May 2, 2026 • 9 mins
The Ocean Race will return to New Zealand for the first time since 2018 as part of the next cycle in 2027.
The event will see the fleet travel halfway around the world before they are back on land.
Ocean Race chair Richard Brisius joined Piney to discuss.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalk zedb An.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Auckland's love affair with offshore sailing about to take center
stage once again. In early twenty twenty seven, the Ocean
Race returns to the City of Sales for and historic
eleventh stop over There are twelfth in New Zealand all up.
This time going to be bigger than ever. The cruise
will at tackle one of the longest and toughest opening
legs in the race's long history, more than fourteen thousand
(00:36):
nautical miles from Alicante through the Atlantic, around Cape Horn,
across the Southern Ocean before arriving in Auckland, and what
awaits them more than just a race stop. Auckland's Viaduct
will transform into a three week global sailing festival, bringing
fans closer than ever to the boats, the technology and
the human stories behind one of sports or the sports
(00:56):
greatest endurance tests. Chair of the Ocean Race is Richard Bresius,
who's just arrived in Auckland from Sweden but has taken
the time to stop into the student Richard, thanks for
joining us. Auckland has hosted this rice more than any
other city, I think what makes it such a natural
home for the Ocean rice.
Speaker 3 (01:14):
Yes, Hi, it's great to be here and great to
be back in New Zealand and Auckland, and yeah, I
mean it's you just have to look at the map
of the world and you realize why is New Zealand
such a natural stopover for Around the World Race, And
why is New Zealand the birthplace of some of the
very best ocean racers in the world. Because you are
(01:37):
an ocean nation, so here it's in the blood, it's
in the DNA, and that's really something you feel when
you sail into Auckland. And I remember my first Around
the World Race. I was twenty one, and when you know,
you come up through the Southern Ocean, you see the
silhouette of New Zealand, you smell it, and then you
see in this wonderful landscape and then you sail around
(02:01):
Cape Reenga and then down down the coast and into
Auckland and you realize you're in heaven. So wonderful this
is going to be there highlight of the Ocean Race.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
What actually you have painted there? Amazing that opening leg
though I was tired even just saying it fourteen thousand
nautical miles and I can't I to Auckland. What kind
of taste will that provide for these crews and these sailors.
Speaker 3 (02:24):
Yeah, well, actually you took these way out because you
took Cape Worn on the way down. And what we
do is the other way. So we go. We start
from Europe from Spain. And think about it, if you
look at the globe and you drill a hole through
the globe where you end up in Spain. So we're
actually sailing just half a way around the planet. So
we go through the North Atlantic, South Atlantic, into the
(02:46):
Southern Ocean, halfway around the Antarctica, and then come up
here into New Zealand. And it's not only one of
the longest, it is the longest leg ever of this
race since the first edition in nineteen seventy three, and
one of the core of the Ocean Race. It's really
that it's not supposed to be easy. So we tend
(03:07):
for each edition to find a new, bigger challenge, something new,
something that makes it even harder. And then we said,
let's make this leg. Let's make the epic leg from
Spain to New Zealand coming here to Auckland, next year,
So yeah, I'm not going to sail it, so it's
easy for me to sit here and say blah blah blah.
But for the people who is going to join the
(03:28):
crew in the different boats that they have, they're up
for something special. And I think some are probably thinking,
am I really up for this?
Speaker 2 (03:36):
Well, after such a brutal and epic leg, as you've
just outlined, what condition do you expect the boats and
the sailors to arrive in Auckland in.
Speaker 3 (03:46):
Oh I think they will be arriving in a pretty
terrible state. Actually, you know, they come straight up from
the Southern Ocean and you get a couple of days
to recover and maybe forget the hardest part of the
Southern Ocean. But down here in a year's time, as
they come in, everyone should come down into the viaduct
and meet the sailors and shake their hands, and you'll
see frostby, you'll see red eyes, but you'll see people
(04:08):
have gone through something that you cannot do in any
other sport demand and they've come together as a team
in a way that's extraordinary. And I think that's the
core of this race, is the team spirit, the work
that the way you come together on these boats. It's outstanding.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
How much has technology changed this rice in recent years.
Speaker 3 (04:31):
I mean, obviously this is a technology sport and we
are now running with the fastest monohil class in the
world when it comes to breaking records over the longest
distance over twenty four hours, it's called the IMOCA sixty
sixty feet long boats. They're foiling and they're doing that
across the ocean for not hours, not days, not weeks,
(04:54):
but for months. So it's extraordinary boats and technology plays
a huge part of it. It's a pretty open rule.
So both around builds their own boats, design their own boats,
but they tend to be pretty equal in speed away
And of course New Zealand here we have a strong heritage.
A big part of the technology that goes on the boats,
from sales to various design parts and so or on
(05:18):
stems from New Zealand or New Zealand innovations. So we
have a lot of legacy from the New Zealand marine industry.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
What do you think New Zealand continues to punch above
its white in offshore siling.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
Well, we look forward to that because New Zealand's used
to punch well over the way in offshore sailing, New
Zealand were the kings of the ocean, and that again
you look at the map and you see you are
in an ocean nation, so it's pretty natural. But it's unfortunately, Jason,
it's quite a long time since the kiwis were out
there battling on the ocean, so we are That's one
(05:51):
of the reasons we are coming here because we really
want to bring the keywis back out on the ocean.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
Tell us about the stop iver the wiat actors mentioned
will become a three week festival. Really, what can can
fans expect when they come and then what sort of
things will they experience that perhaps they haven't before Now.
Speaker 3 (06:11):
I think if you ask any of the sailors who've
done this race, been here since nineteen seventy seven, the vibe,
the experience, and the knowledge and the passion by the
New Zealand fans is extraordinary, so that I think we
will feel a lot of during this topover. And it's
going to be a festival, as you said, almost three
weeks down in the viaduct basin and across Auckland and
(06:35):
you can experience see the boats, of course, enjoy a
lot of great programs down in the Ocean Lie Park,
and the big party is also about the ocean because
we are raising for the ocean. We have a big
program to educate their one around the ocean. The boats
are ocean laboratories, and we also engage a lot with
(06:57):
you know, kids in educational sailing activities the Sailing Academy.
So there'll be a lots for everyone, and it's not
a ticketed event, so it's free for all. We really
look forward to it. Last time when we were last
year in twenty eighteen, there were five hundred thousand people
coming down here, so we look forward to seeing a
lot of people again in Oakland.
Speaker 2 (07:17):
Gender equality gender inclusions now firm role in the Ocean
Race as well. How is that transformed team dynamics in
the culture of the race.
Speaker 3 (07:25):
Well, I mean it's transformed so far that now it's
not about equity inequality, it's about performance purely. So teams
pick the crew, and some teams pick an equal number
of women and men. Some have had more women than
men on some legs, and some have had one women
which is the woman on board, out of four crew members,
(07:48):
which is the minimum. So what we really seeing is
that the mixture in all variations of age, of gender,
or culture is the way to build a strong team,
and this is probably one of the few platforms in
sport that has come so far. So now it's growing
organic that way.
Speaker 2 (08:05):
I know I've got announcements to come around, dates, etc.
But when the fleet does leave Auckland after the three
weeks here in mid March of next year, what are
you hoping that New Zealanders will say about that experience
of having the boats here.
Speaker 3 (08:18):
Oh? Well, I think above all that they felt, Wow,
I'm really inspired by these amazing people who are doing
this race. They're really the most as you've mentioned, the
most endurance and resilience oriented athletes in the world and
the best team players in the world. So they have
been inspired by those they've learned about the ocean, and
they really want to root for the keywis that we
(08:39):
hope to see on the start line in Spain next
year in January. We have a great local organizing team
here run by Will Thomas and eighteen K Sports, and
we work great with the Oakland City Council and with
the government. So I think that's how you build a
big base for this event by working together and the
fans are.
Speaker 2 (08:56):
Part of that. Welcome to New Zealand, Richard. Thank you
for stopping into the studio to have a chat to us.
Exciting times here. We look forward to hearing more details
about the stop over here in early twenty twenty seven.
All the best as you as you pull it all together.
And again thank you for stopping in for a chat.
Speaker 3 (09:11):
Yeah, thanks so Lott, thanks for having me and look
forward to see you in your next year in January
and February March.
Speaker 2 (09:16):
Very much so. Chair of the Ocean Race, Richard Breesi
is joining us in study here on News Talks EDB.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine. Listen live
to News Talks EDB weekends from midday or follow the
podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalk zedb An.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Auckland's love affair with offshore sailing about to take center
stage once again. In early twenty twenty seven, the Ocean
Race returns to the City of Sales for and historic
eleventh stop over There are twelfth in New Zealand all up.
This time going to be bigger than ever. The cruise
will at tackle one of the longest and toughest opening
legs in the race's long history, more than fourteen thousand
(00:36):
nautical miles from Alicante through the Atlantic, around Cape Horn,
across the Southern Ocean before arriving in Auckland, and what
awaits them more than just a race stop. Auckland's Viaduct
will transform into a three week global sailing festival, bringing
fans closer than ever to the boats, the technology and
the human stories behind one of sports or the sports
(00:56):
greatest endurance tests. Chair of the Ocean Race is Richard Bresius,
who's just arrived in Auckland from Sweden but has taken
the time to stop into the student Richard, thanks for
joining us. Auckland has hosted this rice more than any
other city, I think what makes it such a natural
home for the Ocean rice.
Speaker 3 (01:14):
Yes, Hi, it's great to be here and great to
be back in New Zealand and Auckland, and yeah, I
mean it's you just have to look at the map
of the world and you realize why is New Zealand
such a natural stopover for Around the World Race, And
why is New Zealand the birthplace of some of the
very best ocean racers in the world. Because you are
(01:37):
an ocean nation, so here it's in the blood, it's
in the DNA, and that's really something you feel when
you sail into Auckland. And I remember my first Around
the World Race. I was twenty one, and when you know,
you come up through the Southern Ocean, you see the
silhouette of New Zealand, you smell it, and then you
see in this wonderful landscape and then you sail around
(02:01):
Cape Reenga and then down down the coast and into
Auckland and you realize you're in heaven. So wonderful this
is going to be there highlight of the Ocean Race.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
What actually you have painted there? Amazing that opening leg
though I was tired even just saying it fourteen thousand
nautical miles and I can't I to Auckland. What kind
of taste will that provide for these crews and these sailors.
Speaker 3 (02:24):
Yeah, well, actually you took these way out because you
took Cape Worn on the way down. And what we
do is the other way. So we go. We start
from Europe from Spain. And think about it, if you
look at the globe and you drill a hole through
the globe where you end up in Spain. So we're
actually sailing just half a way around the planet. So
we go through the North Atlantic, South Atlantic, into the
(02:46):
Southern Ocean, halfway around the Antarctica, and then come up
here into New Zealand. And it's not only one of
the longest, it is the longest leg ever of this
race since the first edition in nineteen seventy three, and
one of the core of the Ocean Race. It's really
that it's not supposed to be easy. So we tend
(03:07):
for each edition to find a new, bigger challenge, something new,
something that makes it even harder. And then we said,
let's make this leg. Let's make the epic leg from
Spain to New Zealand coming here to Auckland, next year,
So yeah, I'm not going to sail it, so it's
easy for me to sit here and say blah blah blah.
But for the people who is going to join the
(03:28):
crew in the different boats that they have, they're up
for something special. And I think some are probably thinking,
am I really up for this?
Speaker 2 (03:36):
Well, after such a brutal and epic leg, as you've
just outlined, what condition do you expect the boats and
the sailors to arrive in Auckland in.
Speaker 3 (03:46):
Oh I think they will be arriving in a pretty
terrible state. Actually, you know, they come straight up from
the Southern Ocean and you get a couple of days
to recover and maybe forget the hardest part of the
Southern Ocean. But down here in a year's time, as
they come in, everyone should come down into the viaduct
and meet the sailors and shake their hands, and you'll
see frostby, you'll see red eyes, but you'll see people
(04:08):
have gone through something that you cannot do in any
other sport demand and they've come together as a team
in a way that's extraordinary. And I think that's the
core of this race, is the team spirit, the work
that the way you come together on these boats. It's outstanding.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
How much has technology changed this rice in recent years.
Speaker 3 (04:31):
I mean, obviously this is a technology sport and we
are now running with the fastest monohil class in the
world when it comes to breaking records over the longest
distance over twenty four hours, it's called the IMOCA sixty
sixty feet long boats. They're foiling and they're doing that
across the ocean for not hours, not days, not weeks,
(04:54):
but for months. So it's extraordinary boats and technology plays
a huge part of it. It's a pretty open rule.
So both around builds their own boats, design their own boats,
but they tend to be pretty equal in speed away
And of course New Zealand here we have a strong heritage.
A big part of the technology that goes on the boats,
from sales to various design parts and so or on
(05:18):
stems from New Zealand or New Zealand innovations. So we
have a lot of legacy from the New Zealand marine industry.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
What do you think New Zealand continues to punch above
its white in offshore siling.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
Well, we look forward to that because New Zealand's used
to punch well over the way in offshore sailing, New
Zealand were the kings of the ocean, and that again
you look at the map and you see you are
in an ocean nation, so it's pretty natural. But it's unfortunately, Jason,
it's quite a long time since the kiwis were out
there battling on the ocean, so we are That's one
(05:51):
of the reasons we are coming here because we really
want to bring the keywis back out on the ocean.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
Tell us about the stop iver the wiat actors mentioned
will become a three week festival. Really, what can can
fans expect when they come and then what sort of
things will they experience that perhaps they haven't before Now.
Speaker 3 (06:11):
I think if you ask any of the sailors who've
done this race, been here since nineteen seventy seven, the vibe,
the experience, and the knowledge and the passion by the
New Zealand fans is extraordinary, so that I think we
will feel a lot of during this topover. And it's
going to be a festival, as you said, almost three
weeks down in the viaduct basin and across Auckland and
(06:35):
you can experience see the boats, of course, enjoy a
lot of great programs down in the Ocean Lie Park,
and the big party is also about the ocean because
we are raising for the ocean. We have a big
program to educate their one around the ocean. The boats
are ocean laboratories, and we also engage a lot with
(06:57):
you know, kids in educational sailing activities the Sailing Academy.
So there'll be a lots for everyone, and it's not
a ticketed event, so it's free for all. We really
look forward to it. Last time when we were last
year in twenty eighteen, there were five hundred thousand people
coming down here, so we look forward to seeing a
lot of people again in Oakland.
Speaker 2 (07:17):
Gender equality gender inclusions now firm role in the Ocean
Race as well. How is that transformed team dynamics in
the culture of the race.
Speaker 3 (07:25):
Well, I mean it's transformed so far that now it's
not about equity inequality, it's about performance purely. So teams
pick the crew, and some teams pick an equal number
of women and men. Some have had more women than
men on some legs, and some have had one women
which is the woman on board, out of four crew members,
(07:48):
which is the minimum. So what we really seeing is
that the mixture in all variations of age, of gender,
or culture is the way to build a strong team,
and this is probably one of the few platforms in
sport that has come so far. So now it's growing
organic that way.
Speaker 2 (08:05):
I know I've got announcements to come around, dates, etc.
But when the fleet does leave Auckland after the three
weeks here in mid March of next year, what are
you hoping that New Zealanders will say about that experience
of having the boats here.
Speaker 3 (08:18):
Oh? Well, I think above all that they felt, Wow,
I'm really inspired by these amazing people who are doing
this race. They're really the most as you've mentioned, the
most endurance and resilience oriented athletes in the world and
the best team players in the world. So they have
been inspired by those they've learned about the ocean, and
they really want to root for the keywis that we
(08:39):
hope to see on the start line in Spain next
year in January. We have a great local organizing team
here run by Will Thomas and eighteen K Sports, and
we work great with the Oakland City Council and with
the government. So I think that's how you build a
big base for this event by working together and the
fans are.
Speaker 2 (08:56):
Part of that. Welcome to New Zealand, Richard. Thank you
for stopping into the studio to have a chat to us.
Exciting times here. We look forward to hearing more details
about the stop over here in early twenty twenty seven.
All the best as you as you pull it all together.
And again thank you for stopping in for a chat.
Speaker 3 (09:11):
Yeah, thanks so Lott, thanks for having me and look
forward to see you in your next year in January
and February March.
Speaker 2 (09:16):
Very much so. Chair of the Ocean Race, Richard Breesi
is joining us in study here on News Talks EDB.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine. Listen live
to News Talks EDB weekends from midday or follow the
podcast on iHeartRadio
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