SailGP: Thousands of supporters head to Lyttelton for grand prix event

Andy Maloney, flight controller of New Zealand SailGP team, runs across the boat during a practice session on Thursday.
Photo: Supplied / SailGP / Ricardo Pinto

Anticipation is building in Christchurch as the SailGP visits these shores for its New Zealand debut this weekend.

A crowd of about 15,000 will converge on Lyttelton Harbour from Saturday for the two-day grand prix, an event which is expected to bring a sizable windfall for the Garden City.

It is the first time the international sailing circuit has taken a GP to New Zealand waters.

Founded in 2019 by Sir Russell Coutts and Larry Ellison, the competition teams utilise high performance F50 foiling catamarans.

New Zealand Sail GP co-CEO Blair Tuke greets a member of Ngāti Wheke during a pōwhiri for the SailGP teams in Christchurch this week.
Photo: Supplied / SailGP / Bob Martin

SailGP New Zealand chief commerical officer and head of event Karl Budge said there was high anticipation for this weekend’s racing.

“It’s been incredibly humbling,” Budge said.

“Everywhere we’ve gone, we’ve just had such incredible response, our tickets sold out within 24 hours,” he said.

“Even going getting your morning coffee in Lyttelton, everyone is there ready for a chat.”

The competition’s commercial clout was growing significantly, Budge said.

“We’ve seen an all-time sailing viewership record in the United States this year, and we’ve then gone on to break our own records for each of the next three events,” he said.

“I think when you merge to the Formula One with something like what we are, I think it’s a pretty compelling product.”

The average age of fans had dropped from 41 in the first season in 2019 to 34 for the 2022/23 championship, Budge said.

The event was expected to generate more than $3.2 million into the local economy, with thousands of patrons arriving from outside the region.

The technical area ahead of the New Zealand SailGP in Lyttleton.
Photo: Supplied / SailGP / Felix Diemer

ChristchurchNZ acting general manager of destination and attraction Tracey Wilson said she expected revenue to exceed initial projections.

“Probably the biggest event that happens is the 50 million viewers around the globe, that are actually going to be seeing our place hearing our stories, seeing our culture.”

Event shuttles will be travelling to the race village from Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre in the central city both days.

There is no public parking in Lyttleton on both days and residents require a vehicle access pass if they need to come and go over the weekend.

Wilson said they had planned for minimal disruption for Lyttleton residents.

“We’re ready for this, we’ve planned and I think it’s it’s all systems go, it’s looking pretty exciting.”

Although there had been reported grumbles around restricted access by some residents, most people RNZ spoke to in Lyttleton on Thursday were looking forward to the occasion.

On the water, New Zealand is hoping home advantage will pay dividends as it looks to make ground on a championship-leading Australian outfit.

The second-placed Kiwis trail Australia by 12 points ahead of this weekend’s penultimate championship race.

New Zealand flight controller Andy Maloney said getting themselves into contention was the main goal heading into the business end of the series.

“We’re definitely playing the long game, just trying to improve event by event and make sure that we’re in the top three by the end of the San Francisco event,” he said.

“Hopefully, when we make it to that final where we’re the best team on the start line, so that’s the mindset going into this event.”

View from the grandstand in the fan village looking onto the racecourse at Lyttleton Harbour.
Photo: Supplied / SailGP / Felix Diemer

Maloney said there was “a lot of excitement” around performing in front of family and friends.

“I’ll probably have 20 family members in the grandstands on Saturday and Sunday, so it’ll be really cool to show them what SailGP is all about.”

The New Zealand SailGP is the final race ahead of the Grand Final in San Francisco on 6-7 May.

This event is also the first of a four-year commitment to New Zealand with racing set to head to Auckland in 2024.