AROUND NORTH ISLAND
By the time you read this a 38-strong fleet will be fighting for the lead in this year’s iconic SSANZ Round North Island Race – a 1300nm dash split across four legs.
The race started in Auckland on February 22 and is expected to take two weeks to complete. The first leg is from Auckland to Mangonui in the far north (154nm). Leg 2 is from Mangonui to Wellington (550nm), Leg 3 from Wellington to Napier (200nm), with the final leg from Napier returning to Auckland (367nm).
This year’s race – its 13th edition – is sponsored by Evolution Sails and the 38 yachts range from 28 to 52 feet in length. The inaugural event (43 years ago) was planned by Sir Peter Blake and Martin Foster.
Division 1 includes Wired, a Bakewell-White 15.85, Kia Kaha, a TP52, Miss Scarlet, a Reichel-Pugh IRC52, Blink, a Shaw 12, Mr Kite, a Cape 40, Anarchy, a BW40 and Relapse, a Young 50. This all-star division features family combinations including father and daughter Chris Hornell and Rebecca Gmuer-Hornell on Kia Kaha, father and son combinations AJ and Will Reid on Anarchy and Mark and Ash Edwards on Relapse.
Division 2 has Clockwork, a Bakewell-White 37, and Titanium and Serena, both Thompson 38s, Deep Throttle, a Shaw 9, Krakatoa II, a Pogo 40, Higher Ground, a Ross 10.66, Activator, a Hauraki 45, Laissez-Faire II, a Beneteau First 47.7, and Satellite Spy and Urban Cowboy, both Ross 40s.
Division 3 has Motorboat II, an Elliott 10.5, Atamai, a Beneteau First 44.7, Odyssey V, a Young 12, The Guarantee, a Ross 1066, Katana, a Sunfast 3600, Truxton, a Tiller 35, Waka, a Thompson 850 and a massive Elliott 1050 representation with Gale Force, High Voltage, Sniper and Kick.
Division 4 has numerous Bruce Farr Designs including Coppelia and Arbitre, both Farr 11.6s, Duty Free, a Farr 1220, Fifth Dimension, a Beneteau First 36.7 and Distraction, a Farr 1020. Also, in this division, we have Am Meer, a Bavaria 38, Start Me Up, a Ross 930, Pelagian II, a Stewart 34 and the fleet’s two smallest boats, C U Later, a Ross 8m and Moving Violation, an Elliott 7.9m.
The youngest competitors in the race are Ben Beasley (19) and Nick Gardiner (20), sailing on Moving Violation (above).
Beasley and Gardner are raising funds for Lifeline as part of their adventure. “New Zealand has a very high suicide rate,” says Beasley, “and I personally have known people with depression who have taken their own lives. With Lifeline there is always a person on the phone that you can talk to confidentially and I think it’s important people are aware of this.”
Supporters will be able to follow the race through the YB Trackers on each boat and via the SSANZ Facebook and Instagram Accounts.
GROWING STRONGER
While the need for more space is not a new issue, says LSB People & Marketing Manager Luke Hill, it’s become more pressing with the recent acquisition of the moulds for the Catalyst 45 catamaran – a vessel previously built by Salthouse Boatbuilders.
“Greg (Salthouse) approached us late last year to ask if we were interested in the moulds – as he was downsizing his operation and closing his yard.” The 14m Catalyst was designed by Morrelli & Melvin as a high-speed tender/chase-boat for Emirates Team NZ. The design proved popular and Salthouse subsequently built 18 – typically used as support vessels for superyachts, and often fitted with four 300hp-plus outboards.
“The Catalyst’s a good fit for LSB – we’ve built a strong reputation around high-spec, high-performance tenders for superyachts. The Catalyst is highly customisable – which is our main strength – so we grabbed Greg’s offer.”
LSB began the first one earlier this year – E-glass over foam – for an offshore client building a 125ft Swan racing superyacht. The Catalyst is to be used as a support vessel, carrying the Swan’s anchors and chains, fuel, water etc. to keep the yacht light for racing. Already there are numerous enquiries for more of the same.
BEP MARINE FOUNDER PASSES ON
Most New Zealand owners of a powerboat/yacht probably have a BEP Marine product within the vessel’s electrical system. And yet the company had a humble birth.
In 1967 Bruce and his wife Jocelyn bought a small auto electrical business on Auckland’s North Shore and renamed it B.E. Pratt Ltd. He ran the workshop, she the accounts.
Bruce always did marine jobs at the local marina but around 1973 he landed the contract for the wiring on H28 yachts at Compass Yachts in Te Atatu. This was the inception of BEP Marine. Its logo soon featured on the thousands of switchboards being shipped out the door.
BEP Marine was responsible for the wiring for noted boatbuilders in the 80s, and also supplied product for many boats built in back yards through the 70s and 80s.
Bruce always believed in training apprentices – and some who progressed through the ranks are in senior positions within BEP today.
In 1994 BEP released the Contour Range of control panels and with two new partners launched a major export drive. Today Contour control panels are sold in over 45 countries.
Bruce’s son Ross joined the company in the late 70s, allowing Bruce to retire in 1998 and enjoy an active retirement.
He was a top bloke, well-respected by the marine industry.
Virus scuttles AC World series Event
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the restrictive measures imposed by various governments the America’s Cup Arbitration Panel has decided that it has become objectively impossible to hold the America's Cup World Series Sardegna–Cagliari event from the 23rd to the 26th of April 2020.
The panel has cancelled the event, relieving the competitors and the organisers from their obligations arising from the Protocol.
YOUTH AMERICA’S CUP
A reinvigorated Youth America’s Cup regatta will be raced in a new class of foiling monohull – the AC9F – in 2020 and 2021.
The Youth America’s Cup is a joint initiative between The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron (RNZYS), the China Sports Industry Group (CSIG), and Emirates Team New Zealand (ETNZ).
The multi-leg event begins with a fleet-racing seeding event in China in November 2020, a match-racing event in Auckland from February 18-23 (next year), and then the finals from March 8-12, 2021.
The AC9F is a 9m foiling monohull designed by Auckland’s Yachting Developments (YDL) with valuable input from the ETNZ design team, Southern Spars, North Sails and significant support from the wider New Zealand marine Industry. The fleet of one-design boats will be built primarily at YDL in Auckland.
In line with the original America’s Cup Deed of Gift, it is designed to be a ‘friendly competition between yacht clubs of all nations’. Unlike previous editions, multiple entries from various countries will be allowed.
Age restriction rules limit crews to 18-24 years. To encourage diversity, teams will consist of a mixed crew of four sailors on each boat – two females and two males – with a maximum crew weight of 311kg.
“The Youth America’s Cup is something we’ve been eager to see established since we won the America’s Cup and also introduced foiling monohulls to the America’s Cup with the AC75,” says ETNZ CEO Grant Dalton.
“Probably the most important aspect is the establishment of a pathway or stepping stone this creates for the best young guys and girls from around the world to progress one step closer to sailing on an AC75 in the future. Our current team is made up of a number of crew members from the winning 2013 Youth AC team.”
RNZYS Commodore and Yachting Developments owner Ian Cook says the yachts will provide a great challenge for the sailors. “We believe they will generate great competition and an even playing field for all the teams involved, while also leading from the front in terms of modern yacht design, and importantly, creating a great product for fans around the world to observe.”
“We are excited to introduce the Youth America’s Cup into China,” says Wang Weidong, Chairman of CSIG. “The America’s Cup has been the holy grail of sailing for over 160 years. China has a plethora of athletes with the potential, along with the required diligence and learning skills, but lacking experience at global professional competitions. We hope that Youth America’s Cup will be the first step for these young Chinese talents to take as they strive to catch up with their leading peers in the world.”
The RNZYS celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2021 and Vice Commodore Aaron Young says they really wanted to bring an event to the table that will create a superb legacy for the Squadron’s celebrations and for the future of youth sailing.
For more information visit www.youthamericascup.com
MARITIMO BEATS WORLD’S BEST
Maritimo’s international race team was crowned UIM XCAT World Champions and XCAT Pole Position World Champions in Dubai late last year – becoming the first team in XCAT history to win both titles and also the first nonUAE team to win a world championship.
Maritimo’s lead designer and race team member Tom Barry-Cotter says the win came after a year of high and lows and was a long way from the serious accident that saw the team’s boat destroyed in an accident in April 2018.
“We competed in a new boat designed and built by Maritimo on the Gold Coast and first raced in Italy in Round 1 where it secured pole position and second place in Race 1 in its first outing. We developed the boat all year, improving handling and speed, taking two wins in Shanghai in November 2019 to set up the championship showdown with Dubai Police#3 and Abu Dhabi#4.
“We are incredibly proud and excited to bring
the championship back to Australia for the first time and share with our 300 staff at Maritimo.”
Maritimo is the only production motor yacht manufacturer with a dedicated race team competing on the international stage. The learnings from such high-pressure racing flow through to improvements and innovation in the production yacht range.
SUPERYACHT DUEL
The 2020 edition of the New Zealand Millennium Cup (29 January – 1 February) has attracted unprecedented interest from the international superyacht market – heralding the start of a bumper series of superyacht events leading into next year’s 36th America’s Cup.
The most-recent big name to come onboard is Italian superyacht powerhouse, Benetti Yachts, which joins last month’s signing, Royal Huisman.
“Benetti is very pleased to join the New Zealand Millennium Cup,” says Peter Mahony – Asia Pacific general manager at Benetti Yachts. “With the 36th America’s Cup fast approaching for New Zealand, we see the opportunity for superyachts to explore the amazing South Pacific and we hope this will include many Benetti yachts.”
“We see the addition of Benetti to the sponsorship family as a significant milestone as we build towards 2021,” adds organiser Stacey Cook. “It’s very rare for a motoryacht builder to be involved with a sailing event, but it demonstrates the high level of interest we are receiving from the global superyacht industry.”
The Royal Huisman build Sassafras will return to this year’s race, as will previous competitors Silvertip, Tawera and Janice
of Wyoming. The 34m Kawil is a new entrant. Entries have also rolled in for 2021 with Cilliam and Black Sails already entering, along with Janice of Wyoming, Sassafras and Silvertip.
This year’s regatta once again takes place in the Bay of Islands, with race headquarters in the historic Duke of Marlborough Hotel – it received New Zealand’s first liquor license in 1840. It’s the world’s most southerly superyacht regatta and is gaining a reputation as a must-do regatta for yacht owners who like to get off the beaten track.
The 2021 edition of the event runs from 15-18 February 2021, followed by a J-Class Regatta from 22-24 February.
For more information visit www.millenniumcup.com
ETCHELLS PARITY
A review of an Etchells mould created by the Australian Association in 2011 is underway, following queries about the symmetry of the mould, along with the laminating schedule used to create the actual vessels.
Over its 50-year history the Etchells Class has regularly reviewed itself to ensure uniformity across the three licensed builders (one each in the UK, Canada and Australia).
All items that require a modification to the Class Rules (say electric bilge pumps), go through the Technical Committee for analysis before being voted on by the Governors.
The Class Measurer also undertakes reviews at World Championships, and liaises with the builders throughout the year, including factory visits.
In 2011, the Australian Association produced a new mould from scans of boats produced by all three existing moulds. This was approved after being re-measured on completion, and it has been creating new Etchells ever since from its home at Innovation Composites in Nowra on the NSW South Coast.
But queries about the symmetry of this mould (and therefore its boats), have prompted the Governors to approve scans of two boats from each of the three builders to form the basis of an audit of the fleet.
This will include the Chief Measurer, Bill Abbott, attending the Australian manufacturer using a single set of templates to establish if any variances exist, in addition to investigating the laminate issue.
Says Mark Roberts, President of the International Etchells Class of Australia: “The results of the review will be delivered to the Governors. At that time, any rectification works that may be required will be evaluated, put into place, and announced to the sailing public.”
Australian teams blitzed the field at the 2019 Etchells World Championship in Corpus Christi, Texas, leading to speculation about Australian-built boats’ speed advantage. Australia’s Iain Murray with Colin Beashel and Richard Allanson topped the 37-boat fleet.
ALBATROSS BEING FISHED TO DEATH
New research points to fishing bycatch as a major cause of the alarming decline of Antipodean albatrosses. The Department of Conservation report underlines the need for urgent action to fix New Zealand’s fishing rules, says Forest & Bird.
Published late last year, the report (Antipodean wandering albatross census and population study on Antipodes Island 2019) confirms the number of female Antipodean albatross has fallen to 42% of their 2004 numbers. The species has a ‘nationally critical’ threat status.
“The Antipodean albatross is one of the great albatrosses of the world, with a wingspan of three metres or more. We have a special responsibility to protect this bird which breeds almost exclusively on our Antipodes Island in the Sub-Antarctic,” says Forest & Bird seabird advocate Sue Maturin.
“The research, which tracked albatross by satellite, strongly indicates fishing bycatch is one of the main reasons for the alarming decline in the female population. We urgently need better rules for commercial fishing boats to keep these majestic birds from needlessly dying on longline hooks.”
A large number of the birds are believed to be killed by foreign fishing vessels in international waters. They are also killed in New Zealand’s longline fisheries, and the numbers actually caught are likely to be much higher than those reported because of the low rates of observers on commercial boats, the report states.
“Up to 14,000 birds were killed by New Zealand fishing boats last year,” Maturin says. “New Zealand’s fishing industry has pledged to aim for a zero bycatch target, so why are they – unlike our birds – being let off the hook so easily? This year, New Zealand has a chance to fix our fishing rules and do something positive for these beautiful albatrosses.”
Forest & Bird has declared 2020 to be the Year of the Seabird. Submissions on a draft National Plan of Action for Seabirds closed on 27 January.
ARCTIC MELT UNLOCKS HISTORY
This May the British Museum opens a major exhibition detailing the history of the Arctic and its indigenous peoples, through the lens of climate change and weather.
The Arctic’s been home to communities for nearly 30,000 years, cultures that have lived with the challenges of one of the planet’s most dynamic environments. Today climate change is transforming the Arctic at the fastest rate in human history.
The exhibition – Arctic: Culture and Climate – comprises a large and diverse circumpolar collection. From rare, 28,000-year old archaeological finds excavated from the thawing ground in Siberia, to unique tools and clothing adapted for survival, they reflect the extraordinary relationship between Arctic people and their world.
The Arctic Circle is home to four million people including 400,000 indigenous peoples belonging to one or more of 40 different ethnic groups with distinct languages and dialects. Scientists predict the region will be ice-free in 80 years, bringing profound change not only to the people who live there but also to all of humanity.
Objects from across the circumpolar region include an Inughuit sled made from narwhal and caribou bone and pieces of driftwood. It was traded to Sir John Ross on his 1818 expedition, marking the first encounter between Inughuit and Europeans. Also featured are an eight-piece Igloolik winter costume made of caribou fur and a delicate household bag from western Alaska, crafted from tanned salmon skin.
World's largest Riviera raft-up
More than 100 Riviera motor yachts came together in Awaawaroa Bay inside Waiheke Island near Auckland on Saturday February 22, where they rafted up for the night to enjoy an evening of entertainment from a host of local stars performing on a purpose-built floating stage in the centre of the circle.
Kicking off Riviera’s 40-year anniversary celebration, the raft up exceeded the organisers’ expectations as Riviera owners from all over
New Zealand joined the party. With 106 boats and more than 600 people attending, the raft-up easily beat Riviera’s previous record of 47 yachts, set in Perth, Australia in 2017.
The culmination of months of preparation by the team at R Marine Flagship, representing Riviera in New Zealand, the event drew Riviera motor yachts from all over the North Island. Ranging in size from 33 feet to 72 feet long, the newest a weeks-old 545 SUV and the oldest a 35-footer built in 1988.
In 40 years, Australia’s Riviera has manufactured more than 5600 motor yachts in 102 different models. Riviera Motor Yachts are sold all over the world.
A team of 30 from R Marine Flagship and Riviera were on hand to help with the organisation. Riviera’s owner Rodney Longhurst and Riviera’s Brand and Communications Director Stephen Milne flew over from Australia to attend.
www.riviera.com.au www.rmarine.co.nz
