​Day one of the first superyacht regatta of the year was raced in beautiful conditions and moderate breeze at the NZ Millennium Cup regatta today. With the first boat away at 11am, the fleet started off Tapeka Point with three minutes between each vessel on a course which would take them up the Bay to the Orams Marine Mark. 

Former winner, Tawera was first to start with Thalia following three minutes afterwards. Both crossed the start line a few seconds after their respective starts, while Sassafras behind them stormed over the line right on the blast of her starting horn. 

Freya achieved a tidy start and with Silvertip following suit, the NZ Millennium Cup 2019 was underway. The two ketches, Thalia and Tawera, took a lower line to the mark, heading out towards the iconic Nine Pin while the sloops took a higher approach. But it was Freya around the Orams Mark first, followed by Sassafras before Tawera followed suit, pursued closely by the media helicopter. 

Silvertip tacked twice, beating Thalia to the mark by around a minute, though the big ketch slowed on rounding. It soon became evident why. As she turned down the Bay and for home, a crew member could be seen making a quick trip up the rig. A kite went up but came down again and the 48.4metre was forced to slow on the second and final leg of the race. 

Ahead, Tawera had taken a starboard line and hit a patch of light air approaching Tapeka Point. The size of Silvertip’s kite showed as she chased Sassafras and Freya downhill though it was Freya across the finish line first as the drama unfolded behind her. Silvertip and Sassafras locked in to battle. Neck and neck, it looked like Silvertip would take the edge, but she hit a patch of soft air and it was Sassafras who won their duel to cross in the lead. Freya could be seen polishing her transom nameplate as race management announced corrected time results. It was Tawera first, then Freya, with Sassafras just eight seconds behind her. However it was to be the last race of the day for Sassafras. The 34metre Royal Huisman was forced to withdraw from the regatta when technical troubles hit. 

The second race of the day was designed to challenge over a course of 26nm. The starting order stayed the same and it was Freya home first again, though this time Silvertip came across the line behind her with plenty of space to breathe. It was mighty Thalia who won on corrected time though, in a drastic reversal of fortune after her first race and spectators thrilled to see the big ketch thundering across the finish line. 

As the Orams Marine Race Day drew to a close, owners, crew and sponsors gathered in the Duke of Marlborough. Famed New Zealand yachting broadcaster Peter Montgomery was on hand to announce the winners of the day and it was Tawera and Freya tied for first, followed by Thalia and Silvertip on corrected scores for the evening. 

Sassafras’ owners received a rousing cheer as they calmly announced that though they might have been forced to withdraw, they were confident they could win Friday’s Tawera Rum Barrel Skiff race. Then it was on to the festivities as sponsors Scapegrace Gin and Mount Gay rum flowed and the tales and ribbing between competitors followed suit. 

Racing continues on Friday morning New Zealand time when Boating International Race Day will get underway. 

From the first country in the world to see the sun each day, comes the first superyacht regatta of 2019, which kicks off 30 January. 

At the top of the North Island of New Zealand lies what is referred to as one of the world’s great natural playgrounds. The Bay of Islands is formed of 144 islets and, from 30 January to 2 February, it will host a fleet of superyachts racing through its emerald waters and tearing  around its sand-fringed shores.

A series of courses will display the cruising ground to its best advantage while giving some of New Zealand’s best sailors a chance to show off their home turf, as rockstar international race crew fly in for the competition.

“Doyle Sails New Zealand is especially looking forward to this year’s NZ Millennium Cup under the ORC Superyacht Rule (ORCsy). It’s always been such a pleasure to be a part of this world-class regatta and now it will be recognised under a world-class rating system,” says Doyle Sails’ Mike Sanderson, former winner of the ISAF Sailor of the Year Award. 

The ORC Superyacht Rule promises exceptionally close racing, with ORC officials joining the race-management team on the water and courses designed for race excitement.

​"Short courses with three start options along with one long course promise to provide variety as the regatta progresses, and gives race management flexibility to work with New Zealand’s changeable conditions to create fierce, fun racing,” says NZ Millennium Cup Race Officer of the Day, Harold Bennett. 

The Cup is in its 11th edition this year, 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.

With America’s Cup racing returning, they’re expecting to see a number of visiting spectator yachts enter the NZ Millennium Cup, pushing fleet numbers to an estimated 50 or more.

“We’re pleased to welcome back our long time supporters, Sassafras, Tawera and Silvertip as well as new entry Freya and returning entry Thalia. They’re very evenly matched so we’re looking forward to an epic showdown, says Cup organiser, Stacey Cook.

Royal Huisman-built Sassafras cuts an elegant figure on the Bay of Islands waters and is much-loved for her grace around the course.

“Being a regular visitor to the Bay of Islands makes the NZ Millennium Cup a great way to enhance our time in this stunning part of New Zealand,” says Sassafras Captain Tim Michalick. 

"We have raced the NZ Millennium Cup multiple times with Silvertip since its first edition in 2000, and won it twice. It is always a special event which deserves much more success. Racing in the Bay of Islands surrounded by a dolphin pod playing at the bow is always a treat, the organisation is flawless, the scenery second to none and the racing quite competitive. Any superyacht cruising in the Pacific should make a point doing the NZ Millennium Cup, says the owner of 33.8metre entry, Silvertip. 

Competing since 2016, Tawera and her owners and crew have become favourite figures on the course with their all-in approach to racing coupled with a sense of camaraderie, fun and inclusiveness that has helped shaped the regatta to what it is today. Tawera is a two-time winner of the Cup and will be going into racing keen to regain her title. 

New entry Freya was completed in 2012 and was the 2000th Swan to be built. Freya is a high-performance yacht used for both competitive racing and extended cruising and has exhibited strong performance in previous regatta appearances, including in the Rolex Swan Cup, the Palma Superyacht Cup and the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup. 

This year will also see the NZ Millennium Cup welcome back an old friend in S/Y Thalia, which last competed in the regatta in 2009. At 48.4metres, the Vitters-built and Ron Holland-designed ketch will be a graceful silhouette on the Bay of Islands courses and, having recently undergone a refit with Orams Marine, she's fighting fit and ready to race.

Clean regatta. 
On-water the racing will be relentless, but the regatta is proud to announce it has become a certified Clean Regatta to ensure it’s gentle on the environment. That means no single use plastic, minimised paper waste, stringent recycling and a number of other initiatives.

“Our beautiful environment and natural heritage play a huge part in what makes the Cup so special and it was a no-brainer to make sure we’re doing everything we can to protect this spectacular part of the world. From reusable metal water bottles for every yacht, to banning single use plastic, we feel very positive about becoming a Clean Regatta,” says organiser Stacey Cook.

App 
An app - find it at nzmillenniumcup.teamapp.com - has been added to help overseas spectators keep up with events and ensure yachts are instantly informed of updates or race changes.

Change of dates
The regatta dates have been moved back by one week to see it run one week after local regatta, Bay of Islands Sailing Week, giving organisers space to add new and challenging courses.

The regatta’s future
“There’s no better place in the world to sail,” said 2018 New Zealand Millennium Cup winner Marcus Blackmore, owner of Ammonite as he accepted his prize in January last year.

The New Zealand Millennium Cup attracts yachts with a penchant for adventure and is lauded by entries for the sense of camaraderie found in this part of the world - part of the draw for yachts already lining up to be involved in years to come. “We’re already receiving entry enquiries; for 2020 and 2021,” says event organiser, Stacey Cook.

“The J Class Association has also accepted our invitation to race in 2021 and we know having the strikingly-elegant classic yachts race alongside the NZ Millennium Cup will add an extra dimension to our racing.”