Sailing

Auckland – the city of sails – will host three prestigious international sailing events in March 2010 during the Auckland Festival of Sail.

A rare visit from a humpback whale and her calf to Auckland’s marine doorstep has scientists and whale watchers very excited.

Clipper Round the World Yacht Race crews are back in racing mode after an action-packed stopover at Tauranga, in New Zealand’s Bay of Plenty.

Aucklanders are enjoying a sailing extravaganza on and off the water - with the America’s Cup silver trophy in town along with many of the world’s top sailors who’ve competed for it.

Auckland’s Waitemata harbour erupted with boat horns and cheers as the host team – Emirates Team New Zealand – scored a decisive 3-1 victory over top challenger Alinghi in the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series on Saturday (14.02.09).

Come summer 2009, international yachting fever will return to Auckland’s Viaduct Harbour as the world’s top racing yachties set sail in a new Louis Vuitton-sponsored yacht regatta.

Europe may be the setting for the 33rd America’s Cup currently underway in Valencia but New Zealand will be deep in the heart of the action – both on and off the water.

New Zealand yachties are excelling in home waters as the Auckland Festival of Sail moves into its second phase with the start of racing in the Louis Vuitton Series.

New Zealand boat builders are the toast of the international sailing community with the successful launch of the new AC45 catamaran – a scaled-down version of the boats to race in the next America’s Cup.

As Emirates Team New Zealand and Alinghi set sail in the final stages of the inaugural Louis Vuitton Pacific Series, the chances of the international yachting event happening again – and in Auckland - are growing stronger by the day.