Next year marks the 50th anniversary of The Ocean Race, and Auckland will once again be part of it.
This isn’t just another event on the calendar. It’s one of the toughest sporting challenges in the world, with crews racing through some of the most hostile conditions on the planet, including the Southern Ocean on our doorstep.
Auckland has been part of this story for decades. We first hosted a stopover during the 1977–78 Whitbread Round the World Race, and since then New Zealand sailors have built a reputation as some of the best in the business.
That’s no accident. Auckland is a maritime city in a way most places can’t match. With 3200 kilometres of coastline and three harbours - Waitematā, Manukau and Kaipara - the water is part of how we live.
If you’re in Ponsonby, you don’t have to go far to see that. Head down to Westhaven, look across to the harbour, or just watch the boats heading out on a good day. It’s part of the rhythm of the place.
Events like this remind the rest of the world what we already know.
They also deliver real benefits. Organisers estimate the race could generate around $7.2 million in GDP impact and more than 23,000 visitor nights. That means people staying in hotels, eating out, shopping and spending across the city, including in places like Ponsonby.
It’s also a chance to showcase one of Auckland’s quieter strengths: our marine industry. New Zealand designers, builders and engineers are behind some of the most advanced boats and technology in the world.
A lot of that innovation starts in racing. Foiling technology is a good example - something that once looked experimental is now finding its way into commercial vessels. You’ll see more of that over time, including here in Auckland.
I’ve had my own very small taste of ocean racing. Last year I helmed Steinlager 2 - still the only yacht ever to win all six legs of the Whitbread Round the World Race.
I’ll admit 14,000 miles around the globe is slightly more demanding than what I did.
But there’s a serious side to all this too.
Through my involvement with Sea Cleaners, I’ve seen how important it is to protect our marine environment. If we want to keep enjoying the harbour - whether that’s sailing, swimming or just walking along the waterfront - we have to look after it.
The Ocean Race helps put a spotlight on that.
Every boat in the race is equipped with specialist sensors that collect critical data on ocean health.
As they travel the globe, crews gather information continuously, including from some of the most remote parts of the ocean, with much of it transmitted in real time to leading scientific organisations working to better understand the marine environment and the pressures it faces.
Here in Auckland we call ourselves the City of Sails. Events like this are a chance to prove it - not just to visitors, but to each other.
And when the boats arrive in 2027, Auckland won’t just be hosting a stopover. We’ll be showing the world exactly what kind of city this is. It’s just a shame we won’t be able to also do that for SailGP.
