The New Zealand Millennium Cup has a tradition of a skiff regatta; started by Mike and Tracy Mahoney, owners of Tawera. All yachts enter teams and the racing is just as fierce as on the Millennium Cup regatta course - and not even half as skilled. The prize? Twenty litres of Mount Gay Rum in a wooden barrel emblazoned with the regatta’s logo and designed to be used for celebrations during the regatta. 

The Challenge once again didn't disappoint, with crew taking to the wooden skiffs with gusto, enthusiasm - and clumsiness - all in pursuit of a 20 litre barrel of Mount Gay Rum. Sassafras' team A scored extra points for style as the only team to end up with a crewmember rowing the wrong way for some of the course, while Bianca Cook demonstrated her skills are multidisciplinary - looking comfortable from the outset. 

Four teams made it to the finals and, with Russell Beach lined with spectators to cheer them on, they were off on a running start. Dealing to the first leg in record time, things got rocky at the buoy as a clash slowed the Kawil team down. Nothing was slowing the Adele team down though, with her crew team A unstoppable as they stormed towards the rum barrel and the win.

A huge thanks to Mike and Tracy Mahoney for making this possible and their ongoing support of the regatta - we can't wait to see you back next year! ​

There were no complaints about a delayed start due to lack of wind on Boat International race day of the NZ Millennium Cup. The local dolphin pod joined the fleet at the start as has become their habit, keeping owners and crew entertained as they waited for the starter’s gun.

Regular, fierce competitor, 34metre Silvertip crossed the line exactly on the starter’s horn on the Bay of Islands course, impressing all spectator boats with her timeliness. She wasn’t the only one; Kawil and Sassafras had both made their own strong starts. ​

It was active, exciting racing. Adele took a high line, searching for wind as the rest of the fleet made its way towards the Black Rocks across the Bay, before tacking to head towards the Ninepin. Spectators were treated to plenty of tacking and gibing, each yacht choosing its own line as they fought for wind in the light airs.

Kawil and Silvertip turned towards the mark together and with an impressive surge of power, Silvertip was past Kawil. A slick slide around the Ninepin and she made the joust for position look like a jaunt.

Kawil wasn’t letting it go, though. As they came out from behind the mark, the bags were coming out, both raised their kites smartly and they were back to neck and neck. Lighter Kawil was heading for clear air and her run for the mark.

Adele wasn’t far behind. Fishermen dotted around Ninepin thrilled to the sight of the 54 metre’s giant red kite raised and flying as she headed for the Orams Marine mark. By the time she reached it, the big Vitters had overhauled Kawil to sit in second, before hunting down Silvertip on the home leg, to cross the line first, Silvertip behind her, then Kawil, then Royal Huisman-built Sassafras, before Janice of Wyoming.

At the end of day two, Kawil was the leader overall on points, though Adele’s wins weren’t over for the day.

The New Zealand Millennium Cup has a tradition of a skiff regatta; started by Mike and Tracy Mahoney, owners of Tawera. All yachts enter teams and the racing is just as fierce as on the Millennium Cup regatta course - and not even half as skilled. The prize? Twenty litres of Mount Gay Rum in a wooden barrel emblazoned with the regatta’s logo and designed to be used for celebrations during the regatta.

The Challenge once again didn't disappoint, with crew taking to the wooden skiffs with gusto, enthusiasm - and clumsiness - all in pursuit of a 20 litre barrel of Mount Gay Rum. Sassafras' team A scored extra points for style as the only team to end up with a crewmember rowing the wrong way for some of the course, while Bianca Cook demonstrated her skills are multidisciplinary - looking comfortable from the outset. 

Four teams made it to the finals and, with Russell Beach lined with spectators to cheer them on, they were off on a running start. Dealing to the first leg in record time, things got rocky at the buoy as a clash slowed the Kawil team down. Nothing was slowing the Adele team down though, with her crew team A unstoppable as they stormed towards the rum barrel and the win.

The 2020 regatta is raced from 28 January to 1 February and, as it has for the past several years, take place in the Bay of Islands.

This iteration of the regatta will be repeated into 2021 where it will evolve again as the J Class Association will join the event, to create a bumper regatta where up to 40 yachts are expected.

New Zealand’s only superyacht regatta has joined forces with Live Ocean; the charitable trust founded by Peter Burling and Blair Tuke with a focus on ocean conservation. 

Live Ocean’s vision is for New Zealand to become a leader in ocean health while the New Zealand Millennium Cup, raced in the country’s Bay of Islands, attracts superyacht owners who enjoy New Zealand’s unspoilt scenery and clear waters. Both organisations believe that we all have a responsibility of Kaitiakitanga, or guardianship, of the ocean.

Live Ocean aims to support and invest in promising marine science, innovation, technology and marine conservation projects and right now is raising funds to help save the Antipodean albatross, which could be gone in as little as 20 years. New Zealand is the seabird capital of the world, but shockingly 90 per cent of species are threatened with, or at risk of, extinction.

Donations made from New Zealand Millennium Cup participants through liveocean.com can be tagged NZ Millennium Cup to create a collective effort, with 100 per cent of donations to Live Ocean going towards projects.
“We know superyachts visiting our shores, as well as those based here appreciate how special our ocean environment is,” says organiser Stacey Cook. ​

“We’re thrilled to support Live Ocean and Peter and Blair’s initiative as they become part of the positive change for ocean health.”

As well as announcing Live Ocean as its official charitable partner, the NZ Millennium Cup is a certified Clean Regatta and has taken steps to ensure it’s minimising its impact on the environment for the duration of the event. Sponsors are also onboard. For example, sponsor Smuggler Marine has supplied keep cups in the owners’ bags while sponsor Benetti has supplied stainless steel water bottles and the regatta itself has given each yacht insulated drink bottles.

At the regatta’s race headquarters, the Duke of Marlborough, fish and produce is always sustainably-sourced, as well as locally-sourced wherever possible.

Racing for the 2020 edition of the regatta gets underway tomorrow amongst the 144 islets of Northland’s Bay of Islands.

The NZ Millennium Cup is in its 12th 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. It’ll be raced from the 29th January to the 1 February with the largest yacht taking part this year measuring 54.6 metres.

Royal Huisman build Sassafras will return to the race, as will fellow past competitors Silvertip and Janice of Wyoming, while new entrants Kawil, and 54metre Adele will take to the water. Entries have also rolled in for 2021 with Cilliam and Black Sails already entering, along with Janice of Wyoming, Kawil, Sassafras, Tawera, and Silvertip

On January 28, New Zealand’s Bay of Islands will start to fill with superyacht industry members from across the world. The region, known for its outstanding natural beauty, plays host annually to the New Zealand Millennium Cup regatta and once a year transforms from laidback New Zealand town to the focus of the superyacht world.

Yachts of the superyacht scene like Adele, Black Sails, Janice of Wyoming, Silvertip or Kawil appear on the horizon, while big name sailors such as Tom Dodson and Tom Schnackenberg, and globally-recognised companies like Orams Marine, Royal Huisman and Benetti Yachts roll into town.

The 2020 regatta will be raced from 29 January to 1 February and, as it has for the past several years, take place in the Bay of Islands. However its origins were in Auckland and in the past it’s been raced as far afield as Palma alongside its sister regatta, the Superyacht Cup.

This iteration of the regatta will be repeated into 2021 where it will evolve again as the J Class Association will join the event, to create a bumper regatta where up to 40 yachts are expected. With upwards of 30 race crew onboard each yacht in addition to her full time crew and owners and guests, the events will swell the numbers of small Bay of Islands town, Russell, where the regatta is headquartered.

The NZ Millennium Cup is in its 12th 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.

Off the back of the Superyacht Cup in Palma platinum sponsor Orams Marine’s managing director Craig Park said that “interest in racing south has matured into a driver - seasoned skippers and owners are looking to our shores for their next adventure as well as refit work.”

Its popularity is such that even when superyacht owners don’t compete, they’ll often take part. Tawera owners Mike and Tracy Mahoney are perfect examples. The multi-cup champions won’t compete with their yacht this year, but are returning to the regatta to lead the infamous skiff race.

Royal Huisman build Sassafras will return to the race, as will fellow past competitors Silvertip and Janice of Wyoming, while new entrants Kawil, and 48-metre Thalia will take to the water. Entries have also rolled in for 2021 with Cilliam and Black Sails already entering, along with Janice of Wyoming, Sassafras and Silvertip.

“Having been involved with most other superyacht regattas globally, I can honestly say that the 2018 Millennium Cup was the most enjoyable event I’ve ever done,” said captain of 2018 entry, S/Y Sassafras, Tim Michalick.

Platinum sponsors Royal Huisman and Orams Marine are both heavy-hitters in the industry - Orams Marine in New Zealand and Royal Huisman in the Netherlands - and use the regatta as a way to capture the attention of the superyacht industry.

Additional sponsors have joined the regatta including Benetti Yachts, Doyle Sails, Smuggler Marine and Bay of Islands Marina as gold sponsors, COAST, Breed Media, North Sails/Southern Spars, Events Clothing and Electronic Navigation Limited (ENL) as silver sponsors, and Holton Marine, Power Equipment, Coppercoat, Blue Marine Travel, Nautica Shipping, Robinson Interiors, Elite Marine Design and Attest Ltd as friends of the industry sponsors.

The notice of race was released earlier this year by the organising authority; the New Zealand Millennium Cup Committee and the New Zealand Marine Export Group Inc. under the auspices of the Russell Boating Club, and can be found on the NZ Millennium Cup website. Millennium cup.com/notice-of-race.html