Kiwi SailGP driver Phil Robertson has thrown his support behind the league moving its New Zealand event to Christchurch after Auckland was ruled out as a host.
The global foiling league was scheduled to take to the waters of the Waitematā Harbour in March 2024, but with land at Wynyard Point not available to be utilised for spectators, SailGP made the call that without that land, they could not put on an event that could run to their standards and scrapped the Auckland regatta.
However, SailGP is hopeful of finding another suitable location in New Zealand, with a return to Christchurch – racing on Lyttelton Harbour - after a successful debut early in 2023 the most likely option.
“That gets our vote, that’s for sure. We’d be very excited to go back to Christchurch. That was one of the best venues this series has raced on. We had perfect conditions, flat water and a lovely time,” Robertson, who drives for the Canadian SailGP Team, said at a press conference ahead of the event in Dubai at the weekend. Robertson’s Canadian team finished third in Dubai, with New Zealand winning and Australia in second.
SailGP chief executive Sir Russell Coutts has indicated time is running out regarding securing a venue for the New Zealand event, and the short-notice nature of the move is likely making things a bit tougher for those working to secure a venue. However, an announcement about the future of the 2024 event is expected to be made in the coming weeks.
