Excitement is ramping up for SailGP’s return to Christchurch for the ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix next weekend on March 23-24.
New Zealand will mark the 9th event on Season 4’s record 13-event calendar, but only the second time SailGP has visited the Kiwi venue, which was voted the best location on Season 3’s circuit in an anonymous athlete poll.
The event will comprise five fleet races before the winner-takes-all, three boat Final and see the return of New Zealand driver Peter Burling to the Kiwi F50.
Burling, who missed last month’s event in Sydney for the birth of his child, will aim to convert the home support into a fourth Season 4 event win. It comes after Phil Robertson’s Canada beat New Zealand and Australia to win the first ever Christchurch event last season.
Tickets are currently on sale for an extensive range of experiences both on and off the water, with shoreside spectators watching from the Race Stadium and Platinum Lawn.
Fans also have the chance to watch all the racing action from the water through the the Bring Your Own Boat and Adrenaline Yachts programs.
The Race Stadium will be open from 11:30am to 7.30pm NZDT on both race days, with racing taking place between 3pm-4.30pm NZDT. Iconic live music acts have been confirmed for both days, with Dave Dobbyn performing on the Platinum Lawn after racing on Saturday, and Shapeshifter performing on the same stage after racing on Sunday.
The ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix | Christchurch takes place on March 23-24.