Please select your home edition
Edition
Melges 15
Product Feature
Upffront.com - Facnor FX+2500 Continuous line furler
Upffront.com - Facnor FX+2500 Continuous line furler

SailGP cancel Auckland event four months before start - Auckland business reacts

by Richard Gladwell Sail-World NZ 22 Nov 2023 00:28 GMT 22 November 2023
NZSailGP was repaired an Event earlier than expected - SailGP Technologies - Lyttleton - March 2023 © Ricardo Pinto/SailGP

Auckland Council's Event arm Tataki Auckland Unlimited, has issued a media release stating that it "can confirm that SailGP has made the decision to not stage the event in Auckland in March 2024."

"Tataki Auckland Unlimited worked with SailGP to explore all possible options to stage the event here and, along with Auckland Council group, had solutions for SailGP’s on-water course and on-land seating plans," the statement continued.

"However, the unavailability of Wynyard Point land as a spectator facility proved to be a barrier to holding the event in Auckland. This land was part of SailGP’s original vision for the sailing competition."

The statement then continues to talk about other events that are on in Auckland.

The SailGP regatta would have been held on March 23-24, 2024, and would have been the highlight of the new Moana Auckland event which is running from February 23 to March 24, 2024.

"We are excited to showcase Auckland’s Waitemata Harbour and waterfront at the inaugural Moana Auckland, New Zealand’s Ocean Festival in February and March next year. Aucklanders and visitors can look forward to enjoying a range of activities and events, including the Millennium Cup superyacht regatta, Wooden Boat Festival, the popular Auckland Boat Show and the new World Manu Champs alongside some amazing entertainment for the whole family." the statement concluded.

At a recent launch function for Moana Auckland, it was made clear that Auckland lacked a continuity of major events, and that the Moana Auckland was proposed to plug that omission on an ongoing basis, with the objective of staging significant events in Auckland that would add to the region and marine industry profile.

Targets of several million dollars in economic return were mentioned.

The SailGP event, was tellingly not mentioned at the Moana Auckland launch function.

Reaction to the decision, and its implications for Auckland accommodation and hospitality businesses around the Wynyard Point and Viaduct Harbour are covered here

Auckland has hosted three America's Cups, for which major planning exercises were undertaken of possible venues, in 1988, 1995-96, 2017-19. The former Emirates Team New Zealand base, now released Viaduct Events Centre also hosted several Volvo Ocean Race stopovers, which included haulout of the fleet and sail servicing by the Volvo Ocean Race organization.

No comment has been made by the SailGP organisation.

It was claimed by Auckland Unlimited that the sticking point was the unavailability of space on Wynyard Point, alongside the for INEOS Britannia America's Cup base, now leased by Emirates Team New Zealand. It was claimed that SailGP wanted to be able to construct a 5,000 seat grandstand at the end of Wynyard Point, but a legal entanglement over the remediation of the area - formerly used for the storage of fuel and hazardous substances.

A full description of the remediation can be seen here www.ekepanuku.co.nz/projects/wynyard-point-bioremediation-works. Demolition on the site started around the end of the 2021 America's Cup. The website says that the Resource Consent for the remediation was granted in August 2022, and started in October 2022 and was expected to take nine months finishing in June 2022.

Originally Auckland Christchurch were to share the hosting of a New Zealand event. The 2023 Christchurch event was staged on Lyttleton Harbour earlier this year, and due to have been held again in 2025, with Auckland hosting 2024 and 2026. News bulletins in New Zealand today claimed that part of the Event Hosting fee that would have been paid to SailGP, have recently been allocated to fund a Cold Play concert in late 2024. There has been no comment from Mayor Wayne Brown, who is a longtime sailor and boat-owner, and a senior member of Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron.

Despite requesting a statement, Sail-World has not received any release or comment from SailGP. The event is still being shown on the SailGP website, as being staged in New Zealand, at a venue to be confirmed, on the original dates.

In a story in the Christchurch Press, the city is being urged to takeover the vacated event from Auckland. The Press claims there is an agreement with SailGP for an event fee of $1million per regatta staged, plus a further $500,000 of contribution in kind.

Related Articles

SailGP announces public tickets on sale today
For 2025 U.S. and select Europe events Tickets for six more of SailGP's 2025 events are live today, including all three U.S. events and three stops on the Rolex SailGP Championship's action-packed European summer calendar. Posted on 11 Dec
SailGP Women Performance Camp
Another milestone event for the global championship's 2025 Season calendar As the thrilling racing wrapped up from the Emirates Dubai Sail Grand Prix, presented by P&O Marinas, another milestone event for the global championship's 2025 Season calendar commenced - the SailGP Women's Performance Camp, delivered by DP World. Posted on 6 Dec
First SailGP action for Red Bull Italy SailGP Team
Making their debut at the Emirates Dubai Sail Grand Prix As the 2025 Season of SailGP kicked off this weekend, Red Bull Italy SailGP Team made their race debut in Dubai. Led by CEO & Founder Jimmy Spithill Posted on 25 Nov
Emirates Dubai Sail Grand Prix Overall
New Zealand claim season-opener Picking up where they left off in January, Peter Burling's 'Black Foils' have claimed their third consecutive win in the UAE, soaring ahead of the Emirates Great Britain and U.S. SailGP Team on the pristine waters of Port Mina Rashid. Posted on 24 Nov
SailGP: Day 2 - Kiwis have big payday
New Zealand, USA and Great Britain got their Season 5 away to a good start - making the Final New Zealand, USA and Great Britain got their Season 5 away to a good start - making the Final of Event 1, in Dubai. Posted on 24 Nov
Emirates Dubai Sail Grand Prix day 1
Familiar rivals Australia and New Zealand top the leaderboard SailGP's largest-ever fleet (11 national teams) descended upon Dubai's Port Mina Rashid for the official start of the 2025 Season of the Rolex SailGP Championship. Posted on 23 Nov
Race for the Rolex SailGP Championship begins
With the Emirates Dubai Sail Grand Prix this weekend This weekend, the most exciting racing on water returns to the iconic city of Dubai - marking the official start of SailGP's most expansive season to date. Posted on 22 Nov
Introducing the Red Bull Italy SailGP Team
Led by double Olympic gold medallist Ruggero Tita as driver The 12th and final team to join the most exciting racing on water ahead of the 2025 Season has been revealed today - the Red Bull Italy SailGP Team hits the startline this weekend at the Emirates Dubai Sail Grand Prix, presented by P&O Marinas. Posted on 21 Nov
The location of SailGP's UK return revealed
Portsmouth will welcome thousands of fans to the city's historic dockyard and harbor SailGP's long-awaited UK return will be hosted by the brand new location of Portsmouth when the Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix gets under way on July 19-20, 2025. Posted on 14 Nov
SailGP: Emirates signs a five year deal
Emirates signs global deal as well as sponsorship of the Great Britain Sail Grand Prix in Portsmouth The milestone deal includes Title Partnership of SailGP's 2025 season opening event in Dubai as well as the Great Britain Sail Grand Prix in Portsmouth next summer Posted on 14 Nov