Few sporting events arrive with the kind of noise that SailGP generates, and now the organisation behind the Auckland event is being recognised for far more than spectacle alone.
The ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix, staged on a purpose-built course on the Waitematā Harbour in January, is a round of the global SailGP championship. It has been nominated in two categories at the New Zealand Event Awards, run by the New Zealand Events Association (NZEA), placing it among the most celebrated events in the country.
The Auckland event is a finalist for both 'Major or Mega Event of the Year' and 'Sports Event of the Year', with the nominations acknowledging its world-class delivery, international profile, and the reach it achieved among spectators and broadcast audiences alike.
Thousands of people packed the waterfront to watch racing unfold on the Waitematā's stadium-style course, a layout that suited the foiling F50 cats perfectly and gave television cameras exactly the close, dramatic footage needed to reach audiences around the world.
In the Major or Mega Event category, SailGP is one of four finalists. It competes alongside The SYNTHONY Festival (Duco Touring), The VinFast IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship (Taupō District Council), and The World Choir Games 2024 (New Zealand Choral Federation).
The Sports Event of the Year shortlist is equally competitive, featuring the 2024 Zespri AIMS Games, Auckland FC's debut match vs Brisbane Roar, the WMH 2024 Masters Hockey World Cup, and the ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix, Auckland 2025.
Eleven of the 12 nations competing in the 2025 league took part at Auckland, with France's boat not ready in time for the event. The racing itself was as intense as the setting promised. The F50s are capable of exceeding 90 km/h on the water, and with the fleet at nearly full strength, the competition delivered exactly the kind of action that makes SailGP so compelling. Beyond the on-water drama, the event also satisfied the NZEA's stringent criteria across execution, stakeholder engagement, sustainability, and legacy impact.
Local delivery was handled by F50 League NZ Ltd, SailGP's New Zealand entity, drawing on support from central and local government, iwi, the marine industry, and a wide network of New Zealand suppliers. The event's sustainability credentials and social programmes drew particular attention, covering clean energy operations and youth development through the Inspire and Women's Pathway programmes.
“This event showcases what New Zealand does best—delivering world-class experiences in our own unique way,” said NZEA Chair Alicia Mackay.
The winners across all categories will be announced at a gala evening in Hamilton on 2 September.
For the team that brought the world's fastest sailing to Auckland, the nominations carry real weight. They reflect not just the athletic spectacle that played out on the Waitematā, but the skill and dedication of the local operation that made it happen.
