Volvo Ocean Race stopover delivers for Auckland

Thousands of visitors and millions of dollars for the regional economy

RELEASE SUMMARY

• The Volvo Ocean Race stopover in Auckland in March generated thousands of visitors and millions of dollars for the regional economy.

• The 19-day stopover generated 23,470 domestic and international visitor nights and $7.17 million of GDP for the Auckland economy.

• Events like this stoke Auckland's international reputation as a world-class sailing event host city and help build momentum towards upcoming events like the 2019 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 World Championships and the Americas Cup.

The curtain came down on the Volvo Ocean Race 2017-18 last week, and the fleet’s Auckland stopover in March generated thousands of visitors and millions of dollars for the regional economy.

The 19-day stopover generated 23,470 domestic and international visitor nights and $7.17 million of GDP for the Auckland economy.

Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED) invested $5.5m, on behalf of Auckland Council, to host stopovers during the 12th and 13th Volvo Ocean Races in 2014-15 and 2017-18. The total GDP return to Auckland’s regional economy across the 2014/15 and 2017/18 stopovers is $14.49 million.

Auckland is a regular fixture on the Volvo Ocean Race circuit, first featuring in the second edition in 1977-78, and missing from only two editions since then.

The Auckland stopover was the longest of the 2017-18 event and marked the halfway point of the race, with the fleet pulled out of the water for crucial repairs and maintenance ahead of their return to the Southern Ocean.

The Auckland Race Village operated from Saturday 24 February to Sunday 18 March, giving visitors a chance to get up close to the yachts and The Boatyard workshop, as well as taking advantage of entertainment, hospitality and family-friendly activities. The stopover also featured in-port and pro-am racing.

ATEED Head of Major Events Stuart Turner says: “Events like this stoke Auckland's international reputation as a world-class sailing event host city with a world-class marine industry, deliver benefits for Auckland and its people, and help us build momentum towards upcoming events like the 2019 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 World Championships and of course, the Americas Cup.”

“The stopover also saw more than 3000 Aucklanders and visitors try sailing, many for the first time, with Yachting New Zealand's Volvo Sailing...Have a Go! Programme, while the Volvo Ocean Race Sustainability Team provided food for thought about ocean pollution for village visitors and local schoolchildren during the fortnight.”

Auckland’s next major yachting event is the 2019 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 World Championships, being held at the Royal Akarana Yacht Club from November 29-December 8 next year.

As many as 400 of the world’s best sailors are expected to take part in the event, which will be an Olympic qualifier for countries who have not already secured a spot for the 2020 Olympics and likely to be used by many countries as a selection regatta for the Tokyo Games.

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