The final race of the 2025 NZ Millennium Cup has come to a close and Kawil has been named overall series winner.
The 2020 champion put in a strong performance throughout the regatta, securing two first placings over four races. However coming into the final race it was Sea Eagle, Sassafras, and Sharlou all within striking distance of a win, as the third and final day of racing got underway. But the two Royal Huisman yachts couldn’t hold off Kawil’s charge to be champion. The 34 metre nailed the final race off Rakino island on a perfect Auckland day, and cemented her place as a two time NZ Millennium Cup winner. “It was a great race, we had a lot of fun, and are simply proud to be part of the group that’s here,” said Kawil’s owner as he accepted the 2025 NZ Millennium Cup. “Everybody loved it here, and at the risk of sounding like the Oscars, thanks to all the crew who made it possible, and thank you to the sponsors down here in New Zealand who make it possible for all of us to come down here and enjoy ourselves.” In the Pacific Cup Class, Hikurere won decisively after tight racing with Lion New Zealand over the three day series. The two yachts in the Pacific Class Cup manned by young, keen crew showed the bright future of New Zealand sailing, with Lion New Zealand and third place Innismara finishing within a minute of each other. “Innismara has had a fantastic regatta and we’re very grateful for the Pacific Cup and competition,” says Innismara’s Olivia Wimsett, though she warns the Innismara crew’s mentors on bigger yachts should be on watch for next year’s regatta. “The after-guard on the superyachts better watch out, we’re coming for them.” On the Hauraki Gulf waters that have produced a nation of sailors, this year’s NZ Millennium Cup fleet saw intense racing across the generations with venerated sailing names like Tom Schnackenberg, Mike Toppa and Tom Dodson, competing with young guns from the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron. With the changeable Auckland weather in full swing, the ORC’s Zoran Grubisa was on-site to ensure a high-standard of handicapping. “This certainly puts Auckland and New Zealand on my list of favourite places to be and I’m looking forward for future cooperation,” said Grubisa, giving his thanks to the management team. The NZ Millennium Cup will return in 2026, but whether Kawil returns to defend her title remains to be seen.
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On a day of light airs and a swift course around Rakino Island, Kawil made her move from second to first place overall on the second day of the NZ Millennium Cup.
After Sea Eagle’s show of dominance on the first day of the regatta, Kawil didn’t waste the opportunity to show her strength in Auckland’s changeable conditions; pushing the big 81 metre down into third place. Sea Eagle’s fellow Royal Huisman-built yacht Sassafras, showed her skill on her local waters, with the Auckland-based yacht making light work of moving into second place overall. The race’s corrected time showed just how close the two big yachts of the competition were, with Janice of Wyoming and Sea Eagle clocking a time difference of five seconds between them. “Sassafras’ owners and crew are rapt with our performance after two days of enjoyable sailing,” says Sassafras captain, Matt Lovett. “We’re excited to be in the mix at the top of the leader board, and will be racing to win on day three.” In the Pacific Cup Class, there was plenty of rumbling between the young guns on Lion New Zealand and the masters onboard Steinlager 2; both yachts presented by the NZ Sailing Trust. The effervescent energy of Lion New Zealand’s young sailors proved too strong, with the keen crew crossing the start line right on the horn and taking the award for best start of the day. They were quick, but not fast enough to take top spot; nipping in closely behind Hikurere which took the class win, but it was the battle between Steinlager 2 and Kinetic which was a real head-turner. Over a short race, the two Pacific Cup Class yachts finished within 15 seconds of each other, with Steinlager 2 just beating Kinetic to fourth place. At the evening's prize giving and happy hour, presented by Port Denarau Marina and Tahiti Tourisme, prizes were presented for stand out performances on the track. "We love to work together as a Pacific destination and we look forward to welcoming you all to Tahiti and to Fiji." Janice of Wyoming picked up the prize for most-consistent and well-oiled crew, while Kawil's owner was on hand to accept the prize for winner of the day. "It's always a good day racing on this course." At the end of two days of competition, there are three yachts in the running to win the top spot in the NZ Millennium Cup. Racing continues on Tuesday, to decide the ultimate winners for 2025. As the first day of the 2025 NZ Millennium Cup got underway, there was no stopping Sea Eagle’s romp to victory.
The New Zealand Millennium Cup is underway and Sea Eagle has taken the win on day one in the Auckland regatta. Orams Marine race day marked the opening of the regatta, which runs from 1-4 February, on the waters of Auckland’s Waitemata Harbour. “With ten yachts competing, and regatta debuts out on the water, we can’t wait to see how the competition unfolds this year,” says organiser Stacey Cook. It was a day of two races on day one of the 2025 edition of the Cup, and a two-yacht race at the line. The big 81 metre Royal Huisman looked in control as she took the win on the first race of the day - her first ever regatta event - and then secured a second place as Kawil took the top spot in race two, with only two seconds between them on corrected time. “It’s the first regatta for Sea Eagle and the crew absolutely nailed it, we’re thrilled,” said a Sea Eagle representative. After light airs during the practice days, Auckland’s breeze filled in and racing started promptly at 11am with yachts racing on a triangle course from the Hauraki start line. At the end of day, at Yachting Developments’ happy hour and prize giving, NZ Millennium Cup entry Sharlou picked up the prize for best start in her class, crossing the line within four seconds of her start time, while Innismara was crowned fastest over the line in the Pacific Cup Class. Overall results in the NZ Millennium Cup after day one see Sea Eagle in first place, with Kawil close behind and Sassafras in third, with everything still to play for by the fleet. In the Pacific Cup class, competition was just as intense with Hikurere and Lion New Zealand battling it out for first place in both races. However it was Hikurere who managed to take the win in both races with a mere one second separating the two on corrected time in the first race of the day. “We’ve got a fantastic crew and had great weather, it’s been a lovely, enjoyable day on the water,” said Hikurere’s owner when asked about the win. Racing continues on Monday and Tuesday, as the yachts battle for top spot in Auckland. The NZ Millennium Cup has begun, with regatta visitors welcomed to the city by Auckland’s mayor.
The world’s most-southerly superyacht regatta is underway tonight, with Auckland’s mayor welcoming the fleet to the City of Sails. “We’d love to warmly welcome and acknowledge our visitors to the city of sails,” said mayor Wayne Brown. “It was a special treat to meet the owner of Janice of Wyoming who’s been a visitor to our city for many years. The course has been designed to showcase the beautiful Hauraki Gulf, and explore its gulf islands.” “Enjoy the hospitality and all the city had to offer, enjoy the regatta, and I’m looking forward to the racing.” Superyacht visitors injected $212m into the New Zealand economy in the 2023/4 season, and this key market is promoted via attraction initiatives like the New Zealand Millennium Cup. Regatta organisers, Peter Busfield and Stacey Cook welcomed owners, captains and crew to the 15th edition of the regatta at an event on Auckland’s waterfront, sponsored by Southern Spars. As the sun set over the Hauraki Gulf, personalised bags from Silver Sponsor Coast were presented to each yacht to commemorate the regatta with one of the coveted New Zealand brand’s signature pieces. “Have a good evening, but more importantly have a good race,” said Peter Busfield, NZ Marine CEO. At the welcome function, yachts were presented with the coveted Coast New Zealand bags which have become a signature of the regatta. First to be welcomed to the regatta was Janice of Wyoming, with her owner noting it was the 15th year the Alloy Yachts-built yacht had competed. “It was a special treat to meet the owner of Janice of Wyoming who’s been a visitor to our city for many years,” added Mayor Brown. The regatta attracts yachts with adventurous tendencies as they journey to New Zealand to take part in the world’s most-southerly superyacht regatta. The regatta is raced on Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf, an historical sailing tie-in that isn’t lost on entries. The fleet will be taking on the Auckland conditions which have been enjoyed by the world’s leading yachtsmen in America’s Cup and Round the World races, and experiencing the beauty of a harbour which turned a nation into sailors. Many of those sailors will be familiar with both Lion New Zealand and Steinlager 2. Presented by the NZ Sailing Trust, the two yachts have played key roles in New Zealand’s sailing history and this year will represent the NZ Sailing Trust’s work to empower New Zealand youth through sailing adventures. |
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February 2025
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