Sailing in New Zealand

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Sailing alongside the Volvo Ocean 65 Race Boats in New Zealand

As the summer approached and my urge for sailing grew, the choice of whether or not to join my aunt and uncle’s sailing adventure was too easy. Not only was I given the chance to sail the South Pacific Ocean and up the Huaraki Gulf of New Zealand. But I was arriving just in time for the Auckland portion of the Volvo Ocean Race. 

Upon my arrival in Auckland I contacted Sail Superior’s former Captain Marek. He had made many contacts in the Auckland racing community since moving to New Zealand several months ago. As a result, he was able to set me up with a spot on a 42 foot sailing race boat in Auckland’s Friday evening Rum Race. Prior to the Rum race we had the amazing privilege of watching some of the worlds top sailors battle to out in Auckland’s In-Port Volvo Ocean race.

2017-18 Volvo Ocean Race 

The Volvo Ocean Race consists of seven Volvo Ocean race boats equipped with some of the worlds top sailors. In 2014, they introduced the concept of a one design race boat meaning that the teams no longer needed to spend money designing their own high performance sail boats. This change allowed races to be won by athletic performance rather then superior boat design.

“If it hadn’t been for the new one-design rule, then I probably wouldn’t have done the Volvo Ocean Race again” Ian Walker, Adu Dhabi Ocean Racing’s skipper.

 This years Volvo Ocean race started in Spain and will be finishing in the Netherlands. These sail boats not only race to each location around the world. But also complete in the In-Port harbour races during their stop overs. Which allows spectators such as myself to witness the speed and skill of the Volvo Ocean 65 and crew. I couldn’t recommend a better way to get over the winter chills then with a trip to watch some of the worlds finest racing competitors battle it out in Auckland’s sunny harbour.