The 81-metre Royal Huisman-built Sea Eagle will make her regatta debut next week during the NZ Millennium Cup in Auckland’s iconic harbour waters.

One of the ten largest sailing yachts in the world, Sea Eagle is set to test her racing capabilities after completing an impressive 45,000NM global exploration since her 2020 launch. Captain Henry Say said the crew is both excited and a little nervous about the challenge.

“This is a very large yacht to be throwing around on a racecourse with several other superyachts,” said Say.

“Hopefully, the weather behaves itself. We have a very experienced race crew who specialise in yachts of this calibre and are looking forward to seeing what the boat can do.”

Designed by Dykstra Naval Architects, Sea Eagle features a vast sail area—2,580sqm upwind and 3,552sqm downwind—with a sail management system that allows all three mainsails to be hoisted simultaneously.

These advanced systems, built for performance and reliability, have served her well in global cruising but will now be put to the test in a competitive setting.

Royal Huisman spokesperson Bas Isselmann said Sea Eagle was built to combine luxury, practicality, and exceptional passage-making performance.

“The brief was to create an extremely comfortable and spacious superyacht with good sea-keeping and exceptional amenities. She is a true sailor’s yacht—practical, powerful, and safe.”

Say highlighted the challenges of handling Sea Eagle’s 1,600sqm spinnaker during maneuvers like tacking and gybing, noting that these will test both the crew and the equipment.

Nevertheless, he said he is eager to showcase the yacht’s performance.

The NZ Millennium Cup, running from 1-4 February 2025, takes place in Auckland’s harbour—a venue renowned for hosting high-profile sailing events like the America’s Cup and Volvo Ocean Race.

Event organiser Stacey Cook said the location provides an ideal combination of challenging waters and stunning scenery.

“Racing in the heart of our harbour city is an experience we love to share,” said Cook.