The Ocean Race 2027: Confirmed dates reveal record-breaking 14,000-nautical-mile opening leg from Alicante to Auckland

The return of The Ocean Race to New Zealand is set to energise the country's offshore sailing scene and inspire a new generation of Kiwi talent.

Speaking after today's announcement of the 2027 race dates and the record-breaking opening leg from Alicante to Auckland, Yachting New Zealand chief executive Steve Armitage welcomed the event and also highlighted the significance of having a Kiwi-flagged boat on the start line for the first time in more than a decade.

"Having this event back in Auckland - and with a New Zealand entry - is hugely significant for the sport," Armitage said, referring to the news last year that Kiwi Vendée Globe sailor Conrad Colman will lead the Aotearoa Ocean Racing team into the next edition. 

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 10 times (there was a New Zealand stopover in Wellington in 2006).

Over the decades, Auckland has become synonymous with offshore sailing excellence, with Kiwi legends like Sir Peter Blake and Grant Dalton writing their names into the event’s record book. Peter Burling and Blair Tuke were the local heroes in the race the last time it stopped in New Zealand in 2018, while Daryl Wislang is a two-time race winner who also won The Ocean Race VO65 Sprint in 2023.

While many Kiwis have competed in recent editions, none have sailed a New Zealand-flagged boat since Camper made the voyage in 2012. 

The 2027 edition will open with an unprecedented 14,000-nautical-mile leg — the longest opening leg in the race's history. Crews will depart Alicante, Spain, on 17 January, navigating the Atlantic, rounding the Cape of Good Hope, crossing the Southern Ocean, and entering the Pacific before arriving in Auckland on 20 February. 

Richard Brisius, Race Chairman of The Ocean Race, described the route as "offshore racing at its most extreme and most thrilling", saying it will challenge even the most accomplished sailors.

For competitors, the opening leg is as much a personal challenge as it is a test of skill. Boris Herrmann, skipper of Team Malizia, called it "an amazing way to start The Ocean Race", praising the chance to spend weeks at sea racing against top competition and tackling big challenges that forge lifelong bonds with teammates.

Auckland will host the race for the 12th time, continuing a legacy that includes legends such as Sir Peter Blake, Grant Dalton, Mike Sanderson, and Peter Burling. Sanderson, the most recent Kiwi to lead a team to victory, described Auckland as a highlight for sailors.

"I'm super-excited The Ocean Race is returning to Auckland, and we will have an opportunity to see the best offshore sailors and teams up close again,” said Sanderson, who has raced in the event four times, including being the skipper of ABN AMRO in the 2004-05 edition.

“Racing into New Zealand was always a highlight of the event for us as sailors, as we knew we were coming to a place with a deep connection to the sport.”

Government and city leaders also welcomed the announcement. Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston said crews and fans could expect a warm Kiwi welcome and an unforgettable stopover, while Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown highlighted the global attention the race will bring to the city’s harbour and waterfront, noting that the event will deliver lasting benefits for the region.

After Auckland, the 2027 route will continue with stopovers in Itajaí, Brazil, followed by the USA and Europe, before concluding with a new finale at AMAALA on the Red Sea. The race will continue its commitment to mixed-gender crews, requiring at least one female sailor on each team, while technological upgrades, including the Onboard Live system, will allow fans to follow the action in real time.

For sailors, the Ocean Race remains the ultimate proving ground. Rosalin Kuiper, who has competed in previous editions, described the event as “the pinnacle of offshore sailing,” where teams race in the world’s most challenging conditions aboard the fastest boats in the sport. Reflecting on the 2027 edition, she said the prospect of returning to the race is “exciting,” highlighting both the intensity of the competition and its unmatched prestige.

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