey