10:01 PM Wed 16 Dec 2009 GMT
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'Press Conference at the Auckland Town Hall to announce the Auckland Festival of Sail. Attended by RNZYS Commodore Scott Colebrook, Auckland Mayor John Banks, and Emirates Team NZ CEO Grant Dalton.'
Chris Cameron/ETNZ
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Auckland Mayor John Banks announced today the Auckland Festival of Sail - three major international regattas to be held on the Waitemata Harbour in March 2010. The three major international sailing regattas will be held in conjunction with the Auckland International Boat Show
The events will bring together leading professional international match racing skippers and teams and top-ranked amateurs for 23 days of quick-fire, top- level competition. Racing will get underway on 1 March 2010 and will conclude on 25 March 2010.
The Louis Vuitton Trophy will be the first event in the 34 America's Cup cycle and is expected to attract substantial international interest with eight teams competing in a revamped regatta format.
Government and Auckland regional bodies will pump $2million in cash and resources into the event following the successful Louis Vuitton Pacific Series staged last year, which became a blueprint for this event.
It is hoped that Festival of Sailing will become a regular event, given the substantial impact of the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series and the revved up format to be used in three months time, which is expected to increase that footprint substantially.
The sailing events are:
The
Omega Auckland Match Race Regatta
, from March 1-6, will feature some of the biggest names in international match racing. Entry is by invitation, and will include a number of high profile sailors with a long history in the sport of sailing such as John Bertrand and Dennis Conner, as well as the current to level international match racers.
The
Louis Vuitton Trophy
Auckland regatta, March 7 - 21, follows on from the successful Louis Vuitton Pacific Series sailed in Auckland last February. The action will take place over 14 days.
The
BMW World Sailing Cup 2010 Final
, March 22 - 25. A leading international keel boat event for amateur sailors. New Zealand won the right to host the event by winning the 2009 world cup.
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Auckland Mayor John Banks at the Press Conference at the Auckland Town Hall to announce the Auckland Festival of Sail. Attended by RNZYS Commodore Scott Colebrook, Auckland Mayor John Banks, and Emirates Team NZ CEO Grant Dalton. -
Chris Cameron-ETNZ
Click Here to view large photo
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Mr Banks says the festival is a perfect opportunity to showcase Auckland and its spectacular waterfront.
'Not only is this great news for Aucklanders with another festival added to the summer events calendar, it's also great news for businesses, especially those in the hospitality, tourism and marine sectors.
'Major events are important economic drivers especially during the tough times that we are currently experiencing. Securing this festival in Auckland is another step on our road to establishing the city as a desirable international events destination and we look forward to welcoming the world's best sailors to our shores next year.'
The managing director of Emirates Team New Zealand Grant Dalton said the three regattas, combined with the Auckland International Boat Show at the Viaduct Harbour from March 10 -14, will provide three weeks of top-level action right in the city.
'When the idea of the Auckland Festival of Sail was first raised, many groups came together to really put on a show for Auckland and New Zealand.
'We have worked closely with Auckland City agencies, the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, Louis Vuitton, the World Sailing Teams Association and many other organisations and individuals to make it happen.
'In a few days we will be able to announce the names of the skippers who have accepted the invitation to take part in the Omega Auckland Match Race regatta.'
'Emirates Team New Zealand looks forward to the top-level competition in March and thanks the sponsors, organisations and volunteers who will make it possible.'
Scott Colebrook, commodore of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, says the Squadron is proud to be undertaking an integral role in the Auckland Festival of Sail.
'As the organizing authority of these three significant events, running back to back, we will be placing huge demands on our volunteer race and boat management personnel and resources.
'With assistance from Bucklands Beach Yacht Club we look forward to our contribution to this marvellous combination of high profile regattas featuring the world's best yachtsmen and teams that will showcase our City of Sails to an international audience.'
The president of Omega Ltd, Stephen Urquhart, said: 'There has been a strong link between sailing and timekeeping since sailors started to rely on high-precision marine chronometers for navigation. OMEGA is the only company ever to have produced a wristwatch that received marine chronometer certification and we are happy to maintain our long nautical tradition with our support of the OMEGA Auckland Match Race Regatta. The Auckland City Festival of Sail promises to be one of the highlights of the sailing year and we look forward to seeing our old friends from the world of sailing and to making new ones.'
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Press Conference at the Auckland Town Hall to announce the Auckland Festival of Sail. Attended by RNZYS Commodore Scott Colebrook, Auckland Mayor John Banks, and Emirates Team NZ CEO Grant Dalton. -
Chris Cameron-ETNZ
Click Here to view large photo
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Details of the four events making up the Festival of Sail
Omega Auckland Match Race Regatta
Dates: March 2-6
Venue: Westhaven with race courses laid on the inner harbour bounded by the harbour bridge, Devonport and the CBD.
Regatta format: This invitation only regatta will be raced in the world- renowned Auckland MRX match-racing fleet. Emirates Team New Zealand skipper Dean Barker, and current world match racing champion Adam Minoprio will be competing. In coming days, invitations will go out to some of the other leading international match racers.
Prize-money $US75,000
Race management: Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron.
Auckland International Boat Show
Dates: March 10 - 14
Venue: Viaduct Harbour
Louis Vuitton Trophy Auckland
Dates: March 9 - 21. Practice days March 7 & 8.
Venue: Viaduct Harbour with race courses in the inner Waitemata Harbour. Regatta format: Teams rotate through matched AC Class yachts in a round robin and knockout semi-finals and finals.
Teams: Teams that competed at Nice (BMW Oracle racing (USA), TEAMORIGIN (UK), Artemis (Sweden), Synergy (Russia), Azzurra (Italy), ALL4ONE (France) and Team French Spirit have indicated that they intend to compete. Mascalzone Latino has also said it will be at Auckland.
Race management: Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron and volunteers; international race official and umpires.
BMW World Sailing Cup Final
Dates March 22 - 25 2010
Venue: Westhaven.
Regatta format: A mix of match and fleet racing, this event has become the leading international keel boat regatta for amateur sailors.
New Zealand won the right to host the regatta by winning the 2009 world final.
The New Zealand crew will meet the winners of the national competitions held in Germany, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Spain and Hong Kong.
Race management: Buckland Beach Yacht Club and Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron.
by Richard Gladwell
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