SailGP

SAILGP TEAMS UP WITH VENUES ŌTAUTAHI TO DELIVER AN INSPIRED FOOD EXPERIENCE FOR ITS LONG-AWAITED NEW ZEALAND DEBUT!

ŌTAUTAHI CHRISTCHURCH, 08 JANUARY 2023

SailGP is pleased to announce its partnership with Venues Ōtautahi as the official caterer for the ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix, Christchurch, unfolding 18-19 March 2023 on Whakaraupō, Lyttelton Harbour.

Together with SailGP, Venues Ōtautahi - or VŌ - will deliver an exciting and inspired food and beverage experience for thousands of fans at the sold-out event in Lyttelton. Bespoke menus will provide a premium experience for guests in all areas, including the Fan Village, Platinum Lawn, Shoreline Villas and the Adrenaline Lounge – SailGP’s top tier hospitality offer.

Karl Budge, head of the New Zealand event said:

“We’re delighted to have Venues Ōtautahi on board for our New Zealand debut. Throughout planning, we have been hugely impressed with VŌ’s food philosophy of honouring and celebrating local ingredients of the Canterbury region, and their alignment with our ethos and food sustainability charter.”

“We’ve said throughout how privileged we are to deliver one of the first major events in Christchurch since the earthquakes, and we’re even more excited to do so with the region’s most experienced and innovative catering company by our side.”

Crafted with a focus on locality and provenance, food served at the ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix | Christchurch will be sourced from Whakaraupō, Lyttelton Harbour and the surrounding Banks Península wherever possible.

Guests will experience inspired menus prepared by some of New Zealand’s best chefs in collaboration with VŌ’s award-winning executive chef, Dan Shanks. That includes Matt Lambert of The Lodge Bar Group, who will design the menu for hundreds of guests in 14 sold-out Shoreline Villas along the water’s edge. An internationally-acclaimed chef in New Zealand and the United States, Matt Lambert held a Michelin Star from 2013-2019 for his New York restaurant, the Musket Room.

Giulio Sturla, New Zealand Chef of the Year 2020, will provide the culinary concept and direction in the Adrenaline Lounge. Sturla owns iconic Lyttelton venue, ‘Mapu,’ which provides tailored dining experiences for just six guests per night, with all ingredients sourced from the Banks Peninsula.

For Caroline Harvie-Teare, Venues Ōtautahi Chief Executive, the excitement is palpable:

“We are delighted to be partnering with SailGP to deliver event and culinary services in March 2023. What an incredible occasion for Ōtautahi, Christchurch and we can’t wait to be part of the action.

“Venues Ōtautahi will showcase a culinary experience to all guests that will celebrate local, sustainable, and ethically-sourced food and beverage and will bring together a collection of local culinary icons. We see this and the long-term partnership opportunity with SailGP as an incredible opportunity to celebrate everything wonderful about the Waitaha Canterbury region on the world stage, now and in the future.”

ABOUT VENUES ŌTAUTAHI

Venues Ōtautahi attract and host a wide range of events in Christchurch and manage a diverse and iconic portfolio of community venues. Venues Ōtautahi own Christchurch Town Hall and Christchurch Arena and manage Orangetheory Stadium, Hagley Oval, the Air Force Museum of NZ and Te Kaha, the new Canterbury Multi Use Arena due to open in April 2026.

The events held across the Venues Ōtautahi portfolio deliver significant social, cultural, and economic benefit to the region and ultimately these iconic city venues play a valued role to the Christchurch way of life and the economic prosperity and social wellbeing of the region. Venues Ōtautahi proudly procure over 80% of all food and beverage provided in the venues from the Canterbury region.

ABOUT SAILGP

SailGP is the world’s most exciting racing on water. The global championship features national teams battling in short, intense races at iconic stadium-style venues across the globe. The high-tech, high-speed action features sailing’s best athletes racing in identical hydrofoiling F50 catamarans, flying at speeds approaching 100 km/h. SailGP also races for a better future, championing a world powered by nature. Visit SailGP.com for more information.

ABOUT THE ITM NEW ZEALAND SAIL GRAND PRIX

Ōtautahi, Christchurch is host city for the inaugural New Zealand Sail Grand Prix, setting sail on Whakaraupō, Lyttelton Harbour 18-19 March 2023. Connected to New Zealand’s second largest city by tunnel and hill passes, Whakaraupō, Lyttelton Harbour is the southern edge of a great extinct volcano that created Banks Peninsula. Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke Rāpaki hold guardianship over the harbour and have worked closely with SailGP to bring the event to life.

The 10th event on the Season 3 calendar, the New Zealand Sail Grand Prix is the last event before the Season Grand Finale in San Francisco.

Find out more HERE
Full Sail GP Season 3 Calendar can be found HERE