While the second day of racing was able to go ahead without a hitch and served up one of the best days of racing in the league’s history, SailGP chief executive Sir Russell Coutts cast doubt on the league returning to the venue.
Lyttleton Harbour was voted as the league’s best location to sail in an anonymous poll conducted among SailGP athletes following their event in Dubai late in 2023. However, speaking to the Herald earlier this year, Great Britain strategist Hannah Mills said there were pros and cons for whether the league should return to the venue in 2025 after the way things played out this year.
“It’s the most amazing place to sail. It’s really beautiful, so many people came to watch, the conditions were incredible – for a sailor it’s perfect. But we have to be more conscious around the places that we go and the effects that we have and the traces that we leave,” Mills said.
“For me, if a venue, any venue, is not suitable from an environmental or species point of view, then it really has to be a huge part of the conversation and made sure that the right decision’s made.”
Initially, it was expected Christchurch would host the event for the third straight year in 2025, after taking it on at short notice this year when Auckland was deemed unsuitable as a host because the land wanted for use as a spectator zone on Wynyard Quarter was not cleared for use.
When SailGP announced it would bring events to New Zealand, the league signed a four-year agreement which would see Christchurch and Auckland hosting on alternate years beginning with the Christchurch event in 2023. That iteration was also halted by dolphins on the course however, racing was able to get underway on both days.
Auckland has been discussed as a potential host for 2025, and Tataki Auckland Unlimited Head of Major Events Michelle Hooper said those conversations were still ongoing.
In a release, ChristchurchNZ said after the intention to host two events in New Zealand had been fulfilled, it accepted SailGP’s decision to withdraw from the 2025 hosting agreement.
READ MORE: Rocket Lab buys SailGP’s Warkworth plant, takes on 50 staff, as Sir Russell Coutts’ outfit decamps for UK
“The decision follows two iterations of the ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix in Christchurch, as part of a four-year partnership with ChristchurchNZ, Tātaki Auckland Unlimited and New Zealand Major Events. The original agreement, which included Christchurch and Auckland alternating as hosts between Seasons 3 and 6, was varied in 2023 when SailGP shifted from Auckland due to land restrictions surrounding the venue. With the original intention to host two events fulfilled, ChristchurchNZ has accepted SailGP’s decision to withdraw from the 2025 hosting agreement.”
A post-event report by Deloitte outlined the benefits of the March event, which amassed a total economic impact of US$20.7 million ($33.7m) for the host region, with a gross expenditure of US$9.5m by SailGP and competing teams. It was the largest-ever ticketed sailing event, with more than 20,000 fans across the weekend.
The current season heads into its penultimate event this weekend, with the teams taking to the waters of New York, before the season finale in San Francisco in July. As it stands, the Black Foils hold an 11-point buffer on the season leaderboard, with Spain and Australia currently rounding out the top three.
