Kiwi Protectors a big hit at America's Cup

by Paul Charman, East and Bays Courier on 13 Jun 2007
A little piece of Kiwi ingenuity is creating as big a splash at the America's Cup in Valencia as the giant yachts.

Protectors, rugged Kiwi-made rigid inflatable boats, have become a firm favourite in America's Cup circles.

About 100 Protector inflatables, made by Rayglass Boats, are now moored off the Valencia docks, providing transport for yachting syndicates, the media, officials and racing fans.

Rayglass began production in Pakuranga in 1987, and the company's range of cabin cruisers is still made there, while Protectors are made in the Mt Wellington factory.

Protector brand marketing manager Lyndsay Turner says the profile the craft has gained at Valencia has been outstanding.

'People are now saying Protector when they mean rigid inflatable boat - it's enough to make a brand manager cry,' he says.

The job the Protector did for a number of syndicates during the 2003 America's Cup regatta in Auckland, combined with networking by Rayglass owner Tony Hembrow, led to its adoption as the official chase boat for this year's regatta.

And while he was in Spain watching the America's Cup pre-regatta, Mr Hembrow sold $2 million worth of Protectors.

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