The Millennium Cup, in New Zealand has been postponed in response to an elevated Covid alert level across New Zealand.
The Millennium Cup regatta was due to start tomorrow, but despite the Americas Cup being in full swing, the organisers have elected to postponed the regatta to March 2021.
With the event due to start tomorrow, organisers have postponed the Bay of Islands regatta due to precautionary Covid restrictions across the country. Racing will now be held 28 – 31 March in Russell, returning to the regatta’s Duke of Marlborough headquarters.
Russell, known as Kororareka[a] in the early 19th century, was the first permanent European settlement and seaport in New Zealand. It is situated in the Bay of Islands, in the far north of the North Island.
The regatta is run by the NZ Marine Export Group and promotes New Zealand’s cruising grounds and marine industry to international and domestic superyachts.
The NZ Marine Export Group assists members by providing and facilitating many kinds of marketing support, information and organization, helping members to communicate effectively around the world and reach their target markets.
“As an event run to further the interests of the New Zealand marine industry, we feel a keen responsibility to our industry, superyacht owners, guests and crew, sponsors and the wider community to ensure we are taking every precaution possible,” says NZ Marine CEO, Peter Busfield.
“Postponing the Millennium Cup until late March allows us to still run an excellent event, supported by our sponsors, and our hosts, the Duke of Marlborough Hotel. Organisers expect the event to be well-supported by superyacht entrants post-America’s Cup .”
The regatta was first held alongside the 2000 America’s Cup, and was due to run from 15-18 February, 2021. It’s the longest running superyacht regatta in the South Pacific and has gar-nered a reputation for its camaraderie and fierce competition.