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.