Short answer: The Ocean Race 2027 starts in Alicante, Spain, on 17 January 2027 and sails 14,000 nautical miles to Auckland. The fleet is expected around 20 to 21 February, races in Auckland waters in March and leaves on 14 March. Explera DMC New Zealand plans rooms, transfers and waterfront days for groups.
The Ocean Race is a round-the-world sailing race, and Auckland is its first stopover in 2027. This briefing is for travel agents, tour operators and incentive planners with groups in Auckland in late February and March 2027.
What is The Ocean Race 2027?
- The race. The Ocean Race is a crewed round-the-world race in stages, with stopovers between the legs.
- The boats. The race says 2027 is the first edition in which the whole fleet sails foiling IMOCA boats, 60-foot monohulls that can pass 30 knots.
- The opening leg. Yachting New Zealand reported in January 2026 that the leg from Alicante to Auckland is about 14,000 nautical miles, the longest opening leg in the race's history.
- After Auckland. The fleet sails on to Itajaí in Brazil, then the USA and Europe, and finishes at AMAALA on the Red Sea.
When is the Ocean Race 2027 Auckland stopover?
- Arrival. The race said in May 2026 that the fleet is expected around 20 to 21 February 2027. Auckland's official events page lists the stopover from 19 February to 14 March 2027, with arrivals around 19 to 20 February.
- Racing in Auckland. A Coastal Race in Auckland waters is scheduled for 6 March and Pro-Am racing for 11 March.
- Departure. The fleet leaves Auckland for the next leg on 14 March 2027.
- Arrival times. Ocean racing depends on weather, so arrival times move. We confirm the timings close to travel.
Where does it happen?
- Viaduct Harbour. The stopover is based at Viaduct Harbour on the Auckland waterfront.
- The race village. The race describes Ocean Live Park as a free, open-access waterfront precinct from 20 February to 14 March 2027.
- Event areas. Auckland's events page lists the team bases, Wynyard Basin, Wynyard Quarter, the Viaduct Events Centre, Halsey Street Wharf, Te Wero Island and the Eastern Viaduct.
What should agents plan for?
- A busy late February. The stopover overlaps with Te Matatini 2027 in the Waikato from 22 to 27 February and Kings of Leon at Auckland Domain on 24 February. We hold central Auckland rooms early, with a release date.
- Waterfront days. A group can visit the race village on a free afternoon, or plan a day around the Coastal Race on 6 March. We confirm viewing options, access and any ticketed areas at quotation.
- Incentive groups. A sailing theme can sit beside a harbour cruise, a Waiheke Island day or a waterfront dinner. We plan each element around the race schedule.
- Coaches and traffic. Event days bring crowds and road changes near the waterfront. We plan coach drop-offs and walking routes before travel.
How Explera DMC New Zealand can help
We plan group tours, MICE and incentive programmes, sports and event travel and cruises and water experiences for travel agents and tour operators. See our Auckland page, our events page, our February and March 2027 events briefing and our Waiheke Island day briefing.
FAQ
When is The Ocean Race in Auckland? The fleet is expected around 20 to 21 February 2027 and leaves for the next leg on 14 March 2027. Auckland's events page lists 19 February to 14 March.
Where is the Auckland stopover? At Viaduct Harbour on the Auckland waterfront, with the free Ocean Live Park race village from 20 February to 14 March 2027.
When are the races in Auckland waters? A Coastal Race is scheduled for 6 March and Pro-Am racing for 11 March 2027.
What boats sail in the 2027 race? The whole fleet sails foiling IMOCA boats, 60-foot monohulls that can pass 30 knots.
What else is on in late February 2027? Te Matatini runs in the Waikato from 22 to 27 February, and Kings of Leon play Auckland Domain on 24 February, so we hold rooms early.
Sources
- 50 years on: The Ocean Race previews a return to the City of Sails, The Ocean Race, 4 May 2026
- The Ocean Race 2027: confirmed dates reveal record-breaking opening leg from Alicante to Auckland, Yachting New Zealand, 22 January 2026
- The Ocean Race 2027, Auckland's official events page, checked 26 October 2026
Talk to the trade desk
Explera DMC New Zealand trade desk — b2b@explera.co.nz, WhatsApp +66 93 656 8090, B2B portal b2b.expleradmc.com.
