Boating NZ October 2021

Producing Boating New Zealand during lockdown has not been easy. Unable to travel, to go boating, review boats or conduct face-to-face interviews – unable even to leave home except for essentials – we have Zoomed, telephoned, emailed and digitally collaborated to bring you the magazine you hold in your hands. Thank goodness for fast broadband and a great team of contributors! And while most of New Zealand is now enjoying the relative freedom of Level 2-plus, Auckland remains tightly locked down, so producing the November issue will likely be challenging as well, though hopefully less so. At least we’ll be able to organise stories outside the Auckland region. Of course, thousands of businesses around the country face their own challenges. Families and individuals too, trying to balance work with home-schooling, or doing…

Narrative by Storylines is a new-build, liquid natural gas (LNG) powered ship launching in 2024. The ship is 741ft (226m) long with 533 residences. Condominiums range from 22m2 at US$360k for a 12-year lease with annual fees of US$60k up to 142m2 for US$7.7M with annual fees of $205k. Fees include housekeeping, laundry, meals, beverages, medical visits and spa services. The vessel boasts green technologies, a hydroponic garden and a zero-waste market. The itinerary is focussed on circumnavigating the globe every three-and-a-half years, spending three to five days in most ports. The ship has office space for remote workers and an education programme for families with kids. Condominiums range from 22m2 at US$360k for a 12-year lease……

New research shows that Kiwis have turned to magazines during the pandemic, subscribing in greater numbers and spending longer with their favourite titles. The latest Nielsen readership results show that the important primary readership (the people who subscribe to or buy magazines) is up 7 per cent. On average these people are spending over an hour (63 minutes) enjoying their favourite magazine – that’s 13 minutes longer than a year ago. The Nielsen data showed a 6 percent uplift in subscribers year on year, with almost 1.1 million Kiwis reporting that they pay for their favourite magazine to be delivered to their homes. Leading subscription agency isubscribe reports sales of New Zealand titles for the first half of this year were up 20 per cent against a year ago, and 12…

On September 10 the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron (RNZYS) and Defender Emirates Team New Zealand (ETNZ), along with the Royal Yacht Squadron Ltd (RYSL) and Challenger of Record INEOS Team UK, announced new initiatives to be included as part of the Protocol for the 37th America’s Cup, due to be published November 17. With the AC75 (left) remaining as the centrepiece of the dramatic America’s Cup racing for at least the next two editions, a new class of boat, the one-design AC40 foiling monohull, is being introduced as a new multipurpose class to help expand pathways into the main event. The AC40 will be a dynamic, powerful, and super-fast scaled-down version of the AC75 that will at times reach similar speeds. The intention is for the new class to be the…

In August, Spirit of New Zealand headed north to Whangarei for its annual maintenance and a refit – this year a particularly large undertaking. Hauling Spirit of New Zealand out of the water and onto the dry docks doesn’t happen every year, but when it does, it’s quite a sight. The Trust captured a time-lapse video of the occasion, which in real time took around four hours of precise direction and careful execution. Use the QR code or type the link address into your web browser to see it play out in 40 seconds. During the first two weeks prior to lockdown, the refit team have achieved a lot: • All safety equipment is now off the ship and ready for servicing• The two gaffs, two of the yards and the foretopmast are down…

Peter Knight Snr, one of the founders of the NZGP Hydroplane Drivers’ Club some 37 years ago, passed away aged 91 years. Peter died peacefully at Park Lane Retirement Village on Thursday, August 26, 2021. Peter was well known for hydroplane racing, firstly in the smaller 3-litre class with Bel Air and later the 6-litre class in Godfather, Gone Heavy and The Boss. He was the first New Zealander to race in the Valleyfield Regatta, Canada, along with his son Peter Knight Jnr. They were donated the Canadian Trophy in their first year, which is competed for annually at the NZ Powerboat National Championships. Peter won the Masport Cup 11 times in its 97-year history before he retired from racing. Peter kept his interest in the sport and campaigned The Boss with…