The first ever ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix is now just days away. The F50s are being assembled and the teams are preparing for two days of fast and furious racing on March 18 & 19. From experiencing the iconic venue of Whakaraupō, Lyttelton Harbour to watching the heightened drama of Season 3’s penultimate leg, we round up five reasons to watch the first ever New Zealand event from Whakaraupō, Lyttelton Harbour.
Be part of history at SailGP’s first ever event in New Zealand
Season 3 has already made history, with the first ever SailGP events in Asia and the United Arab Emirates. Now, it’s New Zealand’s time to make history. The first ever ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix will take place on Whakaraupō, Lyttelton Harbour, with Kiwis Peter Burling and Blair Tuke racing for glory on home waters.
Witness racing drama as Season 3 comes down to the wire
The ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix is the penultimate event of Season 3, which means teams will be going all out in an effort to make the winner-takes-all, three-boat San Francisco’s Grand Final in May. Expect plenty of close calls, near misses and dramatic penalties as teams prepare to shake up the congested Championship leaderboard.
Experience the iconic venue of Whakaraupō, Lyttelton Harbour
Located on the Banks Peninsula on the side of an ancient volcano, the spectacular Whakaraupō, Lyttelton Harbour marks quite a departure from SailGP’s circuit of dramatic city scapes. Instead, fans will watch the F50s go to battle from a breathtaking natural amphitheater.
Bring your own boat for the best seat in the house
The Bring Your Own Boat program invites fans to bring their own boats and secure the best seat in the house at the racecourse boundary. Located within the exclusion zone, fans are treated to the ultimate court-side view as the F50s streak past.
Watch the next generation of sailing talent
A bumper Inspire program will see 35 RS Feva boats compete in the first ever SailGP Inspire RS Feva Championship alongside 16 WASZP sailors and eight wing foilers - making it Inspire’s biggest on-water program to date. These talented young sailors from New Zealand will battle it out for glory in front of home crowds on the same racecourse as the F50s.
