Sailing

Sailing

New Zealand on the water

New Zealand is an island nation - two main populated islands surrounded by the ocean and hundreds of smaller, mostly tiny and uninhabited islands - so New Zealanders are never geographically far from the sea.

This maritime relationship has helped shape a nation that has made both business and pleasure of the water.

With some of the world’s best sailors and having excelled in every major international sailing event, New Zealand rightly boasts global dominance in yachting. And, as the 34th America’s Cup takes place in San Francisco, New Zealand will again be strongly represented both on and off the water.

New Zealand - a sailing nation

Examine any international yachting racing crew, and there's usually a Kiwi on board. For a small country, New Zealand is disproportionally represented at major sailing events.

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Yachting paradise

With nearly 16,000km of coastline and a climate that beckons people out of doors and onto the water, New Zealand is a boaties’ paradise.

Stunning cruising grounds, sheltered anchorages, plenty of on-the-water activity and the luxury of top quality food, wine, spas and sophisticated accommodation make for idyllic sailing holidays.

Auckland - the 'City of Sails' where Kiwis reveal their passion for the water in the huge number of craft on the harbour at weekends and evenings - has a sailing opportunity for everyone from experienced sea-adventurers on multi-day charters to beginners learning the ropes on an America’s Cup yacht, or enrolling in a short course at one of many yachting schools.

North of Auckland, the Bay of Islands is a dream sailing destination with charter yachts and excellent cruising grounds. In the South Island, the fiords of Marlborough Sounds offer idyllic sheltered cruising and a thousand secluded bays and beaches to discover.

NZ & the America’s Cup

Perhaps it is environment, geographical location, heritage or just the Kiwi ‘can do’ attitude but New Zealand punches well above its weight in the maritime world and repeatedly dominates international yachting competition - especially in major events like the America’s Cup.

As the 34th America’s Cup plays out in San Francisco, New Zealand will be strongly represented on and off the water with talent in every competing team as well as an impressive showcase of Kiwi expertise dockside.

New Zealand design innovation flows into marine architecture, sail making, boat building, spars, sails, composites, electronics and software, supporting a marine industry that has become one of the country’s largest manufacturing sectors - worth more than $2.2 billion in annual sales.