After more than two decades in the wilderness, the Admiral’s Cup has returned with a vengeance, and the 2025 edition is shaping up to be one of the most fiercely contested offshore sailing events in modern history. With 15 teams, 30 boats, and a format designed to test every aspect of competitive seamanship, the scene is set for a global battle of endurance, skill, and tactical brilliance.
And if you ask any Kiwi, there’s no question who the favourites are.
New Zealand’s return to the Admiral’s Cup arena
New Zealand has a proud, if understated, history in the Admiral’s Cup. Since first entering in 1971, Kiwi teams have often punched above their weight, culminating in an unforgettable overall win in 1987 with Goldcorp, Propaganda, and Kiwi flying the flag for the New Zealand. In 2025, they’re back—with teeth.
Representing the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron (RNZYS), the duo of Caro and Callisto makes up one of the most balanced and battle-hardened entries in the fleet. Both boats are loaded with pedigree, modernised to the hilt, and crewed by a who’s who of New Zealand’s offshore elite.
Caro – The Offshore Queen
Skippered by Swiss-based Kiwi Max Klink, Caro is no stranger to offshore success. She claimed the overall win at the 2023 Rolex Fastnet Race, placed highly in the Rolex Middle Sea Race, and consistently performs at the top of the international fleet. At 15.85m long, she’s a sleek, Botin 52 Custom rocket, armed with a devastatingly effective international crew.
With Adrian Stead as tactician and a core Kiwi crew including Christian Kamo, and Justin Ferris, Caro combines global experience with local pride. And she’s coming in hot—her sixth-place line honours finish at the 2024 Sydney to Hobart against larger maxis proved she’s not just fast, but tactically lethal in tough conditions.
Callisto – Kiwi Heart, Global Firepower
In Class 2, Callisto—a modified GP42 skippered by James Murray—also carries the RNZYS standard. Significantly refitted for the 2025 campaign, she’s light, responsive, and brutally efficient on the water. But it’s her crew that truly turns heads: Mike Sanderson, Dean Barker, Ian Moore, and Nic Asher—names that read like a roll call of Kiwi yachting greatness.
There’s youth, too. Rebecca Coles and Jared Henderson bring under-27 firepower, while the team is rounded out by a seasoned core of tacticians and trimmers drawn from the best of Kiwi offshore circles. This is not just a development project; it’s a team designed to win.
Bloodlines, bravery, and belief
The RNZYS entry is undeniably strong, but they’re not the only ones with designs on the Cup.
Picking favourites for the 2025 Admiral’s Cup is not an easy task. It’s a fleet of champions, development projects, and hungry dark horses. But New Zealand has always thrived in these conditions. With Caro and Callisto, RNZYS doesn’t just arrive with boats—they arrive with belief.
Whether that’s enough to claim the Cup for a second time remains to be seen. But rest assured, no one will write the Kiwis off.
And, we, at Boating New Zealand are standing right behind both teams cheering them on!
