The 2020 edition of the New Zealand Millennium Cup has been attracting unprecedented interest from the international superyacht market as it heralds the start of a bumper series of superyacht events leading into the 36th America’s Cup.

The most-recent big name to come onboard is Italian superyacht powerhouse, Benetti Yachts, which joins last month’s signing, Royal Huisman. ​

“Benetti is very pleased to join the New Zealand Millennium Cup. Sailing is a global sport and leisure culture enjoyed by many and as a global brand in the maritime sector we are pleased to support the yachting community in this way,” says Peter Mahony - Asia Pacific general manager at Benetti Yachts.

“With the 36th America’s Cup fast approaching for New Zealand, we see the opportunity for superyachts to explore the amazing South Pacific and we hope this will include many Benetti yachts. 

“We look forward to the regatta and wish everyone involved a wonderful and memorable event.”  

The 2020 regatta will be raced from 29 January to 1 February and is rapidly building towards a bumper edition with New Zealand’s summer yachting season already showing signs of being busy, as America’s Cup fever hits.

A large American sponsor is due to join the major Italian and Dutch signings from the past two months, with an announcement expected early in January.

“It’s a point of pride for New Zealanders to take excellent care of their guests, or manuhiri,” says says organiser Stacey Cook, “and we’re all looking forward to opening up our very special part of the world to our international yacht and sponsor visitors.

“We see the addition of Benetti to the sponsorship family as a significant milestone for the event as we build towards 2021. It’s very rare for a motoryacht builder to be involved with an event that is built around a sailing event. It demonstrates the high level of interest we are receiving from the global superyacht industry and underpins the value we are creating for owners, guests and business both on and off the water.”

“We always advise refit clients to book well in advance as the yard is invariably full through the New Zealand season of August to May,” says Platinum sponsor Orams Marine’s Craig Park.”

“At the moment, that’s even more important than ever. It’s great to see so many yachts taking the time to cruise through the Pacific and make their way to New Zealand and we’re looking forward to introducing more of our international colleagues, peers and friends to the beautiful Bay of Islands when racing begins in February.”

Royal Huisman build Sassafras will return to the race, as will fellow past competitors Silvertip, Tawera, and Janice of Wyoming, and new entrant Kawil 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.

Additional sponsors have returned to the regatta including Doyle Sails, Smuggler Marine and Bay of Islands Marina as gold sponsors, COAST, Breed Media, North Sails/Southern Spars and Electronic Navigation Limited (ENL) as silver sponsors, and Holton Marine, Power Equipment and Attest Ltd as friends of the industry sponsors.

At the prize giving of the 2019 edition in February the owner of entrant, Freya described the regatta.

"It’s fantastic to come to this beautiful place, in this beautiful country, in the beautiful Bay of Islands. I’d like to say thank you for the hospitality and the wonderful, wonderful time.”

The regatta will take place amongst the 144 islets of the Bay of Islands in New Zealand’s Northland; a sub-tropical playground that has been a home to sailors since the earliest Māori voyagers arrived in New Zealand.

Its headquarters will be in the historic Duke of Marlborough Hotel which received New Zealand’s first liquor license in 1840.

“There’s no better place in the world to sail,” said Marcus Blackmore in 2018, owner of the year’s champion Ammonite.

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

Few can lay claim to having worked every grape harvest in Marlborough, but Allan Scott can.

We've been proud to be associated with Allan Scott over several years and are very excited to announce that Allan Scott himself will attend this year's regatta to conduct wine tastings in person. 

Allan Scott is one of the true pioneers and a name synonymous with New Zealand’s acclaimed Marlborough region, having planted the region’s first vineyard in 1973. In June 2011 he was awarded a Queen’s Birthday honour for services to the New Zealand wine industry.

Allan has nearly 40 years in the wine business, which makes him one of the most experienced people in Marlborough when it comes to growing, making and marketing wine. When Allan and his wife Catherine decided to settle here in 1973, (Cathy is a fifth generation Marlburian) Allan took a job with Montana working in their new vineyards. In 1980 he was head-hunted by Corbans to oversee the establishment of their Marlborough vineyards and to become part of the winemaking team.

This interest and passion for making wine eventually led to the establishment of Allan Scott Family Winemakers in 1990, making Allan Scott one of the first independent wineries in Marlborough.  The Allan Scott winery has seen some changes since then. Over the 29 years since its inception, the winery has evolved to keep ahead of the changing demands from the market, whilst still remaining a family business. Allan and Catherine oversee every aspect of the business and have entrusted the key operational elements to each of their three children – Josh (winemaking and COO), Sara (viticulturist) and Victoria (marketing). In the way Allan is a pioneer, Josh is an innovator and adventurer. He’s introduced modern techniques that have lifted Allan Scott wines even more and the two work closely to this day. 

"At Allan Scott, making great wine is a given, but by improving techniques and enhancing the environment we can protect our patch of Eden for the next generation. We’re big advocates of sustainable practices, and as an accredited member of Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand we go above and beyond to eliminate waste and pollution from our processes."  

"We’ve been part of Marlborough’s transformation from a place known for its sunshine into a region known for some of the best wines in the world. We’re committed to the future of this place and we love that we’re in a position where we can give back to our community; supporting several worthy causes both regionally and nationally."

Along with the core range of Allan Scott Estate wines, there is a méthode traditionnelle range and the family’s Scott Base Vineyard in Central Otago