Where is the race?

Refer map below for the ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix racecourse area and exclusion zone:
Please see race map HERE.

Can I watch the race from my own boat?

Recreational boat owners will be able to purchase a Bring Your Own Boat flag to secure a preferential viewing position inside the public exclusion zone - ensuring the best vantage point to watch the action!

BYOB INCLUSIONS:

• Souvenir SailGP bring-your-own-boat flag for your vessel.
• BYOB flags are valid for both days of the event, 23 and 24 March 2024.
• Exclusive access on both days of racing, plus live Radio commentary.
• Boats without a flag will be held outside of the exclusion zone during racing. Vessels must be under 80 feet to be eligible for BYOB. BYOB Flags cannot be used for commercial purposes.
• On sale HERE through Ticketek NZ, 10am Wednesday 13 December.

IMPORTANT NOTE BEFORE PURCHASING

The Naval Point public boat ramp will be closed in the days leading up to and during the ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix | Christchurch and other ramps in the area are extremely limited. As such, ONLY those with their boat already on the water or with the ability to launch their boat elsewhere should plan to watch from the water.

What time should I be in position?

Boaters must enter the Exclusion Zone through one of 2 entry points between 13:00 - 14:15 on each day their flag is valid and make their way to their allocated viewing point as provided in the briefing and guided by SailGP Marshal boats. . All boaters must be in position by 14:30.

Can I anchor overnight?

‘No Anchoring’ areas apply at all times, anchoring overnight is permitted as per local legislation and guidelines

What does the exclusion zone look like and when is it active?

The exclusion zone is identifiable by large visible orange buoys at regular intervals. Only flagged vessels may enter the exclusion zone.

The exclusion zone will be active between 1:30pm - 5pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

How do I enter the Exclusion Zone?

You must fly a SailGP flag from your vessel at all times. Racecourse marshals will be operating from support vessels to manage the Exclusion Zone and will be identifiable by large orange flags stating CM (Course Marshal). You must enter the Exclusion Zone through one of the allocated ‘gates’ outlined in the briefing. Marshals will be looking for the flag, boat name and license number. Please follow all Course Marshall instructions.

Where can I anchor?

Recreational vessels can anchor inside the exclusion zone, within your allocated area. There is a specified no stopping area within the exclusion zone where no anchoring or even stopping will be permitted. In these areas Christchurch City Council has underwater water supply, wastewater and stormwater utilities connecting Lyttelton to Diamond Harbour and Governors Bay. Please be mindful of this pipework and do not anchor above these underwater assets and within 50m of indicative pipework paths. SailGP will enforce no-stopping in these zones during the event. You can see a map of these assets' locations HERE.

Is there a dedicated Radio channel?

Yes, we will declare a channel to provide instructional information to the spectator fleet. Vessels should always monitor (channel to be provided closer to the event). This channel may also broadcast live commentary during racing.

Can I fly my own drone / UAV?

Drones are strictly prohibited at any time during the event. This includes both on land and over water.

What else can’t I do in within the Exclusion Zone:

The use of drones, fishing equipment or recreational swimming is prohibited for vessels participating in the BYOB program whilst within the Exclusion Zone and allocated spectator areas.

Will there be any free on-water viewing during the New Zealand Sail Grand Prix | Christchurch?

Purchasing the bring-your-own-boat pass will be the only way to watch the ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix | Christchurch from within the exclusion zone on Whakaraupō, Lyttelton Harbour. All other vessels will be held outside the exclusion zone.

BOAT RAMP CLOSURES

It is important to note that the Naval Point public boat ramp will be closed in the days leading up to and during the ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix | Christchurch and other ramps in the area are extremely limited. As such, ONLY those with their boat already on the water or with the ability to launch their boat elsewhere should plan to watch from the water.

GETTING TO AND FROM LYTTELTON

On-water spectators must be aware of and plan for road closures and restrictions on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 March 2024. The traffic management plan (TMP) for the event is still being finalized, but fans should plan for closures to be put in place around midday and lifted after racing. Closures will restrict access to Lyttelton for all motor vehicles, with roads blocked from Sumner and Governors Bay. There will be no access to Lyttelton via Tunnel Road at Port Hills Road and parking in Lyttelton will be extremely limited.

FREQUENTLY-ASKED-QUESTIONS

Why will the Naval Point and Stark’s Engineering public boat ramps be closed in the lead up to and during the ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix | Christchurch?

The ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix | Christchurch will transform Naval Point into a vibrant event village, accompanied by a technical area for visiting teams and operations. As such, the Naval Point public boat ramp will be closed to ensure health and safety and mitigate issues of congestion on a busy, working site. The boat ramp near Stark’s Engineering will also be closed as it is behind a proposed road closure and has limited parking.

For how long will the Naval Point and Stark’s Engineering public boat ramps be closed?

Organisers will aim to limit the period during which these ramps will be closed to ensure water users can continue to access the harbour for as long as possible - likely around one week leading up to and during the ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix | Christchurch.

With the Naval Point and the Stark’s Engineering boat ramps closed, where else can I launch my boat during the ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix?

During the ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix | Christchurch, there will be no parking in Lyttelton or at surrounding boat ramps. Most ramps, including Cass Bay, Sandy Bay, Charteris Bay and the Sumner ramp will not be suitable for large numbers of on-water users due to limited parking, tide dependency and other factors. Access will be on a first-come-first-served basis and enforcement will be in place to manage the flow of vehicles and mitigate issues of parking or congestion.

Will I be issued with a vehicle access pass to accompany my bring-your-own-boat premium ticket?

Bring-your-own-boat premium passholders will not be issued a vehicle access pass to go through the road closures. However berth holders in Te Ana Marina and Naval Point Club members will be able to obtain a pass by contacting the marina / club directly. If you have further questions or wish to discuss your specific requirements, please contact hello@sailgpnzl.com

Where can I find more information about local regulations and requirements?

Like any major harbour and working port, there are unique regulations and requirements for transient boats to be aware of in Lyttelton, including the requirement for all vessels larger than 130 feet to have a pilot and designated areas where anchoring is not permitted (shown in the map above).

Boat users can learn more about relevant regulations and bylaws relating to recreational boating in Canterbury via the Harbourmaster’s Office website. If you have additional queries, please contact hello@sailgpnzl.com to discuss with our on-water operations team.