50 years on: The Ocean Race previews a return to the City of Sails
by The Ocean Race 5 May 00:44 AEST
4 May 2026
The Ocean Race will be bringing the around-the-world racing fleet back to Auckland in 2027 and the City of Sails is ready. Auckland's iconic Viaduct Harbour will host the Southern Ocean stopover in February and March, marking the race's first return to New Zealand since 2018 and the 11th time the city has welcomed the fleet home.
At a media launch in the Viaduct Harbour on Monday, the local stopover team from The Ocean Race unveiled a special 50th anniversary logo commemorating half a century since the fleet first raced into the Hauraki Gulf, and announced key partnerships and event details for the stopover.
The fleet is expected to arrive around 20/21st February 2027, following the longest opening leg in the race's history: more than 14,000 nautical miles from Alicante, Spain, out of the Mediterranean Sea, south through the Atlantic, around Cape Horn and across the Southern Ocean. A Coastal Race showcasing Auckland waters is scheduled for 6 March, Pro-Am racing on 11 March, before the fleet departs for the next leg on 14 March.
Speaking against the backdrop of the iconic Steinlager 2, Richard Brisius, Race Chairman of The Ocean Race reflected on the deep history between Auckland and the race.
"Auckland and The Ocean Race share a bond that stretches back five decades, to the very first time the Whitbread fleet raced through the Southern Ocean before sailing into the Hauraki Gulf. The City of Sails has already welcomed the race 10 times, and every time the fleet arrives here, you feel it: this is a place that genuinely understands what offshore sailing demands, and what it means," Brisius said.
"Today is particularly special. To be here with Steinlager 2, the boat that Sir Peter Blake and his crew sailed to one of the most extraordinary clean sweeps in the history of our race, is a reminder of just how deeply our stories run together - over 50 years of iconic New Zealanders leading the way in designing, building and racing legendary boats around the world."
Skippered by Blake, Steinlager 2 famously won all six legs of the 1989-90 Whitbread Round the World Race in one of the most dominant performances in offshore sailing history and a feat that remains central to The Ocean Race's own legend.
"Now we are excited to see what the next chapter brings for New Zealand," Brisius said. "The Ocean Race is the embodiment of Kiwi values: adventure, discovery, teamwork, technology, and a deep, profound connection to the ocean. We look forward to welcoming a new generation into The Ocean Race, and continuing the story together."
The 2027 edition is a landmark race in another respect: it will be the first in which the entire fleet competes in foiling IMOCA boats, the 60-foot high-performance monohulls capable of speeds exceeding 30 knots which brings a new dimension of speed and spectacle to a race already regarded as the ultimate test of a team in offshore sailing.
At the heart of the Auckland stopover will be The Ocean Live Park, a free, open-access waterfront precinct running throughout the event from 20 February to 14 March. The Viaduct Harbour will be transformed into a global sailing destination, giving fans unprecedented access to the teams, the technology and the stories of life at sea.
The New Zealand Government is backing the event through the Major Events Fund. "The Government is proud to support The Ocean Race through the Major Events Fund. It's a fantastic event that combines international profile, sustained economic activity and global attention. We look forward to the race arrival in 2027 and to sharing this moment with audiences around the world," said Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston.
Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown welcomed the fleet's return. "The Ocean Race is a big part of our story as the City of Sails, and it's exactly the kind of world-class event we want more of in Auckland. It'll bring real energy to our waterfront, draw global attention, and deliver strong benefits for our economy and communities, while celebrating our connection to sailing and the ocean."
The Ocean Race stopover team in New Zealand has also confirmed a partnership with the Sir Peter Blake Trust (BLAKE) as official charity partner of the New Zealand stopover. The collaboration will support environmental leadership initiatives, inspire young ocean guardians and carry forward Blake's legacy of ocean advocacy.
"Sir Peter Blake is an icon of The Ocean Race, and his time spent competing in the event helped inspire him to become a champion for the health of the ocean. The Ocean Race is committed to using its platform to raise awareness of critical issues such as ocean health and climate change, and as such BLAKE is proud to be the official charity partner of the Auckland stopover," said BLAKE Chief Executive James Gibson.
Adding to the build-up, a new three-part documentary series 'Hell or High Water' has been announced in partnership with SKY New Zealand and supported by NZ On Air. The series tells the story of Blake and his all-Kiwi crew who reshaped global sailing, tracing 50 years of The Ocean Race from its Whitbread origins to the modern foiling IMOCA era. It will be produced by Kevin & Co.
"We're thrilled to be partnering with Sky New Zealand and NZ on Air to share this remarkable story and bring an extraordinary event to life, one that will connect fans with these incredible boats, the race itself, and celebrate New Zealand's proud legacy in The Ocean Race," said William Thomas, Managing Director of 18k Sports, The Ocean Race New Zealand's official event delivery partner.