As New Zealand readies for the 2020 edition of the Millennium Cup and the 36th America’s Cup, the international luxury yacht industry has focused its attention on providing the very best marine services. The latest of the big-brand names to come on board is Italian shipyard Benetti, following on from last month’s signing of Royal Huisman.
Millennium Cup 2019 – Photo © Jeff Brown
“Benetti is very pleased to join the New Zealand Millennium Cup. Sailing is a global sport and leisure culture enjoyed by many and as a global brand in the maritime sector we are pleased to support the yachting community in this way,” says Peter Mahony, the Asia Pacific General Manager for Benetti Yachts. “With the 36th America’s Cup fast approaching for New Zealand, we see the opportunity for superyachts to explore the amazing South Pacific and we hope this will include many Benetti yachts. We look forward to the regatta and wish everyone involved a wonderful and memorable event.”
A large American sponsor is expected to join Benetti and Royal Huisman early in January, ahead of the Millennium Cup races due to take place from the 29th of January to the 1st of February among the 144 islets in the Bay of Islands.
Eagerly-anticipated sailing yachts SASSAFRAS, SILVER TIP TAWERA and JANICE OF WYOMING will be participating in the regattas, along with new competitor KAWIL. Entries for the 2021 regattas have also come streaming in, with JANICE OF WYOMING, SASSAFRAS and SILVERTIP already confirmed along with CILLIAM and BLACK SAILS.
Millennium Cup 2019 – Photo © Jeff Brown
Previous sponsors have returned for this year’s edition and gold-level sponsors include Doyle Sails, Smuggler Marine and Bay of Islands Marina. Silver sponsors currently include COAST, Breed Media, North Sails/Southern Spars and Electronic Navigation Limited (ENL), while Holton Marine, Power Equipment and Attest Ltd are friends-of-the-industry sponsors.
“It’s a point of pride for New Zealanders to take excellent care of their guests, or manuhiri,” says organiser Stacey Cook, “and we’re all looking forward to opening up our very special part of the world to our international yacht and sponsor visitors.
“We see the addition of Benetti to the sponsorship family as a significant milestone for the event as we build towards 2021. It’s very rare for a motor yacht builder to be involved with an event that is built around a sailing event. It demonstrates the high level of interest we are receiving from the global superyacht industry and underpins the value we are creating for owners, guests and business both on and off the water.”
Take advantage of these fantastic events in the Southern Hemisphere and embark on a fantastic once-in-a-lifetime adventure by chartering a superyacht in the South Pacific, combining your itinerary with the Millennium Cup or the America’s Cup events.
