It’s official; the NZ Millennium Cup has begun!

by Albatross PR on 17 Feb 2013 The NZ Millennium Cup festivities were officially launched 14 February, and racers came out swinging the next day.

The NZ Millennium Cup kicked off Thursday local time, with a cocktail party and briefing for captains and owners in the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron. Organisers, sponsors, owners, captains and crew were happy to get together and start the festivities after months of hard prep with their backdrop, Auckland city, bathed in the setting sun, highlighting perfect racing conditions.

But the relaxation was short-lived as the captains and owners were soon whisked away upstairs for the serious business of the course briefing. The regatta will be raced to the International Super Yacht Rule giving each yacht an equal shot at the cup, and making for an exciting-to-watch and thrilling-to-race, regatta.

With instructions in hand, it was back to the reception room of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, for NZ Millennium Cup chairman, Stuart Robinson’s opening address.
After thanking the weather gods, Robinson turned the thanks on the owners of regatta entrants.

Acknowledging that without owners willing to take the path less travelled and make it down to this southern-most of superyacht regattas, there would be no event.

Thanks also went to the sponsors for their commitment and drive in giving the NZ Millennium Cup the unique vibe it has, and for their tireless efforts to promote and drive-forward local industry. With the formalities out of the way, guests were free to relax and enjoy the hospitality of the opening evening, with the bar sponsored by AON Marine and Sturge Taylor Associates Ltd & Insurance Brokers International Ltd
With a bit of friendly banter between crew, it was all off to bed; ready for an early start and some fierce racing.

The NZ Millennium Cup is a private invitational event run by the NZ Marine Export Group to promote the NZ industry, globally. Platinum sponsor of the event is Yachting Developments.

Gold sponsors are Alloy Yachts, Fitzroy Yachts, Touch of Spice, Viaduct Marina and Silo Marina. Silver sponsors are Events Clothing, Doyle Sails, Dubois and Smuggler Marine. Bronze sponsors are Gurit, Hall Spars & Rigging and ATEED.

Friends of the industry involved in the event are Whiting Power Systems, Mulcahy Engineering, Robinson, Lufthansa Private Jet, RNZYS, Harken, Gibson Veneer and North Sails.

Supply partners to the regatta are Mt Gay Rum, Stoke by the McCashin Family, Hancocks, Waiwera Water, Coast NZ.

Sturge Taylor Associates Ltd & Insurance Brokers International Ltd will be sponsoring the bar of the opening evening and Dockwise Yacht Transport is official shipping partner of the event.

The Superyacht Group and Ocean Media have thrown their weight behind the NZ Millennium Cup as official media partners.

More at www.millenniumcup.com