Boat Builders compete at Sydney International Boat Show

by Jeni Bone on 6 Aug 2009 Shipwrights had just 2 hours to create a water-tight craft to compete on the waters of Cockle Bay in the annual events at SIBS.

Surrounded by more costly and vastly more engineered vessels in the marina at Cockle Bay, and a transfixed a noisy crowd packed 10-deep to see the action, 12 teams had to paddle and sail their makeshift boats around the Cove.

The two-man teams had just 2 hours, equipped with battery-powered tools to construct their marine masterpieces following the brief of a minimum beam of 90cm.

‘Team Contractors’ Duncan Ritchie and Ian Begg took out the Champion Boat Builder Award,
Fastest in the Race went to Cookson Boats NZ, Andrew Durie and Sam Israelson and, the Trans Tasman winners who will represent Australia in NZ next year will be the Van Munster Boats team of Mitchell Gulpers and Jarrod Browne.

The superb weather and effective marketing of the program of events during the show were great influencers on the impressive crowd turnout at the Sydney International Boat Show.