City Info


Race Village opening: 24 February 2018
Average ETA: 27 February 2018
New Zealand Herald In-Port Race: 10 March 2018, 01:00 UTC (14:00 Auckland)
Leg Start: 18 March 2018, 01:00 UTC  (14:00 Auckland)

More information can be found on the Auckland host city website: www.volvooceanraceauckland.com 

Find out all the cool things to see and do in our Race Village here.

Download 3D maps here: 
- Auckland Race Village map (PDF 2.1MB)
New Zealand Herald In-Port Race (JPEG 1.6MB)
- Leg 7 Start course map (JPEG 1.6MB)

Auckland is one of the Volvo Ocean Race’s most storied stopovers – the ‘City of Sails’.
It’s also New Zealand’s most populous city, and first featured in the second edition in 1977-78. It’s only been missing from two editions since then – and these days it’s a very cosmopolitan place, with a population of about one and a half million people. Volvo Ocean Race icons such as Sir Peter Blake, Grant Dalton and Mike Sanderson are still legends around these parts – mention their names, and you’ll see for yourself the high regard in which the Kiwi public holds this race and its heritage.

© Ainhoa Sanchez / Volvo Ocean Race

Auckland is surrounded by water, so you can do anything from harbour cruises to surfing, kayaking and whale watching.
If you’re looking for a rush, then you can jump off the tallest free-standing structure in the Southern Hemisphere. The Kiwis take their sport very seriously, and it’s a very active culture. If you want to travel further afield, then New Zealand’s geography is a microcosm of planet Earth. It has volcanoes. Alpine mountains. Fjords. Rustic hills. Beaches. Forests. Woodlands. Then there’s the wine, cafés and restaurants – New Zealand has a buzzing food culture and the coffee is just great. Try a flat white.

March can often be a beautiful month in Auckland.
The daily average is cooler than the previous stops, but still a pleasant 18C. Don’t forget your sun block – you’ll burn more easily in New Zealand than in the Mediterranean due to there being less ozone here to block the rays. And pack an umbrella, just in case: the weather changes fast, and March has an average of one rainy day in four. 

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In-Port Race

Dongfeng win challenging New Zealand Herald In Port Race

Dongfeng Race Team showed great concentration and resilience in winning the New Zealand Herald In Port Race in Auckland, New Zealand on Saturday.

© Jesus Renedo/Volvo Ocean Race

Conditions were extremely light, shifty and patchy on the Waitematā Harbour, making for plenty of lead changes over the course of the one hour race.

Team AkzoNobel finished in second place, while early leaders MAPFRE completed the podium to retain the overall lead in the In Port Race Series.

"It was very tricky, very difficult," said Dongfeng skipper Charles Caudrelier following the race. "We had a terrible start but there was so much happening during the first leg that it wasn't always good to be in the lead as you just showed the others where the light spots were. We were able to pick up on that and sail around the leaders.

"We worked hard on our speed, and managed to come back slowly.”

The race started in spectacular fashion, considering how light the wind was. MAPFRE positioned well to leeward of the fleet, was first across the line, with David Witt’s Scallywag barging through with speed ahead of a big group clustered near the pin end.

© Jesus Renedo/Volvo Ocean Race

But in fact, it was Team Brunel who were causing the pile-up at the pin, forcing three boats outside of the start line, with Dongfeng, Turn the Tide on Plastic and team AkzoNobel all required to re-start well behind the leaders.

That left MAPFRE and Scallywag as the early leaders, charging up what appeared to be a one-tack leg.

But as they approached the top third of the leg, the wind died, and the trailing boats were able to sail around the leading pair on both sides, with AkzoNobel and Vestas 11th Hour Racing squeezing through just ahead of Dongfeng Race Team and Brunel Sailing.

On the nominally downwind second leg, AkzoNobel and Dongfeng found a vein of pressure to grab the lead, and on a shortened two-lap course, it was Dongfeng who were able to ease ahead and hold on for the win.

“It was a good team win,” said Caudrelier. “Very good for the mood of the team."

© Ainhoa Sanchez/Volvo Ocean Race

The results mean MAPFRE retains the overall lead in the series, with Dongfeng reducing the gap to second place and team AkzoNobel leapfrogging Brunel to take third.

Current Volvo Ocean Race In-Port Race Series Leaderboard
1. MAPFRE – 37 points
2. Dongfeng Race Team – 34 points
3. team AkzoNobel – 27 points
4. Team Brunel – 26 points
5. Vestas 11th Hour Racing – 16 points
6. Sun Hung Kai / Scallywag – 15 points
7. Turn the Tide on Plastic – 11 points

The NZ Herald In-Port Race Auckland ...in 105 seconds. Here's all the best of the action from the City of Sails in just over a minute and a half

The NZ Herald In-Port Race Auckland ...in 105 seconds | Volvo Ocean Race