04 March 2019
With only weeks to go until the inaugural edition of The Superyacht Gathering, held in Auckland from 27-29 March 2019, excitement is building.
The Superyacht Gathering is a new, immersive, experience-based event that will showcase all that the superyacht community in New Zealand and the wider South Pacific has to offer, while also encouraging engaging and inspiring debate. The event will build a culture and community of like-minded people within the yachting industry to share and inspire for the better good of our livelihood and all that lives on, in and around the sea.
Hosted in Auckland city, The Superyacht Gathering’s busy programme will include a welcome party at Orams Dry Stack, a ‘storytelling’ day at the Maritime Museum, breakfast at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron – home of the America’s Cup – with the Commodore and the America’s Cup itself, concluding with a long lunch at Stonyridge Vineyard on beautiful Waiheke Island. Influencers, owners, designers, senior crew, brokers, media and industry figureheads will all come together over three days in an exclusive environment to share collective thought.
Confirmed speakers include Kiwi superyacht owners Sir Michael Hill, Neville Crichton, and Tracy and Mike Mahoney; pro sailor Bianca Cook; iconic naval architect Gerard Dykstra; designer Sam Sorgiovanni; Patrick Whetter of SeaMercy; Captain James Knowles, Altruism Officer for ‘The Fly Fleet’ and Captain of Dragonfly; and Sir Bob Harvey, ambassador for Auckland.
Topics will include ownership journeys, including Sir Michael Hill’s build of his just-launched superyacht The Beast, new technologies, philanthropy and giving back, and inspiring yachting experiences.
Every edition of The Superyacht Gathering will focus on being as low-impact as possible, will profile inspiring and philanthropic efforts happening in the industry, and will donate a percentage of any profits back to chosen local water-related charities – with the NZ Sailing Trust being the 2019 charity partner.
“We are really looking forward to the first edition of The Superyacht Gathering and have curated an amazing experience for our guests, with an inspiring line up of speakers, ample opportunities for engaged networking, and a chance to experience the best of our host city, Auckland,” says Linda Berry, Managing Director of The Superyacht Gathering. “This will be a very special event.”