NZ Marine Cup attracts classic mega-yacht Shenandoah

by Donald Holder on 23 Feb 2010
The beautiful, classic three-masted schooner SY Shenandoah is confirmed as an entrant in the superyacht event, New Zealand Marine Cup: Kiwi Kawau Challenge, scheduled for Thursday 4 March.

Built in 1902 with a traditional timber superstructure, the 54m (177 ft) steel-hulled mega-yacht has a strong link to New Zealand and the local marine industry, says Captain Gavin Reid.

'We've had a lot to do with the New Zealand marine industry and want to put the boat on show for the many New Zealanders who have worked on her in recent years, so that's why we're entering the NZ Marine Cup,' says Reid.

Shenandoah was built by New York boat-builder Townsend & Downey (1901-1910) and is regarded as a particularly well-designed yacht from naval architect Theodore E. Ferris. Between 1993 and 1996, she was fully restored by Auckland custom superyacht builder McMullen and Wing after arriving in New Zealand in an advanced state of decay.

The fifth major refit of Shenandoah has recently finished at Orams Marine Services. Reid says they tend to come back to New Zealand every three to four years as part of their world cruising plans, scheduling regular and major maintenance work to be done while in Auckland.

'For the past five to six years, Shenandoah has been used primarily for cruising, but we do a few races, particularly when in Europe with the classic yacht regattas,' says Reid.

Shenandoah also raced in the Millennium Cup in Auckland in 2000.

With yachts in the NZ Marine Cup sailing under IRC racing rules, each will be allocated a start time by the race director Hal Wagstaff of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, says Mark Wightman, chairman of the New Zealand Marine Export Group Inc. (NZ Marine) which is hosting the Kiwi Kawau Challenge superyacht event.

'The intention is for all the yachts to arrive in Bon Accord Harbour on Kawau Island close together to make an exciting visual spectacle, before mooring up and joining us and the event sponsors onshore to enjoy some friendly Kiwi hospitality,' says Wightman.

Shenandoah joins Celandine and Drumbeat in the one-day race from Auckland to Kawau. Further entries are expected to be announced prior to the event.

Full details about the event can be found on the NZ Marine events website: www.nzmarineevents.com.