Christchurch near to getting SailGP for Lyttelton

CHRISTCHURCH: Christchurch is on the cusp of signing a deal with SailGP to bring the yachting series to Lyttelton Harbour in January 2022.

The event would be a coup for the city with a global broadcast audience estimated at 256 million viewers.

Olympic gold medallists Peter Burling and Blair Tuke will lead the New Zealand entry in catamarans similar to those raced in the previous America’s Cup.

The pair remain fully committed to their defence of the America’s Cup with Team New Zealand and winning another gold medal at the postponed Tokyo Olympic Games.

There will be 18 Olympians with 16 medals between them on the water in the spectatorfriendly harbour with boats capable of more than 50 knots.

Christchurch NZ general manager Loren Heaphy and sources linked to SailGP and billionaire Oracle owner Larry Ellison said details were being finalised and contracts were yet to be signed.

The 2020 season was set to feature seven teams at five venues but the Covid19 outbreak meant the only event was the Sydney round in February.

The Australian team, led by

Tom Slingsby, won the inaugural competition in 2019.

Earlier this year, Burling and Tuke were confirmed as coCEO’s of the New Zealand team for the 2021 season. Next year’s schedule is set to begin in San Francisco in April.

‘‘We are really proud to represent Aotearoa in what is shaping up to be one of our sport’s premier events,’’ Burling said in August.

‘‘SailGP provides an annual platform for professional, highperformance sailing on the global stage, which strongly complements our existing America’s Cup and Olympic commitments.

‘‘We will bring a competitive team to the championship and look forward to building a collective of partners that align with our sporting and environmental values.’’