Sir Peter Blake’s Lion New Zealand will return to the Auckland Viaduct Harbour on Monday 11th March at 4pm following an extensive 18 month restoration at Yachting Developments, Hobsonville.

In 2018/19, 48 Mount Albert Grammar school Year 11 Students got the opportunity to follow in the wake of sailing legend Sir Peter Blake on his victorious round-the-world boat Steinlager 2 during a multi-day sailing trip.
The trips saw our students sailing from Auckland Viaduct to Kawau Island, Great Barrier Island, Motutapu, Waiheke and the Coromandel. The vessel ran with the same system in place as the Whitbread Around the World Race, with students working in different roles below deck, above deck and as part of the sailing crew.
Over the four days students learned about sailing chat, rules of the water, basic navigation, weather, parts of the yacht, knots, marine birds, human impact on marine life and goal setting. Students really took on the wise words from Sir Peter: “Giving it a try is much better than sitting back and worrying what people might think if we fail”.

Crew places are available for people keen on experiencing maxi yacht racing aboard Steinlager 2 during the Auckland to Tauranga Yacht Race on April 13. 

With Grateful thanks.

Silencio sailed to victory once again in the Millennium Cup division of the New Zealand Millennium Cup today. That marks two days in a row that she’s beaten out four competitors. In the Pacific Cup division, Steinlager II crossed the finish line first. Now she and her sole category competitor, Antaeus, each have a victory.

The New Zealand Millennium Cup came to an end on January 23rd after three days of racing, with the 34.2 metre Sassafras taking line honours despite the 50 metre Silencio celebrating victories on both previous days.

After victories on day one and two Silencio was chasing the hat trick on the final day of racing, but it was not to be as Sassafras took line honours.

Bay of Islands photographer, Steve Western was on hand to catch the action on the on the first Day (and with a couple from Day 2) of racing at the Millennium Cup and Bay of Islands Sailing Week.

Steninlager 2 at the start of the 2014 PIC Coastal Classic.

Young people aged sixteen and over will have a unique opportunity to undertake their first offshore race experience aboard one of ocean racing’s most stalwart veterans, Lion New Zealand, in the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron’s Ocean Race to Musket Cove, Fiji, in June.

CRAZY CREW: Crew members Mike Baker, Kerry Roger, student Jacob Colligan, 14, at the helm, and skipper Thomas Collicott on board the Lion New Zealand.

Sir Peter Blake's yacht from the 1985-1986 Whitbread Round the World Race is to be used as part of one of the Foundation for Youth Development's programmes.

One of New Zealand’s iconic yachts, Steinlager 2, which recently returned home after several decades abroad, is set to race in the Royal Akarana Yacht Club hosted Auckland to Noumea race, Sail Noumea.

Aucklanders are being called upon to welcome back one of New Zealand's most famous yachts.

Steinlager II is permanently returning home after more than two decades overseas. The 84-foot vessel is best known as the yacht skippered by the late Sir Peter Blake when he won the 1989-90 Whitbread Round the World race.

Twenty-five years on from its line honours victory in the great Australian ocean classic, iconic Kiwi yacht Lion New Zealand has this week been stamped the 60th applicant for entry for the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2009.