Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron

Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron
Short nameRNZYS
Founded1871; 153 years ago (1871)
LocationAuckland, NZ
CommodoreGillian Williams
Websiternzys.org.nz

The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron is a New Zealand yacht club, and the club behind New Zealand's America's Cup campaigns, under the guises of New Zealand Challenge and Team New Zealand. It held the America's Cup from 1995 until 2003, becoming in 2000 the first non-American holder to successfully defend the trophy. Since Team New Zealand's victory in the 2017 event, the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron has held the America's Cup.[1] On March 21, 2021, they beat Circolo della Vela Sicilia's Luna Rossa Challenge to again win the 2021 America's Cup.[2]

The club was established in 1871 in Auckland with the name of the "Auckland Yacht Club". Its name was changed to "Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron" when it was granted royal patronage in 1902.[3]

It is located in Westhaven Marina, Auckland, close to the Auckland Harbour Bridge facing on to the Waitemata Harbour and Hauraki Gulf.

The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron is one of the main members of the International Council of Yacht Clubs.

  1. ^ Clarey, Christopher (26 June 2017). "America's Cup: How Emirates New Zealand Was Able to Rout Oracle Team USA". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 10 September 2019. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
  2. ^ Das, Andrew (17 March 2021). "Team New Zealand Retains America's Cup by Beating Luna Rossa". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 7 November 2021. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  3. ^ "Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron – New Zealand". rnzys.org.nz. Retrieved 22 August 2019.