Back from Beijing- Iain Murray recounts

by Jeni Bone on 7 Oct 2008 From Star Class to superyachts, and many more interests in between, Iain Murray is Australia's best known sailing identity and fresh from reaching another career goal: sailing for his country in an Olympic Games.

Ten times world champion, with celebrated success from the early 70s through until today – including 12 Sydney to Hobart Yacht races (a 1st place in 2001), winning the 1984 Etchells World Championship and taking part in four Americas Cups – Iain Murray AM, at 50, was the oldest Olympic debutant on the Australian team in Beijing.

Perhaps Australia’s best known name in sailing, known to his mates as 'The Big Fella' – although he shed 20kg in the lead up to the Games – Murray manages to blend business with pleasure.

He is an exceptional sailor, competing for Australia with partner Andrew Palfrey in the Star Class for his first Olympics, and he has more than 40 years of experience under his belt, his passion for the sport igniting at nine years of age when he took up Flying Ant class at Middle Harbour.

Aother facet of his business, Murlan Consulting involves design and building in areas of aged care, marinas, childcare and hotels. A current project is the design of a new yacht club for Hamilton Island, which owner and fellow yachtsman Bob Oatley says will rival the best in the world.

Murray’s interest in real estate was inspired by his grandfather, who started a real estate agency in Manly on Sydney’s north shore in 1911, held continuously by the family until only recently.

Following the slowdown of his full-time sailing commitments in 1994, Murray formed partnerships which successfully completed and sold a mix of 1,980 houses, townhouses and apartments throughout Sydney.

Murlan was established in 2003 to consolidate Iain’s various personal business interests including property development, project management and property and asset management.

Along with property development, sailing and his boat-building yards, Murray has a hand in an electronics company and corporate hospitality yacht charter operations, as well as dedicating some time to mentoring up and coming business operators as a way of sharing his knowledge and business acumen.

'It is a lot for one person,' he acknowledges, 'but it all works very well. Things are interrelated, although if you’re serious about competing at Olympic level you have to devote yourself to it full-time.'

Murray paired up with Andrew Palfrey in the most competitive class in world sailing, as Skipper of the two-man keel boat Star Class. A veteran of more Cups and World Championships that almost anybody, Murray says it was his life-long ambition to represent Australia at an Olympics.

'I can now tick that off the list, but we were disappointed. We didn’t do great. We had hoped to be in the top five.'

Offering no excuses and full of admiration for the competition, Murray says the conditions were not quite what they had expected. 'It was windier than we thought it would be and the wind was random. We set ourselves up for light breezes and the environment changed. Then we broke a mast. But conditions were the same for everybody.'

Crews were extremely high calibre. 'Every year, crews get better and better. Technology too. But Australian sailing can hold its head high. We are among the best in the world,' he says referring to the medal haul of three out of 11. 'We won two gold and one silver, which is a good result. I think we were expecting five, but among that level of competition, three is nothing to be ashamed of.'

Of the facilities, Murray is full of praise. 'There might be better places for sailing in China, which has some beautiful parts that are perfect for boating, but as far as facilities go, they were second to none.'

China, says Murray, certainly had its interest piqued in boating following the Beijing Games, where China took home medals in rowing, sailing and windsurfing, raising the profile of water sports even if audience rating figures reveal it was only slightly.

'It was good for boating,' Murray insists. 'There are some incredible places around China and new marinas under construction. China has a huge population and they will gradually take up boating. It’s inevitable.'

As for competing in London, Murray doesn’t rule it out, but is realistic. 'You have to dedicate your whole focus to sailing if you’re going to compete at that level. At this stage, I have too many projects underway and too many commitments to train every day. I would love to compete in 2012, but we’ll have to see in a couple of years.'

As Principal of one of the country’s most ambitious boat building brands, Azzura Marine, the umbrella company for Azzura Yacht, Marten Yacht and Sydney Yacht brands, Murray has a unique perspective on custom boat building and export industries.

In July this year, Azzura Marine acquired the Sensation Yachts’ facility at Carrington, Newcastle, previously the Australian Defence Industry site, which enables the company to undertake refit and repairs and commence its plans to build superyachts for international markets.

'Azzura Yachts is a brand we’ve been growing for a few years. It’s essentially a custom boat brand. Securing the site at Carrington will allow us to aggressively pursue opportunities on a global scale and gather momentum for the brand.

'We needed a water-based facility,' he continues. 'We were finding that building 200ft boats on the Gold Coast was stretching capacity. I am a big fan of Newcastle too. In 1984 I took Americas Cup boats there. It’s a great deepwater port and a nice place, with the Hunter Valley just down the road and proximity to Sydney.'

Azzura’s new premises will result in an influx of work for the region’s labour force, and employment in the short term is expected to reach over 100 staff.

As well as deepwater access, the site boasts a swag of positive attributes, including 240m of wharf space, 900T lifting capacity, a large 120x45m single span construction hall and associated workshops.

'This is a flourishing market worldwide which has seen a massive explosion in orders and builds in recent years. Australia currently has a limited number of facilities capable of undertaking projects of this magnitude and as the major European yards have order books out to 2012, the timing has never been better to enter this market sector.'

Murray acknowledges that 'times are challenging'. 'However, the higher end of the market has proven resilient to economic downturn activity,' he adds. 'The Marten, Sydney and Azzura brands all signify premium quality which attracts a niche clientele seeking uncompromised quality rather than price focused. The Marten brand in particular, can arguably be compared to a Porsche on water.'

Like most brands and businesses in the prestige sector, Azzura Marine is not completely immune to market conditions, and Murray admits the company has experienced slower than usual enquiry rates. But the global potential is vast.

'There are 290 projects on the go around the world,' explains Murray, quoting global stats show the current world fleet stands at about 2,400 yachts over 30m (100ft). 'That's a figure that makes you wonder about the size of the fleet in another 10 years. There is plenty of potential.'

In addition to the global market for new build constructions, the refit and repair market for superyachts has also flourished over recent years and Murray forecasts, it will continue to rise.

'This market is seen as key target and Azzura has developed a strategy to ensure it is well positioned to undertake refit and repair work for the growing fleet of super-yachts as well as other vessels.'

Across the group Azzura Marine employs 26 full-time boatbuilding apprentices, 3 cabinetmaking apprentices and 1 administration trainee.

Azzura Marine is commi