The Ocean Race 2027

Since its establishment in 1973, The Ocean Race has provided the ultimate test of a team and a human adventure like no other. For 50 years, it has kept an almost mythical hold over some of the world's greatest sailors and been a breeding ground for many legends of yachting.

The Ocean Race is currently a privately owned Spanish company, led by three executive members who acquired The Ocean Race in 2018, from Volvo Group.

Auckland’s connection to The Ocean Race stretches back five decades, with the city first playing host to the 1977-78 edition of the Whitbread Round the World Race, the precursor to The Ocean Race. Since then, Auckland has welcomed the best offshore sailors in the world to its shores ten times (there was a New Zealand stopover in Wellington in 2006).

Auckland’s waterfront precinct will be home to the race village - Ocean Live Park - offering race fans an exciting three-week festival celebrating sailing and sailors, technical innovation, and sustainability, and further enhancing Auckland’s status as a world-class destination. 

The yachts are expected to arrive at Auckland throughout middle part of February 2027 and their three weeks stay will include a weeklong maintenance period, harbour and coastal racing and great interest in the arrival and departure of the racing fleet.

18K Sports are the delivery partner of the Auckland Stopover and is responsible to deliver the Auckland Event as to the requirements set out by The Ocean Race and to attract as many fans as possible, and visitors to the event.