Auckland Int Boat Show- Superyacht captains to provide blueprint

by Rebecca Hayter on 13 Sep 2011
No one knows better than an experienced superyacht captain what makes a perfect berth away from home for a superyacht and her crew – which is why the inaugural Superyacht Captains Forum in Auckland, New Zealand will ask the experts, the superyacht captains: what makes the ultimate superyacht facility?

The answers may seem obvious: easy access for services; friendly cafes and social surrounds; sheltered, deep water berths with good security; reliable supply of fresh produce and local delicacies; simple Customs procedures. But how – exactly – can local infrastructure and regulations ensure that achieving such tasks is a piece of cake?

New Zealand Marine Export Group is hosting the Superyacht Captains Forum, 15-16 September 2011 in the new Viaducts Events Centre at the Auckland International Boat Show. Among the forum’s extensive line-up of speakers covering topics such as maritime law, dealing with piracy, and getting the best of international exchange rates, will be time dedicated to creating a blueprint on the ultimate superyacht facility. The blueprint will be distributed to other marine industries, so that, worldwide, service for superyachts just gets better and better.

Garry Hassall, chairman of the Superyacht Captains Forum committee, says that superyachts have developed hugely in the last 20 years and will continue to evolve. 'They represent a fascinating, sometimes challenging industry, and the forum presents us with a rare opportunity to gain important insights from many superyacht captains at once.'

The forum’s social programme includes The Superyacht Report welcome cocktail function, forum dinner at Auckland’s The Cloud and a match race in the 11-strong Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron’s MRX fleet, prior to watching the New Zealand versus Japan game at the squadron.

Apart from networking and upskilling in their careers, Mr Hassall believes the Superyacht Captains Forum will be ideal preparation for captains planning to bring superyachts to New Zealand this summer as it will cover refit work in New Zealand, cruising New Zealand’s coastline, racing the Millennium Cup, 16-18 February 2012 and enjoying the Volvo Ocean Stopover, 8 – 18 March.

Some of the forum’s line-up of speakers

Speakers at the Superyacht Captains Forum will be led by Master of Ceremonies Peter Montgomery, the voice of New Zealand Sailing for 35 years through nine America’s Cups, eight Olympics and all 10 Whitbread/Volvo Races.

Bob McDavitt , NZ MetServices' weather ambassador, lives and breathes isobars and barometric pressures. With more than 40 years experience as a meteorologist, including Olympics and America's Cup campaigns, Bob is president of the Cruising and Navigation Association of New Zealand.

Matthew Flynn has more than 20 years experience as a litigation lawyer specialising in maritime law and marine insurance law. He is chairman of the New Zealand branch of the Maritime Law Association of Australia and New Zealand, and a supporting member of the London Maritime Arbitrators Association.
Max Cummings is captain of the 90-metre, three-masted schooner Athena. Previous positions have included a transit of the North-West Passage, a trip to Antarctica and a circumnavigation on Sir Douglas Myers Senses.

Rudolphe Holler is a dive instructor and guide onboard private luxury yachts, who films dive trips at destinations around the world, including Tahiti.

To see the programme and register for the Superyacht Captains Forum, at NZD $900 +15% gst, please visit www.nzmarine.com.