Millennium Cup: 242 metres at the start - "Kawil" triumphs ahead of Auckland
A total of five large formats over 30 metres came to Auckland for the Millennium Cup. The cumulative participant length of 242 metres was due to the 81 metre aluminium sailing yacht "Sea Eagle" Sharlou" made a significant contribution. The 43-metre-long sloop also crossed the line for the first time at the sailing event on the Gulf of Hauraki. She was built by Vitters in 2011 as "Sarissa" and is both sporty and suitable for blue water. Characteristic of the fast bill-tripping rip are the targa bracket for the mainsheet traveller and the vertical hull windows.
Bug-to-bug race: "Kawil" ahead of "Sea Eagle"
The first day of the Cup saw two races and a bow-to-bow race between two yachts on the finish line. "Sea Eagle" seemed to have everything under control as she won the first race of the day and then secured second place, while the 34 metre "Kawil" took first place in the second race with only two seconds on corrected time between them. The Sparkman & Stephens "Kawil" ultimately triumphed after a total of four races in consistently light winds. "It was a great race, we had a lot of fun," said the owner on receiving the trophy.
The crew from "Sassafras" were only able to utilise their home advantage to a limited extent. Ted Hood's 34-metre slup finished in third place overall behind by far the biggest starter from the Royal Huismans halls.
The regatta is organised by the NZ Marine Export Group and a dedicated committee made up of some of the most prominent figures in the New Zealand superyacht industry. The next event is scheduled to take place next year.
