The Ocean Race to return to Auckland
Auckland Stopover. The New Zealand Herald In-Port Practice Race. 09 March, 2018
Race organisers announce The Ocean Race will return to Auckland, New Zealand, during the 2021-22 edition of the fully-crewed, round the world race. This will be the 12th time the event has stopped in the ‘City of Sails’ since the first race in 1973-74.
“It is a great pleasure for me to confirm The Ocean Race will be returning to Auckland in 2021-22,” said Richard Brisius, Race Chairman of The Ocean Race.
“Every time we come here, we see the Kiwi fans passionately celebrating the incredible efforts as the world’s best sailors undertake to realise their dreams and ambitions in The Ocean Race.
“The crew members appreciate the warm welcome and hospitality they receive here, before departing to undertake one of the biggest challenges they will face offshore – the Southern Ocean.”
The Auckland stopover comes ahead of one of the most difficult and dangerous legs of the event, as the fleet will race out of the protected waters of the Hauraki Gulf and into the Southern Ocean, sailing between Antarctica and South America as they round Cape Horn.
Economic Development Minister Phil Twyford said the Government is proud to support the 2021-22 edition of The Ocean Race given New Zealand’s longstanding history with the event.
“The stopover presents a fantastic opportunity to bring the New Zealand public back down to Auckland’s waterfront in support of the event, in the area developed for the 36th America’s Cup.”
The Ocean Race is scheduled to start from its home port in Alicante, Spain in Q4 of 2021 and finish in Genoa, Italy in June of 2022. Auckland, New Zealand joins Cape Town, South Africa; Itajaí, Brazil, Aarhus, Denmark and The Hague in The Netherlands as confirmed Host Cities, along with Cabo Verde, which will be the first West African stop in the history of the Race.
