New Zealand will host SailGP events over four years starting 2023 while Peter Burling and Blair Tuke have been announced co-CEO's of the Kiwi team.
SailGP announced Wednesday it's committing to staging alternating events in Christchurch and Auckland, despite the COVID-19 forced cancellation of the 2022 regatta that was scheduled for the Garden City.
New Zealand's SailGP event head Karl Budge says the deal fell into place after positive talks with New Zealand Major Events and officials from Christchurch and Auckland, and means the series will play a key role in the sporting calendar through at least 2026.
"It has been fantastic working with New Zealand Major Events, ChristchurchNZ and Auckland Unlimited to bring SailGP to New Zealand," Budge says.
"While we were incredibly disappointed to be forced to cancel this season's event in Christchurch, everyone was determined to ensure we wouldn't miss out on future seasons and to establish a long term future for SailGP in New Zealand.
"New Zealand is a key market for SailGP and the New Zealand SailGP Team boasts some of the best athletes in the world.
"This long-term commitment across different cities gives us a fantastic platform to engage with a wide number of New Zealanders and showcase exciting, inner-harbour racing."
The New Zealand team has struggled for consistency during season two, but with Burling and Tuke signed on as syndicate heads for the next four years, results will come with a talented group of sailors underneath them.
"There's been a huge amount of hard work that's gone on behind the scenes to bring SailGP to Aotearoa so we're incredibly excited to get the opportunity to race on home waters," says Burling.
"We've always had fantastic support from Kiwi fans, so bringing this exciting format of racing to both Christchurch and Auckland will be awesome."
The pair have yet to announce their America's Cup status with their contracts with Team New Zealand expiring shortly, while it's understood Burling and Tuke would like another shot at an Olympic medal in Paris 2026
The first SailGP event will be held in Lyttelton, Christchurch in 2023 before alternating between the City of Sails over the next three years.
"The race series will bring significant economic benefits for New Zealand, and opportunities to celebrate our unique culture on the global stage," says economic and regional development minister Stuart Nash.
"The stunning Whakaraupo Lyttelton Harbour in Ōtautahi Christchurch and the Hauraki Gulf in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland will allow us to showcase the racing up-close, and the events are also a brilliant opportunity to support our tourism industry.
"SailGP has a strong environmental focus and its emphasis on diversity and inclusivity through its Women's Pathway Program align strongly with government priorities.
:We now look forward to working with organisers to finalise the contractual arrangements to bring these events to life."
The global championship welcomes two new franchise teams for its third season, with Canada and Switzerland joining New Zealand, Australia, Denmark, France, Great Britain, Japan, Spain and the United States.
SailGP Season 3 has been expanded to include ten events, with seven Grands Prix taking place in 2022 and the remainder in the first quarter of 2023, with the season expected to finish in April.
SailGP CEO Sir Russell Coutts says: "When Larry Ellison and I came up with the concept for SailGP, we envisaged a league with the best athletes in the world, racing in equal high-tech boats that are extremely fast, creating exciting, close to shore action, and with a regular season for our fans to truly engage with the sport globally.
"We set ourselves a five year goal, but to sit here in Season 3 with ten teams on the start line - including two new franchised teams - an expanded season calendar, an impressive collection of commercial and broadcast partners, purpose and impact at our heart with a positive environmental impact and an immersive fan experience through our broadcast and gaming offer.
"I simply couldn't be happier with what has already been achieved."
SailGP Season 3 Schedule
May 14-15 - Bermuda SailGP
June 18-19 - United States Sail Grand Prix, Chicago at Navy Pier
July 30-31 - Great Britain Sail Grand Prix, Plymouth
August 19-20 - Denmark SailGP, Copenhagen
September 10-11 - France Sail Grand Prix, Saint-Tropez
September 24-25 - Spain Sail Grand Prix, Cádiz
November 11-12 - Dubai Sail Grand Prix
2023 - New Zealand Sail Grand Prix, Christchurch
Further events will be announced to complete Season 3, which will conclude April 2023.
NEW ZEALAND SAILGP TEAM
Peter Burling - Co-CEO & Driver
Blair Tuke - Co-CEO & Wing Trimmer
Andy Maloney - Flight Controller
Josh Junior - Grinder
Liv Mackay - Women's Pathway Program
Marcus Hansen - Grinder
Louis Sinclair - Grinder
Erica Dawson - Women's Pathway Program
