Lion New Zealand to return to the Waitemata after 18 month restoration
Sir Peter Blake’s Lion New Zealand will return to the Auckland Viaduct Harbour on Monday 11th March at 4pm following an extensive 18 month restoration at Yachting Developments, Hobsonville.
We would like to invite all boat owners both big and small to join us on their boats to form a flotilla outside the Viaduct Marina to welcome home Lion New Zealand. Lion New Zealand will approach from under the harbour bridge and as she arrives please sound your horns or cheer her on as she comes into the Marina. (Please do not follow her into the marina as this may cause congestion.)
Further events to celebrate this milestone, there will be free Public Open Days in Market Place Square, Viaduct on the 15th and 16th March. Fellow sailors and the general public are invited to view Lion New Zealand, learn of her history and the role of the NZ Sailing Trust. A gold coin donation would be welcomed.
Lion New Zealand’s major restoration was required after 34 years of wear and tear. The project brief between the NZ Sailing Trust and Yachting Developments focused on retaining as much of her original configuration both above and below deck with some modifications to meet current maritime standards and the demands of her current role.
With a budget in excess of $1.1 million the restoration has been extensive, after 34 years no stone has been left unturned, including a new mast, keel and everything in between (all electrical and engineering systems, navigational hardware, rudder and mast as well as sailing hardware).
The NZ Sailing Trust has worked tirelessly and managed to raise the majority of the funds, however additional funds are still needed to complete the final touches to the restoration. After the generosity of so many people, the Trust started the Lion New Zealand 300 Club, we still need more people to join and help us fund the finishing touches to Lion NZ, check out www.nzsailingtrust.com/join-the-club
Better known for her Line Honours at the Sydney to Hobart in 1984 and her subsequent second place in the Whitbread Round the World 1985/86 campaign, Lion New Zealand has been owned and operated by the NZ Sailing Trust since 2008. The Auckland based charitable Trust has delivered youth development sailing programmes on both Lion New Zealand and Steinlager 2 to over 8000 young New Zealanders. To read the difference the experience has made to many who have participated in these programmes go to www.nzsailingtrust.com/school-programmes
For more information contact Paul Powney CEO paul@nzsailingtrust.com
