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 

The countdown is on, as the South Pacific’s longest-running superyacht regatta kicks off this weekend. ​

With an exceptional summer of racing underway in New Zealand, the final event of the season promises to wrap things up in style.

The New Zealand Millennium Cup kicks off on 28 March in one of the world’s best patches of yachtracing water. With world class crews and experienced owners and captains, superyachts will contest this final stanza in an exhilarating summer of yacht racing in New Zealand.

Former America’s Cup luminaries are set to join the event, which is known for battles on the track, and hospitality off it, and which comes at the end of a season of racing which saw New Zealand successfully defend the America’s Cup.

Adding to the excitement is 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. 

“The ORC has fine-tuned its international superyacht handicap system specifically for our regatta to allow for boats of different sizes and sail configurations to race more fairly. We are very grateful for the huge amount of input from the entries and key stakeholders and are looking forward to using this new method,” says organiser Stacey Cook.

The regatta will run from March 28-31 and 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 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 garnered a reputation for its camaraderie and fierce competition.

With two Royal Huisman entries lining up to compete in this year’s NZ Millennium Cup, we take a look at the Royal Huisman pedigree which makes these competitors worth keeping an eye out for.

Royal Huisman has created hundreds of vessels since the shipyard was founded in 1884. From the delivery of Whirlwind XII, the shipyard’s first superyacht, in 1986, a total of 33 yachts over 30m/100ft have been delivered. Each yacht is a one-off; classic, modern or contemporary, power or sail, based on the designs of an array of well-known naval architects and designers for owners seeking the best available.

The key qualities these architects and designers have in common are a reputation for innovation, a high level of quality, and exceptional attention to detail. A Royal Huisman yacht is designed and constructed to be as trouble-free and operationally efficient as can be, in response to the testing environment of the world's oceans. 

Royal Huisman cleverly combines its own most important asset (a large in-house team, across a wide range of disciplines) with a selection of specialist partners, whose knowledge and involvement complement the shipyard’s intellectual capital.

The realisation of an exceptional custom yacht from the seeds of a dream presents an exciting challenge for talented minds and skills-rich hands. Benefitting from decades of experience in the creation of high performance race yachts, cruising yachts and luxury superyachts, Royal Huisman has adopted very effective responses to this challenge, encompassing a flexible yet integrated range of skills and resources.

Sailing a Royal Huisman yacht is an experience like no other, whether you’re the one at the wheel – benefitting from its performance, handling and balance in demanding conditions – or the one delighting in its finish and comfort at an idyllic anchorage. Small but important details of design and construction reveal themselves over time and affirm the value engineering that is inherent in every Royal Huisman yacht.

See Royal Huisman’s Whirlwind XII and Sassafras compete in this year’s NZ Millennium Cup.

With the New Zealand Millennium Cup due to start tomorrow, organisers have elected to postpone the regatta in response to an elevated Covid alert level across New Zealand.

New Zealand Millennium Cup organisers have elected to postponed the regatta to March 2021.

With the event due to start tomorrow, organisers have postponed the Bay of Islands regatta due to precautionary Covid restrictions across the country. Racing will now be held 28 - 31 March in Russell, returning to the regatta’s Duke of Marlborough headquarters.

The regatta is run by the NZ Marine Export Group and promotes New Zealand’s cruising grounds and marine industry to international and domestic superyachts.

“As an event run to further the interests of the New Zealand marine industry, we feel a keen responsibility to our industry, superyacht owners, guests and crew, sponsors and the wider community to ensure we are taking every precaution possible,” says NZ Marine CEO, Peter Busfield.

“Postponing until late March allows us to still run an excellent event, supported by our sponsors, and our hosts, the Duke of Marlborough Hotel. Organisers expect the event to be well-supported by superyacht entrants post-America’s Cup .”

The regatta was first held alongside the 2000 America’s Cup, and was due to run from 15-18 February, 2021. It’s the longest running superyacht regatta in the South Pacific and has garnered a reputation for its camaraderie and fierce competition.

Coppercoat Pacific Limited will be making major announcements in the coming months, due to the success of its first 12 months in business. 

Coppercoat Pacific was begun in response to a lack of change within the traditional antifoul market. Antifoul is damaging to seabeds and has limited staying power; factors next-generation product, Coppercoat addresses. 

After introducing Coppercoat to the market last year, the company has now perfected a system that provides years of protection with a durable shell protecting all underwater sections of the boat. 

This change is brought about by the addition of best-of-type underwater surfaces coatings that complement Coppercoat Multi-Season Antifoul Coatings, creating an unrivalled, integrated, high-performance underwater surfaces coating system.

"Coppercoat is internationally acknowledged as the most environmentally-responsible antifoul coating in the world. Add to that our anti-foul remover, anti-corrosive primer and high-build barrier coatings fully embrace our ethic of only providing high-efficacy solutions to vessel owners with products that also help restore and protect our oceans and marine life," says Coppercoat Pacific's Richard Cleave. 

The largescale changes set to be announced in April will cement the work of Coppercoat Pacific which, over the last 12 months, has drastically improved anti-pollution, durability, and efficacy outcomes which New Zealand and Australian boats can expect from their coating systems. 

Subsurface Coating System
System characteristics include:

• Ablative antifoul removal with solvent-free, inert, non-toxic, non-corrosive biodegradable product. Eliminates damage caused to gelcoat and barrier coats often associated with abrasive blasting removal. Environmental pollution is eliminated. 

• 80% solids, self-priming, two-part epoxy anti-corrosive primer for aluminum, steel and lead substrates.

• 100% solids, solvent-free, two-part epoxy high-build barrier coat for all substrate types.

• Coppercoat Superyacht, Coppercoat Commercial and Coppercoat Multi-Season Antifoul Coatings have proven efficacy against biofouling for ten or more years. Coppercoat products comprise 100% pure recycled, ultrafine copper powder suspended in a water miscible two-part epoxy. They are solvent-free and contain no non-copper biocides. Coppercoat is impermeable, non-eroding and exceptionally durable providing substrate protection not available in ablative or foul-release antifouling.

• The two-part epoxy composition of Coppercoat can eliminate the time and cost of applying multiple undercoats and tie coats.

• The MAZU primer, MAZU barrier coating and Coppercoat can be applied in a continuous sequence creating a chemical bond between each coating. The chemical bond is infinitely stronger than a physical key created by sanding and sanding between coats is eliminated. 

• Application of the system in a continuous sequence and the elimination of tie coats, undercoats and sanding between coatings frequently reduces hardstand and underwater coating durations by days or weeks.

Technical Support and Certified Applicators

• Coppercoat Pacific's people are highly qualified and thoroughly committed to providing the highest levels of technical expertise and support to its clients. 

• Project specific Preparation and Application Guideline Procedures are prepared for each project.

• A program for certification of professional applicators and boatyards in specific regions throughout New Zealand is presently in progress. Preparation and application by certified applicators and boatyards only are designed to provide certainty that vessel owners and stakeholders will benefit from all attributes available from the system.

Donations, Sponsorships and Associations

Adding to its efforts to protect the oceans around us, Coppercoat Pacific also; 

• is a donor to Sailors of the Sea (world leading ocean conservation organisation).

 

• is a recognised member of the New Zealand Marine Industry Association, a sponsor of the New Zealand Millennium Cup and LIVE OCEAN and an Official Supplier to the PRADA Cup – Challenger of Record America’s Cup 36.

The NZ Millennium Cup returns in February, marking the first superyacht regatta since early 2020.

The regatta is raced amongst the bays and coves of the Bay of Islands; the historic heart of New Zealand’s maritime life. Designed as a showcase of the best of New Zealand, it introduces superyacht owners to the New Zealand of warm welcomes, relaxed hospitality and outstanding scenery.

When this year’s edition kicks off on 15 February, it will be with a line up of entries boasting impressive regatta credentials. Classic yacht, 34.8 metre, Aschanti IV joins the regatta after racing in the inaugural regatta in 2000, and will bring her elegant, traditional lines to the course as well as a wealth of regatta experience. Close in size to Aschanti IV, though not in appearance, 36.2 metre Miss Silver, is a sloop with the modern exterior lines of a Dubois design.
Like Miss Silver, fellow entry Silvertip is built to a Dubois design, and was created in New Zealand. She’s a repeat campaigner which has become a firm favourite on the course with spectators for her all-in approach to winning, as well as adding immensely to the fun of the regatta off the course.

Royal Huisman-built Sassafras is all style and grace during racing, and will be looking forward to meeting fellow former competitors, Silvertip and Tawera come February. She’ll be joined by Royal Huisman’s Whirlwind XII; an elegant sloop which promises to bring a new dimension to this year’s line up.

Noted by other competitors is Tawera. The previous winner of multiple editions of the Cup not only has a knack for quick performances; the yacht’s owners and crew bring with them a fleet of wooden skiffs and annually throw down a challenge to other crew to take a pause from wind-power and pick up the oars in competition.
For local companies like ENL, making waves with its WASSP software which allows superyachts to generate their own navigational data while exploring uncharted waters, it provides an opportunity to see international clients on their home turf.
The Tawera Rum Barrel race has become a fixture of the regatta in recent years. Held on the second day of racing, crews gather on Russell’s beach for a bombastic competition which includes flying oars, dubious skill and plenty of tumbles. The prize is a hotly-contested 20 litre barrel of Mount Gay Rum.

The NZ Millennium Cup serves as an opportunity to showcase New Zealand as a destination to cruising superyachts, as well as highlight the innovation and experience within the local superyacht sector. It’s headquartered at the historic Duke of Marlborough hotel in Russell, which has been a hub of New Zealand’s marine activity since Māori first arrived in voyaging waka around 700 years ago, followed by European whalers - making the town the largest whaling port in the Southern Hemisphere for a period of time - in the early 1820s.

Running from 15-18 February, 2021, the NZ Millennium Cup regatta is organised by the NZ Marine Export Group and is the longest running superyacht regatta in the South Pacific.

The first superyacht regatta in almost a year is looking to add another string to its bow as it reaches for new sustainability credentials.

The New Zealand Millennium Cup kicks off in under two months, and when the regatta begins on 15 February, it aims to lead sustainability efforts in global superyacht regattas.

The Cup has applied for Gold Clean Regatta status, in recognition of its efforts to create an event which is easy on the Bay of Islands surrounds that it’s raced in. Sustainability efforts during the South Pacific superyacht regatta include swapping plastic water bottles for reusable alternatives, encouraging the use of biodegradable sail ties, partnering with a sustainability-minded restaurant for regatta HQ, re-using regatta promotional materials, and partnering with ocean-focused charities and sponsors.

Platinum sponsor, Orams Marine likewise has a focus on the health of our oceans, installing an industry-leading water treatment system in its Auckland superyacht yard. The multi-layered system ensures water used during yacht refit, as well as yard stormwater runoff, is free of contaminants. An in-built water treatment plant separates and treats wastewater and stormwater collected across new hardstand and covered work areas now under construction. The Orams Marine team worked with sustainability experts prior to the build’s start, with the goal of setting a new shipyard industry standard of discharge water quality, protecting the Waitematā Harbour and New Zealand’s environment longterm.

Gold sponsor Benetti also has its own focus on the environment.

“Benetti is deservedly proud of its heritage of delivering beautiful, reliable, technologically advanced and innovative yachts, ideal for partaking in adventures to the most exciting corners of the world and now with a growing intelligent approach to sustainability. ” says  Peter Mahony, APAC General Manager at Benetti Yachts.

North Sails of gold sponsor duo North Sails and Southern Spars, was the first sailmaker to aggressively pursue more sustainable manufacturing processes, and it continues to put its expertise to work to pursue a more sustainable production footprint. 

“Our Second Lap project is a commitment by the North Materials division to substitute, where possible, viable “upstream” raw materials from recycled sources when manufacturing sails and components,” says Tom Davis, head of North Sails’ North Materials.

“Working with a partner in Sri Lanka, North Sails is producing polyester fibre from discarded PET bottles. This new material is in trials to be used as webbings, cordage, and the woven material used to make our iconic sail ties and blue sail bags. The bottles used in this new material are sourced in Sri Lanka and woven at the North Sails Sri Lanka manufacturing loft, minimising the transport of the plastic itself.”
​
The regatta takes place in Northland’s pristine Bay of Islands, where fellow gold sponsor, Bay of Islands Marina features two modern, solar-powered recycling centres, with a sustainable approach which includes recycling water for boat washdowns.

Running from 15-17 February, 2021, the NZ Millennium Cup regatta has become a stand-out event on the world superyacht circuit, featuring a relaxed, warm approach to hospitality and fiercely competitive racing.

The NZ Millennium Cup’s first edition was in 2000 and it was first raced as an adjunct to the 30th America’s Cup in Auckland. Now, with the 36th America’s Cup approaching, organisers have been excited to see an increase of interest both in the regatta and in New Zealand’s wider cruising grounds.

The notice of race and entry forms are now available at millenniumcup.com or by contacting stacey@nzmarine.com.

With three months to go until the New Zealand Millennium Cup begins, new entries are rolling in.

The South Pacific’s longest running superyacht regatta will be the first global superyacht regatta held in close to a year, marking a moment for the industry to gather and for owners, guests and crew to enjoy competitive, fun racing.

Veteran of the world’s classic regattas, Aschanti IV has taken up the challenge and entered, alongside New Zealand-built boat, Miss Silver. Royal Huisman’s 31 metre Whirlwind XIII is the second Royal Huisman entry, joining 34 metre returning campaigner, Sassafras. Oyster yacht, Firebird is another adventurous yacht which has joined the racing; the world-cruising sloop boasts a performance deck and rig package and has previously claimed victory in the Oyster Palma Regatta.

The new entrants join a line up of yachts already signed on to compete in the regatta, which takes place in the one of the globe’s greatest cruising grounds; the Bay of Islands, including previous winner of multiple editions, Tawera.

“We’re looking forward to taking competitors to the Bay of Islands in the north of New Zealand, to experience this incredibly-special part of the world,” says event manager Stacey Cook.   
“New Zealand in early 2021 will truly be the place to be for anyone passionate about exceptional yacht racing, and says Cook. “We’re looking forward to welcoming guests to this beautiful region.”
“If this isn’t heaven, then it’s just next door,” said sailing legend Peter Montgomery when describing sailing in the Bay of Islands in his role as regatta ambassador, and most entrants to the race agree with him.

The historic village of Russell is the gateway to the Bay of Islands and is also known as Kororāreka - or sweet penguin. Today, the little blue penguins that give it its name still wander up the beach to nest under the wooden boards of beachside buildings; many built when Europeans first arrived in New Zealand.

Race HQ is the Duke of Marlborough - an historic establishment which was the first place in New Zealand to be granted a license and which has been refreshing rascals and reprobates ever since - the perfect home for this regatta full of camaraderie, fierce racing and fun.

The NZ Millennium Cup’s first edition was in 2000 and it was first raced as an adjunct to the 30th America’s Cup in Auckland. Now, with the 36th America’s Cup approaching, organisers have been excited to see an increase of interest both in the regatta and in New Zealand’s wider cruising grounds.

The notice of race and entry forms are now available at millenniumcup.com or by contacting stacey@nzmarine.com.

The NZ Millennium Cup’ notice of race has just been released and the response has been quick with big names in superyacht regattas quickly entering

Some of the most well-known names in superyacht racing will head south for the 2021 New Zealand Millennium Cup, it’s been announced today.

Frequent competitors in global superyacht regattas like J Class Velsheda, Win Win, Pumula, Kawil, and Wavelength will join regular NZ Millennium Cup entries Silvertip, Tawera, Sassafras and Janice of Wyoming as they race in the world’s southernmost regatta.

Also joining them for the first time in the adventurous antipodean race will be Black Sails, Ciliam, Altair, Ammonite, Hetairos, and Anemoi, with the notice of race just released by organisers.

“The regatta is based in Russell, in New Zealand’s Bay of Islands which is an incredibly-special part of the world, and we’re expecting up to 35 yachts to enter,” says event manager Stacey Cook.   

“New Zealand in early 2021 will truly be the place to be for anyone passionate about exceptional yacht racing, and says Cook. With the highest concentration of superyacht events ever seen, we’re looking forward to welcoming guests to our very special part of the world.”

The Bay of Islands-based regatta will be followed by the RNZYS Mastercard Superyacht Regatta back in Auckland.

"Entries are lining up for the RNZYS Mastercard Superyacht Regatta where many of the NZ Millennium Cup fleet will continue their rivalry,” says RNZYS’ Andrew Delves.

“If this isn’t heaven, then it’s just next door,” said sailing legend Peter Montgomery when describing sailing in the Bay of Islands in his role as regatta ambassador, and most entrants to the race agree with him.
The historic village of Russell is the gateway to the Bay of Islands and is also known as Kororāreka - or sweet penguin. Today the little blue penguins that give it its name still wander up the beach to nest under the wooden boards of beachside buildings; many built when Europeans first arrived in New Zealand.

Race HQ is the Duke of Marlborough - an historic establishment which was the first place in New Zealand to be granted a license and which has been refreshing rascals and reprobates ever since - the perfect home for this regatta full of camaraderie, fierce racing and fun.

The NZ Millennium Cup will be in its 13th edition in 2021 and was first raced as an adjunct to the 30th America’s Cup in Auckland. Now, with the 36th America’s Cup approaching, organisers have been excited to see an increase of interest both in the regatta and in New Zealand’s wider cruising grounds.

The notice of race and entry forms are now available at millenniumcup.com or by contacting stacey@nzmarine.com