SailGP back in Christchurch for 2024

Wednesday, 13 December 2023

SailGP will again be seen on Lyttelton Harbour next year.

Christchurch will again host the globally broadcast SailGP yacht racing after Auckland was dropped as the 2024 host.

SailGP global chief executive and Kiwi sailor Sir Russell Coutts said he was delighted with the decision, and that Lyttelton Harbour would again be a “perfect venue”.

The harbour hosted the first-ever New Zealand leg of the high-speed catamaran racing series in March this year, with Auckland intended as the March 2024 venue.

Sir Russell Coutts, global chief executive of SailGP, says he is delighted with the decision to bring the event back to Christchurch.

SailGP changed its mind last month and pulled out of Auckland, citing issues with spectator facilities.

This season’s races will be instead return to Lyttelton’s Naval Point on March 23 and 24, and are expected to attract 22,000 spectators.

Spectators cheer from the grandstand as SailGP teams race on Lyttelton Harbour in March. Almost 10,000 people bought tickets for the official spectator zones.

Coutts said the decision to replace Auckland with Christchurch was made after extensive consultation.

“Christchurch has proven to be one of our very best events to date - with fantastic racing, thousands of fans and spectacular scenery in a natural amphitheatre.”

Peter Burling, skipper of the New Zealand boat, said Christchurch had hosted an “awesome” event and the team was “incredibly excited” to be going back.

Team New Zealand skipper Peter Burling says the New Zealand team is looking forward to returning to Christchurch.

The home advantage of being able to race in New Zealand was very real, he said.

Mayor Phil Mauger said news of the “bonus season” was fantastic, and would again allow the harbour and city to be seen around the world.

“This just proves that Christchurch is increasingly seen as the sports and events capital of New Zealand.”

The high-speed racing on Lyttelton Harbour. Teams from 10 nations compete over 12 legs for a $1 million prize.

The event sees mixed-gender crews from 10 nations - Britain, France, Spain, the United States, New Zealand, Australia, Switzerland, Germany, Canada and Denmark - race foiling catamarans over 12 legs, with an annual US$1 million prize. Other venues include St Tropez, San Francisco, New York and Dubai.

Data from economics consultancy Fresh Info revealed this year’s event in Christchurch generated almost 23,000 visitor nights and an estimated direct visitor spend of more than $4m for the city.

In addition to those who watched this year’s races from harbour-side vantage points, 9877 bought tickets to the official spectator zone, of whom 6748 were from outside the region and almost 1000 from overseas.

There were also 200 ticketed boats on the water, and a global television and online audience of 136 million.

The Christchurch spectator venue this year was at Naval Point, Lyttelton. The event in March will have extra grandstands to create more harbourside seating.

A change for the next event will be more harbourside seating with extra grandstands, and behind-the-scenes tours, SailGP announced. Tickets go on sale this week.

Loren Aberhart, general manager of destination and attraction at ChristchurchNZ said the city had “stepped in” to ensure New Zealand would keep a leg of the event.

She said a key consideration in making that decision to host was ensuring the safety of the marine mammals on the harbour, which is designated a marine mammal sanctuary.

New Zealand and Australia go head to head on Lyttelton Harbour.

At this year’s event, racing had to pause after dolphins were detected near the boats.

Aberhart said they had also taken on board feedback about providing more opportunities for both Lyttelton and central city businesses.

Christchurch previously lost its chance to host the 2022 leg of SailGP after the government controversially refused crews and support teams spots in managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ).

The event was regained, with hosting to be shared alternately between Auckland and Christchurch for four years, after both cities paid an incentive fee.

Christchurch agreed to pay SailGP $1m for each year it hosted the racing, plus another $500,000 spent on “in kind” contributions.

The financial arrangement for 2024 has not yet been revealed. The 2025 event will also be held in Christchurch, as planned.