Record breaking crowd expected at Christchurch SailGP

Thursday, 7 March 2024

Fans getting into the action at the 2023 SailGP event in Lyttelton.

Ōtautahi is set to put the grand into grand prix when a thousands-strong crowd descends on Lyttelton for the SailGP tournament later this month.

With 22,000 spectators expected over two days, the Christchurch leg is set to become the world’s largest ticketed sailing event.

Other major sailing events, such as The America’s Cup, are unticketed.

SailGP is billed as the world’s most exciting race on water, with 10 teams racing head to head in identical hydrofoiling F50 catamarans which can reach speeds of almost 100kph.

Fans look on as teams Great Britain, France, USA, Canada and New Zealand (L-R) race during day one of SailGP on Lyttelton Harbour.

More than 15,000 tickets have already been sold for the event, which will be held at Naval Point on March 23 and 24.

Fans are urged to get in quick, with limited grandstand tickets remaining. Tickets for the Platinum Lawn and the corporate area, dubbed Shoreline Villas, have sold out.

Fans will also have the chance to watch the racing from the water, or vantage points along the Port Hills.

The inaugural South Island Sail GP event won out over venues including Saint Tropez in France, San Francisco, Dubai, Sydney, Taranto in Italy, Los Angeles, and Cadiz in Spain.

New Zealand driver Peter Burling said New Zealand fans were among the most passionate in the world.

“After a season of watching us compete halfway across the globe, we can’t wait to reward them with an incredible weekend of racing,” he said.

Organisers hoped for a repeat of 2023, where fans were rewarded with clear skies, sunshine and exciting racing.

The competitors also enjoyed themselves, voting Christchurch the best location from their 2023 year of catamaran racing.

The inaugural South Island SailGP event won out over venues including Saint Tropez in France, San Francisco, Dubai, Sydney, Taranto in Italy, Los Angeles, and Cadiz in Spain.

Ahead of the Lyttelton event, New Zealand is currently second on the leader board behind three-time SailGP defending champions, Australia.