Youth Team Takes on the New Zealand Millennium Cup

RNZYS Breeze Magazine - Summer 2025

Thanks to the support of NZ Sailing Trust and Doyle Sails, the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron (RNZYS) entered a youth team into the prestigious New Zealand Millennium Cup. This opportunity allowed young sailors to gain valuable big boat racing experience in the South Pacific's largest superyacht regatta.

The team raced aboard the legendary Lion NZ, the yacht originally campaigned by Sir Peter Blake in the 1985-86 Whitbread Round the World Race. Over three days, the sailors pushed their limits, refining their skills against some of the most spectacular superyachts in the world.

In preparation for the event, the 16-strong youth crew undertook a test sail, familiarising themselves with the intricacies of handling a large yacht. Transitioning from dinghies and keelboats to a vessel of Lion NZ's size presented unique challenges, but the team embraced the learning curve with enthusiasm. Under expert coaching, they adapted their existing sailing knowledge to the demands of big boat racing-an experience that will help shape their future sailing careers.

Sailing legend Stu Bannatyne was on board to mentor the youth team. A veteran of eight Whitbread/Volvo Ocean Races, Bannatyne has won the event four times, making him one of the most experienced offshore sailors in the world. His expertise in high­ performance ocean racing was invaluable to the young crew. "The team worked together incredibly well to adapt their existing sailing skills and apply them to the 35-tonne maxi," Bannatyne said. His guidance was instrumental in helping the young sailors refine their techniques and approach to big boat racing.

Josh Wijohn, who served as tactician for the regatta, was grateful for the opportunity to both learn and teach. "Having Stu on board as a mentor was incredible, and I also enjoyed the chance to share my knowledge with the younger crew members." he said. "It wasn't just about the racing; the preparation work, like servicing the large winches, was just as valuable as time on the water."

Adding to the competition, Steinlager 2, another iconic New Zealand yacht, also raced in the regatta with a crew comprising of NZ Sailing Trust supporters and sponsors. Seeing these two iconic Kiwi Whitbread legends racing alongside each other was a sight to behold and added some friendly rivalry between the two NZ Sailing Trust owned Maxis. Ultimately the RNZYS youth crew won the battle placing second overall in the Pacific Cup Class. An impressive result that showcased their adaptability and teamwork against a strong fleet.

RNZYS member Sofia Higgott reflected on the experience. "There were so many learnings from this regatta that I'll take back to my match racing career.” she said. "It was also great to sail with a team from such diverse sailing backgrounds-everyone brought different skills and perspectives that really added to the experience."

The RNZYS and NZ Sailing Trust remain committed to expanding opportunities for young sailors, ensuring the next generation gains the skills and experience needed to compete at the highest level. The New Zealand Mlllennium Cup provided an excellent platform for these sailors to develop their abilities, racing against some of the world's finest superyachts in a demanding and exciting competition.

"Having Stu on board as a mentor was incredible, and I also enjoyed the chance to share my knowledge with the younger crew members."

- Josh Wijohn