81m Royal Huisman sailing yacht Sea Eagle to compete in New Zealand Millennium Cup

The 81-metre Royal Huisman sailing yacht Sea Eagle will be competing in this year's New Zealand Millennium Cup, marking her first regatta appearance since she was launched in 2020. 

From 1 to 4 February, Sea Eagle will be racing along the vibrant coastline of Auckland, New Zealand, which has hosted the regatta since 2024. Competitors include the 42-metre Vitters build Sharlou and the 39.7-metre Janice of Wyoming, delivered by Alloy Yachts in 2005.

"This is a very large yacht to be throwing around on a race course with several other superyachts," said Sea Eagle's captain, Henry Say. "We have a very experienced race crew who specialise in sailing yachts of this calibre. We are all excited to try something new and see what the boat can do; though I guess you could say we are a little nervous."

The sailing yacht was built by Royal Huisman – the Cup's Gold Sponsor – and remains the Dutch yard's second-largest sailing yacht, eclipsed only by the 90-metre Athena. Her imposing design is owed to Dykstra Naval Architects and Mark Whiteley, including an enormous sail area of 2,580 square metres upwind and 3,552 square metres downwind. According to Royal Huisman, Sea Eagle has travelled over 45,000 nautical miles since delivery – though she is yet to be tested in a regatta.

"We are confident the yacht will be up for the challenge and get around the course," continued Say. "Our training days will provide us with a better understanding of the yacht's performance and handling capabilities. We love sailing Sea Eagle and are looking forward to showcasing her performance."

"Racing the regatta in the heart of our harbour city is an experience we love to give to our guests," added event organiser, Stacey Cook. "These are the waters which have hosted America’s Cup showdowns, Volvo Ocean Race starts and honed generations of New Zealand sailors, so we know they’re a challenging, and very picturesque, place to race."