Please select your home edition
Edition
Rooster 2025

Auckland Int Boat Show- Superyacht builders create hi-tech outriggers

by Rebecca Hayter on 17 Sep 2011
The superyacht apprentices race their creations in the Viaduct Harbour SW

Australia and Ireland tangled on the water at the Auckland International Boat Show today in a precursor to tonight’s big game. The boat show is based in the new Viaduct Events Centre in the Viaduct Harbour from 15 to 18 September.

Teams of apprentices took part in the NZ Marine Industry Training Organisation’s International Boatbuilding Competition to compete for highest standard of innovation, best quality of build and best overall presentation. Their task was to build outrigger canoes within a basic design, and apply their skills in composite, design, cabinetmaking and creativity to impress the judges. In the afternoon, the Wynyard Crossing bridge became a grandstand from which the crowds could watch the boats race under paddle, sail and outboard power in front of the Viaduct Events Centre while Peter Montgomery provided the commentary.

The five teams are made up of apprentices which build boats or masts for the superyacht industry; every team represents a country competing in Rugby World Cup 2011.

SMI (Specialist Marine Interiors) did a grand job for Ireland, taking inspiration from the Giant’s Causeway, a famous landmark in Ireland. Daniel Bliss, Leon Tonner, Matt Webster and Wayne Keller easily won the categories of innovation, best quality of build and overall presentation. Their boat was a work of art which recreated Celtic knotwork and the SMI logo in timber veneer of makore, and light and dark sapele mahogany. The outrigger hull is secured with wavey, hollow beams in an octagonal cross-section built in yellow cedar.

Alloy Yachts created an understated pair of hulls in dark blue, carrying the rooster emblem on the bows for the French rugby team. Fitzroy Yachts’ creation featured the Ranfurly Shield, and represents the puma for Argentina. The team of Matthew Stephens, Jordan Pretty, Brendan Hodge and Aaron Green demonstrated their cabinetmaking skills in the decking which features teak with wenge inlay. The boat even had bling in lights either side and bright-blue, back-lit signs for line controls in the carbon fibre-lined mastbox.


Kiwi-Aussie rivalry featured in the Superyacht Interiors NZ entry, named Underarm and featuring a wallaby. Kieran Rowe, Phil Dack, Chris Marsh, Michael Shieffelbein and Phil Webb gave their hull a moderate vee and placed their cross beams across the entire beam to avoid point-loading.

The NZ Marine team’s entry was painted plain black and took inspiration from the America’s Cup catamaran, the AC45, with a reverse raked bow and transom for longer waterline.

NZ Marine Industry Training Organisation ran the International Boatbuilding Competition to promote the skills in the marine industry and to encourage young people to consider a career in the industry. Staff from NZ Marine ITO will be on the stand to discuss career options. The boats will be on display at the show tomorrow.

The boat show is offering plenty of land-based action. At the Vetus Maxwell stand, the RC12, 3500lb-capable windlass has enough to pull an All Black scrum over the try-line and is making its world debut at the Auckland International Boat Show. The RC stands for rope-chain, traditionally the preserve of smaller boats but new developments have made this technology available to larger boats, including launches up to 22m.

Vetus Maxwell’s sales manager, Indo Asian region Ron Czerniak says the rope-chain combo gives owners the security of anchoring with chain but without the considerable weight of having an entire length of chain in the bow.

Doyle Sails is pointing high at the show, thanks to its boat show special which promised to reef down its prices by 25% on all orders placed at the show. Doyle supplies the dinghy, cruising, racing and superyacht markets, particularly promoting its Stratis technology. Sales manager Roger Hall says the stand has been busy as soon as the show has opened both days, with many people buying new sail wardrobes for their yachts following a general refit over the winter season.

Fi-Glass Boats is offering the sweetest of deals on its one-third, one-third, one-third offer on its 5.8m Fi-Glass Lightning. The boat is selling at $49,950 including gst and trailer fully warranted and registered, ready to hit the road to go exploring. Buyers can pay a third now to take the boat away, a third in 12 months time and a third in 24 months.


Five hundred visitors arrived at the show within 30 minutes of the gates opening this morning as the spring equinox gets boaties in the mood for summer. The first two days of the show have welcomed more than 6000 visitors through the gates. The show has its final day tomorrow, from 10am to 6pm, giving visitors another opportunity to win the survey prize of a week’s sailing in the Bay of Islands with The Moorings.


Auckland International Boat Show
Auckland Viaduct Harbour
15 – 18 September 2011
10am to 6pm daily
Adult day pass $20; online $18
Child 5 - 15yr, day pass NZ $8; online $6
Child under 5 Free
Family day pass NZ $40; online $33
Adult 4 day pass NZ $30; online $30

Zhik 2024 DecemberRS Sailing 2021 - FOOTERNorth Sails Loft 57 Podcast

Related Articles

SailGP's return to Auckland for Season 6 confirmed
ITM is the NZ's Grand Prix's Title Partner, marking a fourth year supporting Black Foils. After a record breaking debut, the ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix Auckland has been confirmed to be returning in 2026 and is set to be bigger than ever.
Posted on 26 Jun
Rolex SailGP Championship 2026 dates confirmed
Including a return to fan-favorite destination, Auckland SailGP has released further details of forthcoming 2026 Season, including the return of fan-favorite locations, multi-year hosting agreements secured across all regions, and an evolved regional structure to raise the stakes for athletes and fans alike.
Posted on 26 Jun
Pip Hare Announced as Patron of WORLDSTAR 2026
A meaningful return to her roots with the Royal Western Yacht Club of England The Royal Western Yacht Club (RWYC) is absolutely delighted to welcome solo ocean racing legend Pip Hare as the Patron of WORLDSTAR 2026—our flagship round-the-world sailing event. This is more than a title; it's a homecoming.
Posted on 26 Jun
Kieler Woche Day 7
British mixed dominance in dinghy and catamaran After the second day of the Sailing Grand Slam in the Olympic mixed classes, Martin Wrigley and Bettine Harris are leading the 470 class even more dominantly than John Gimson and Anna Burnet in the Nacra 17 on Thursday (June 26).
Posted on 26 Jun
29th Superyacht Cup Palma day 1
Cervo and Open Season take opening day honours The Superyacht Cup Palma 2025 swung into action today, with captains and crews across the varied and inspiring fleet seizing the opportunity to take the measure of the competition out on the racecourse.
Posted on 26 Jun
J/70 Mixed-Plus Worlds at Lake Garda Day 1
Yupi leads after a perfect opening day in Torbole Lake Garda delivered its finest conditions for the opening day of the first-ever J/70 Mixed-Plus World Championship: three races completed in a steady, warm Ora breeze peaking at 20 knots.
Posted on 26 Jun
Tschüss 2 - Transatlantic Titans
Line Honours for Christian Zugel's Volvo 70 in the Transatlantic Race 2025 Volvo 70 Tschüss 2 (USA), owned by Christian Zugel and co-skippered by Johnny Mordaunt, has taken Line Honours in the West to East Transatlantic Race 2025 in an elapsed time of 07 Day 15 Hrs 29 Mins and 10 Secs.
Posted on 26 Jun
Craig Wood Makes History
The first triple amputee to sail solo non-stop and unsupported across the Pacific Craig is the first triple amputee to sail solo non-stop and unsupported across the Pacific, completing the 7506nm journey from Mexico to Japan in 90 days.
Posted on 26 Jun
NTG Global Graduate Program
Shape your career and propel yourself into the world of innovation North Technology Group, a global leader in advanced composite technology, is offering an exciting and dynamic graduate program that will shape your career and propel you into the world of innovation.
Posted on 26 Jun
Tight racing at ORC North American Championship
Two days of racing remain before titles awarded in three classes With three days of racing completed over 7 Windward-Leeward courses, the scorelines are filling up for all three classes competing in the first ORC North American Championship at Storm Trysail Club's Block Island Race Week.
Posted on 26 Jun