Louis Vuitton Trophy will run with Auckland International Boat Show

by Richard Gladwell on 4 Feb 2010
Louis Vuitton's Bruno Trouble has confirmed that the next Louis Vuitton Trophy regatta will take place in Auckland beginning on 10 March 2010.

At this stage, due to what are believed to be budget considerations, only two boats will be used between the eight teams competing. The Emirates Team NZ boats will be used, with one of the BMW Oracle Racing boats on standby. It is intended to sail four races a day, and there will probably be an hour for change over between each race, giving a total of eight hours on the water each day.

Overnight the full list of Louis Vuitton Trophy events werer announced for 2010. All other regattas in the Louis Vuitton circuit will use a full four boats, as were used for the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series in Auckland earlier this year.

The combining of the two events will have significant impact internationally and will entice even more international media and captains of the marine industry to Auckland.

The Auckland International Boat Show will start on the same day as the Louis Vuitton Trophy, and the show will have a new focus in Auckland's Viaduct Harbour. The existing America’s Cup bases are slated for removal/relocation and replacement with events facilities designed to turn the Viaduct area into an outstanding marine events centre.

The first stage of the redevelopment will get underway early next year and the first event in the new layout is scheduled to be the combined Auckland International Boat Show and Louis Vuitton Trophy regatta.

Both events are scheduled to start on 10 March 2010.

Because of the pressure on space in the Viaduct Harbour the temporary marina arrangements will be shifted from Te Wero island to the southern edge of the Viaduct harbour and the two areas will be joined with one of two bridges.

The second bridge will run from the marina to the western Alinghi base area – where there will be further exhibition areas for the Auckland International Boat Show.

The changes were outlined at a meeting of the Marine industries Association by Executive Director, Peter Busfield and Craig Furlong, Manger of the Viaduct Harbour Marine Village.

'The new layout on water allows the Louis Vuitton World Yacht Racing Series to be run concurrently with our show, says Busfield.

'The new layout will also fit well with the move into the new Maritime Events Centre for the March 2012 Show.

'We look forward to another high profile boat show and the bonus of this being part of a major dual maritime event for Auckland and New Zealand,' Busfield added.

Although the Show is close to being fully booked, there are a few sites available, should exhibitors want more space or are a new exhibitor to the New Zealand’s largest and internationally accredited Boat Show.

For the Louis Vuitton Trophy it is planned to move the centre of the Louis Vuitton village to the southern side of the Viaduct, where a media centre will be created in Market Square, close to the Simunovich Fisheries area and adjacent to the new Boat Show marina.

The relocation of the Media Centre and associated stages will be close to the bars and cafes surrounding the Viaduct harbour allowing competitors, media, and fans to enjoy the numerous and very handy watering holes surrounding the area.

Although the Auckland International Boat Show will end on the 14 March, the Louis Vuitton Trophy will continue to 22 March.

Running the two events together is expected to attract additional international media and international marine trade who will be able to cover both events. It will be the biggest maritime event in Auckland since the 30th and 31st America’s Cups.

The moves are the first stage in a four year plan designed to turn the area into a major maritime events facility, possibly the best in the world.

Next stage is to remove the existing Team New Zealand base and construct events centres in the area with architecturally stunning structures planned.

With the creation of the 'Super City' combining all the Auckland regional bodies, attention will turn to attracting major marine events to the area, of which a Volvo Ocean Race stopover is high on the list. Funding for a stopover in Auckland is believed to be in place.

It is hoped that the combined Auckland International Boat Show and Louis Vuitton Trophy will become a regular feature on the Auckland and international sailing calendar.

The two events will be preceded by a one day super yacht race on 4th March which will be to Kawau Island, 25nm north of Auckland concluding with a BBQ at Mansion House. Up to 10 superyachts are expected to enter along with a number of invited classic yachts, of which Auckland has a very impressive fleet.