First raced in Auckland in 2000 between the Louis Vuitton and Americas Cup's yachts, and again in 2003 between superyachts, the New Zealand Millennium Cup has become a successful brand synonymous with the New Zealand Marine industry. This brand recognition made it possible for the event to be raced successfully within Europe under a New Zealand banner in 2007.
The 2007 New Zealand Millennium Cup was held on June 19, the final day of the Superyacht Cup Regatta, a fun, laidback superyacht event usually held each October in Palma Mallorca, Spain, but rescheduled in 2007 to coincide with the America's Cup in Valencia.
Since 2000 New Zealand has sponsored New Zealand Day at Palma, which was renamed the New Zealand Millennium Cup for 2007, the race day part of a much larger series of events taking place during Palma Superyacht Week.
The New Zealand Millennium Cup was an opportunity for international superyachts of 30 metres or more to take part in a sailing event that not only showcased the best of New Zealand marine technologies, but also added a new element to pleasure sailing around the America's Cup.
New Zealand Millennium Cup day brought the most testing conditions of Superyacht Week for the fifty-two sailing superyachts, with a solid 17 to 22 knot south-westerly breeze on the Bay of Palma.
The pursuit-style start, with the potentially slowest starting first in the reverse order of the elapsed time of the previous day, benefited yachts that had suffered in the changeable conditions earlier in the week.
In Division Two the 46.21m (152ft) Judel-Vrolijk designed sloop Pink Gin, built by Baltic Yachts in 2006, was first away and never headed, taking the division and overall result with the best elapsed time difference to win the Millennium Cup 2007 - particularly appropriate because the owner had taken his previous Baltic all the way to New Zealand to compete in 2003's New Zealand Millennium Cup.
In Division One Yannekee Too, a 34m (111ft) Bill Dixon designed schooner built by Camper & Nicholsons in 1995, took the honours. Yannekee is another well-travelled participant having
competed in both previous New Zealand Millennium Cups in New Zealand.
The Superyacht Cup 2007 was much more than a sailing superyacht
regatta. Parallel to the sailing activity in the Bay of Palma, the
shore side interest and activity was likened to one of the major
superyacht shows, like the Monaco Yacht Show, but without all the
motoryachts.
Top builders such as Perini Navi, Wally, Vitters, Alloy Yachts and Royal Huisman took the opportunity to showcase their production during Superyacht Week and many of the world's best designers crewed on yachts during the regatta. After three days of sailing, the overall winner of the Superyacht Cup Ulysse Nardin was the superbly presented 42.8m (140ft) Bruce King designed ketch Hetairos built by Abeking & Rasmussen in 1993.
Recognising an opportunity, the New Zealand Trade Association assisted in setting up a magnificent gala banquet for the New Zealand Millennium Cup, followed by The Superyacht Cup 2007 prizegiving. Industry sponsors of the New Zealand Millennium Cup included Alloy Yachts and Robinson Marine Interiors, both platinum sponsors, with Events Clothing, High Modulus, Lloyd's Register, Marine Industry Association, Marten Spars, Southern Spars and Yachting Developments partaking as gold sponsors. Cervina Electrical Design, Matrix Masts, Mulcahy Engineering, Oceanbridge Shipping and Vectek Electronics were also involved.
The New Zealand marine industry in New Zealand is extremely successful and is one of New Zealand's largest non-agricultural manufacturing sectors, totalling NZ$535 million in exports in 2007. The Marine Industry Association of New Zealand anticipates that the marine sector will double in size by 2015, growing from around NZ$1.3 billion in 2003 to NZ$2.4 billion by 2015.
New Zealand Millennium Cup 2007 Results:
Winner Overall: Pink Gin
Division One (length; designer/builder; year launched)
1. Yanakee Too, 34m (111ft), Dixon/Vitters, 1995
2. Ashanti IV, 35m (115ft), Gruber/Burmeister, 1954
3. Thalia, 47.6m (156ft), Holland/Vitters, 1994
Division Two
1. Pink Gin, 46m (152ft), Judel Vrolijk/Baltic, 2006
2. Windrose, 47m (154ft), Dikstra-Nikkels/Vitters, 2001
3. Nephele, 33.9m (112ft), Frers/McMullen & Wing, 2003
