Superyacht builders create hi-tech outriggers at Auckland International Boat Show

Hi-tech glamour and outrigger canoes – that rare combination delighted the crowds at the International Boatbuilding Competition on Saturday when teams of superyacht boatbuilders and apprentices put some of their best skills to the test.

The competition, including a race on the water, was a highlight at the Auckland International Boat Show, based at the new Viaduct Events Centre, Auckland from 15 to 18 September.

The competition, organised by NZ Marine Industry Training Organisation, had the teams competing for the highest standard of innovation, best quality of build and best overall presentation. Their task was to build outrigger canoes within a basic design, and apply their skills in composite, design, cabinetmaking and creativity to impress the judges. In the afternoon, the Wynyard Crossing bridge became a grandstand from which the crowds could watch the boats race under paddle, sail and outboard power while television’s Peter Montgomery ran the commentary.

The five teams each represented companies in the superyacht industry and, to up the ante even further, each team also represented a country competing in 2011 Rugby World Cup.

SMI (Specialist Marine Interiors) did a grand job for Ireland, taking inspiration from the Giant’s Causeway, an Irish landmark. Daniel Bliss, Leon Tonner, Matt Webster and Wayne Keller easily won the categories of innovation, best quality of build and overall presentation. Their boat was a work of art which recreated Celtic knotwork and the SMI logo in timber veneer of makore, and light and dark sapele mahogany. The outrigger hull was secured with curved, hollow beams created from an octagonal cross-section in yellow cedar.

Alloy Yachts created an immaculate pair of hulls in dark blue, carrying the rooster emblem on the bow to represent the French rugby team. Their innovation included twin jockey poles clipped to the mast which were to prove crucial in their win on the water, as they were able to pole out the spinnaker clews and present maximum sail to the breeze.

Fitzroy Yachts’ creation featured the Ranfurly Shield and carried the puma logo for Argentina. The team of Matthew Stephens, Jordan Pretty, Brendan Hodge and Aaron Green demonstrated their cabinetmaking skills in the decking which featured teak with wenge inlay. The boat even had fully-lit lights either side and bright-blue, back-lit signs for line controls in the carbon fibre-lined mastbox.
Kiwi-Aussie rivalry featured in the Superyacht Interiors NZ entry, named Underarm and featuring a wallaby and a leeboard. Kieran Rowe, Phil Dack, Chris Marsh, Michael Shieffelbein and Phil Webb gave their hull a moderate vee and placed their cross beams across the entire beam to avoid point-loading. They carried their outboard forward from the transom to keep the rudder aft.

The NZ Marine team’s entry was painted plain black and took inspiration from the America’s Cup catamaran, the AC45, with reverse-raked bow and transom for longer waterline.  The NZ Marine Industry Training Organisation ran the International Boatbuilding Competition to show the boating world, within New Zealand and to visitors from overseas, their high levels of skill and innovation in boatbuilding, cabinetry and design using a variety of materials. NZ Marine ITO staff were on hand to meet young people considering a career in the marine industry.

Mayor Len Brown met all the teams and watched the racing in the afternoon. Getting clear air and clear water proved crucial in gaining an early advantage under paddle, but ultimately Alloy Yachts (France) took line honours, followed by Superyacht Interiors NZ (Australia) and Fitzroy Yachts (Argentina).
Companies which participated in the International Boatbuilding Competition each received an apprentice scholarship from NZ Marine Industry Training Organisation, valued at approximately $5,000 each.
The event was a fantastic endorsement of the newly developed Viaduct Harbour as the Wynyard Crossing provided a perfect grandstand view of the racing.

EDITOR’S NOTES:
COMPANIES WHICH COMPETED IN THE INTERNATIONAL BOATBUILDING COMPETITION
Specialist Marine Interiors in Whangarei creates superbly crafted superyacht interiors using the finest products and craftsmanship. Its staff understand design, the integration of systems and critical path planning. Its high-tech, interior remote build system maximises quality and efficiency from design to manufacture to installation.

Alloy Yachts built New Zealand’s first superyacht, the 28.2m Chanel, in 1985. Twenty-six years later, the company employs more than 425 staff including 83 apprentices. Its yachts have won 26 International superyacht awards, including for the 40m Victoria of Strathearn, the 34m VvS1 motoryacht and more recently Imagine and Kokomo.
Alloy Yachts develops extensive technology in-house, including hydraulic passerelles, flush hatches, tender gantries, captive winches, its power system SeaGen and ship management system SeaTouch.
Its newest boat is the 67 .2m (220ft), 837grt Vertigo, the largest yacht built in the Southern Hemisphere. She is Alloy Yachts’ first build to exceed 500grt, which meant more stringent demands from the classification societies.
Fitzroy Yachts of New Plymouth completes virtually all aspects of construction in-house. Led by managing directors Rodney Martin and chairman Peter White-Robinson, Fitzroy Yachts employs 180 staff representing skills in fabrication, mechanical, joinery and painting tradesmen as well as a talented and experienced design and management team.
Its purpose-built 5,500m² building can house four large boats under construction at the same time.

In May 2011, at the sixth annual World Superyacht Awards, the Fitzroy Yachts-built Zefira won the overall Sailing Yacht of the Year award.

Superyacht Interiors NZ (SINZ) creates marine interiors ranging from contemporary to light-weight to traditional. The interiors are created while a yacht is under construction or refit, then delivered and installed anywhere in the world. SINZ employs more than 80 people, including marine CAD designers.
The NZ Marine team comprised apprentices and boatbuilders from Southern Spars and Cookson Boats. Southern Spars builds carbon fibre masts for yachts from small, hi-tech racing dinghies, production cruising yachts, hi-performance racing yachts and through to superyachts. Its high performance masts feature EC-6 rigging to achieve greater stiffness with less drag and less weight. Southern Spars features the New Zealand marine industry’s only robot.
Cookson Boats has built all America’s Cup racing yachts for Emirates Team New Zealand since 2000 and is involved in the construction of the AC45 America’s Cup class catamarans. It specialises in high performance racing yachts for the international market.



EDITOR’S NOTES: NZ MARINE INDUSTRY ORGANISATION

The apprentices who competed in the International Boatbuilding Competition at the 2011 Auckland International Boat Show represent one of the world’s most successful industry training programmes.
New Zealand Marine Industry Training Organisation, part of NZ Marine Industry which organises the Auckland International Boat Show, supplies skilled, motivated young people to all sectors of the marine industry. This is essential if the marine industry is to achieve its goal to double in size by 2020.
NZ Marine ITO training covers core skills such as boatbuilding, marine painting and marine engineering. However it also provides training at all levels of a company including management, forecasting and marketing. This helps to ensure people remain successful in business, thus retaining their knowledge and experience – core ingredients in New Zealand’s outstanding success in innovative marine technology.
NZ Marine ITO general manager Chris van der Hor believes the organisation is the only one of its type in the world which is committed to on-going training at all levels of the industry.


Press contact:
Rebecca Hayter
Mobile: 0274 782 478
Tel: +64 9 520 7144
E-mail: media@bia.org.nz

Michelle Khan
Events Manager, Auckland International Boat Show
DDI: +64 9 376 7739
Mobile: +64 29 770 5373
Tel: +64 9 360 0056
E-mail: michelle@bia.org.nz
Web: www.nzmarine.com
web www.aucklandinternationalboatshow.com