Milford to host inaugural Matt Mitchell Memorial for Zephyrs

Milford Cruising Club will host the inaugural PredictWind Matt Mitchell Memorial and the Sunburst North Island Regatta over the weekend of 20 to 22 November 2026.

The Zephyr fleet will race for the Matt Mitchell Memorial, honouring a three-time America's Cup winner who was also a passionate Zephyr sailor and a former President of the Zephyr Owners' Association. The club says it is honoured to host the first memorial regatta. It expects hot competition on the water, and plenty of storytelling, camaraderie and fun onshore.

The Silver Sunburst

The Sunburst sailors will be racing for the Silver Sunburst, handcrafted by Brian Cato. It goes to the winner of the Sunburst North Island Regatta.

The regatta was first held in 1982. It was long considered the premier Sunburst event, until the class gained National Class status in 1994. As with the Zephyrs, organisers expect plenty of rivalry afloat as crews chase the trophy, and no shortage of stories and reminiscing ashore.

Programme

Friday 20 November 2026

• 4pm: Registration
• Late afternoon/evening: Invitation/practice race
• Bar and BBQ

Saturday 21 November 2026

• 8am: Registration and racing, with a possible cannon start
• Evening: Food trucks and a live band
• Bar and BBQ

Sunday 22 November 2026

• From 10.30am: Racing
• Afterwards: BBQ and prizegiving
• Bar open

The Notice of Race (NOR) is available on the Milford Cruising Club website.