SailGP wows Auckland with thrilling races and fan experience – Bonnie Jansen

THREE KEY FACTS

• Auckland hosted its first SailGP regatta at the weekend.
• Around 25,000 fans were expected to attend across the weekend.
• A purpose-built 8000-seat grandstand was erected on the waterfront at Wynyard Point for the event.

SailGP has perfected the blend of fantastic water racing and great fan experience.

The global foiling league’s showcase in Tāmaki Makaurau this weekend confirmed that its format is unparalleled in the world of international sports events.

This series has revolutionised a sport not traditionally known for its viewer-friendliness; it’s fast, electrifying and leaves you on the edge of your seat.

And the sailors love it just as much as the fans.

After two previous New Zealand events in Christchurch, SailGP made its debut in Auckland at the weekend for the second leg of season five, and it didn’t disappoint.

Fans, with their unconscious bias, believe that the City of Sails played the perfect host for the event, leaving little reason to consider alternative locations.

Attendees agreed that the racing spectacle was well worth the hefty price of $179 for a baseline grandstand ticket or $219 for a premium seat.

It didn’t dampen the weekend despite the fact New Zealand’s Black Foils finished fourth, missing the final, while Tom Slingsby and his Australian team won it overall.

“It was brilliant, absolutely brilliant. SailGP belongs in Auckland for sure. [It’s] one of the best events we’ve been to ... magic,” one fan said when exiting the venue.

“We were so close to the water, and I think that’s the best thing about this event,” another said.

The racing took place near Wynyard Point and the Auckland Harbour Bridge, providing the roughly 25,000 attendees on land and water with prime views of boats flying out of the water and their near-crashes.

You can’t really compare SailGP in Auckland to the America’s Cup event last held in the city in 2021.

The spectating experience is vastly superior, with the boats so close to the fans, and the entertainment and vibes at another level entirely.

Australia sailed to victory in Auckland's debut SailGP event. Photo / Bob Martin, SailGP

From hit music blasting over speakers, dancers, merchandise, spray painting, simulator games and various food trucks, event organisers have perfected the in-game entertainment and experience.

On the water, races are quick (about half the length of an America’s Cup race), with short intervals between start times. Spectators are informed of all key race aspects via big screens and booming commentary.

It was like an American showpiece NBA or NFL game right here in Aotearoa.

The athletes love it too. Each boat, with a mix of female and male athletes, is challenged to adapt quickly as they manoeuvre around nature’s boundaries and borders against the backdrop of Auckland’s CBD.

It’s good to see a sport where men and women can compete with and against each other on the same stage.

Behind the scenes, SailGP runs a well-oiled operation, swiftly packing up and setting up tech sites, seating, lounges and media centres within days of race week.

It adheres to strict sustainability guidelines and ethics, with catering for staff and guests predominantly plant-based.

As the weekend drew to a close, it became clear just how SailGP is a trailblazer as it enters its fifth year.

Whether it’s the innovative ever-adapting boat designs, gender inclusivity for athletes, sustainability codes or unparalleled fan experience, SailGP sets a high standard that many other sports leagues should aspire to.

And SailGP’s success this weekend in New Zealand’s biggest city has undoubtedly won it a legion of Kiwi fans.

Bonnie Jansen is a multimedia journalist in the NZME sports team. She’s a football commentator and co-host of the Football Fever podcast, and was part of the Te Rito cadetship scheme before becoming a fulltime journalist.