Flying the flag
by John Curnow, Editor, Sail-World AUS 16 Jul 2018 10:00 NZST
Noble Allen 2018 International Moth UK Championship at Thorpe Bay day 2 © Mark Jardine / IMCA UK
Over 50 years later, the Kangaroo Route lives on... You don't have to go too far abroad now to run into another Aussie. Equally, when you're off the beaten track, and assuming you can find one anymore, and you're bound to met with the laconic drawl we are somewhat famous for. Then you'll laugh your behind off, because it is someone you know.
Of late, our major sporting teams have let us down somewhat. Once Kings, the Wallabies are lamentable, and a discussion about cricket gets met with the same disdain as encapsulated in the old line, 'Don't mention the war!' Some of the individuals inside games like tennis are also a little cringeworthy. Or is that actually even more so? Hhhmmm... Then there are those winning races in Europe, and getting medals too. Rowing comes to mind pretty swiftly there, but of course obscurity reigns supreme on that one. Yes, there is at least one sport that ranks lower than sailing in the media puzzle!
Anyway, when you review it more dispassionately, you see that our sailing heroes have behaved far more appropriately on the whole, and performed spectacularly both inshore and off. So with our UK born and bred Publisher, Mark Jardine, shooting at the UK International Moth Championships during the week, we could not help to play spot the Aussie. During one of our conversations, Mark said, "It is great to see Australian sailor, Andrew Sim, travel all the way round the world for the regatta."
Mark is a trooper when it comes to attacking the workload, so not intent on just producing great images for his day's work, he also penned a terrific tale ex-pat Aussie, Brad Gibson's Bladerider conversion. "It's a remarkable effort. £5,000 (yes, Quid) all-in for a decent foiling Moth!!! (and a bit of work on his part)."
In a time when everyone is trying to get their hands on the ultra-short supply of Exocets (not the French anti-ship missiles you know), you wonder if it is like showing up to gunfight with a knife. Gibson took advantage of his skills in RC boats, and a Dremel tool. He upgraded the foils, and gave the boat strength to handle the Larry the boats now carry, and the control systems to make it work. Little wonder I penned a piece ages back about this developMENTAL class, and Mark's new one is more than a good read, and you can do that right here.
Of course us Aussies aren't the only ones who like to fly the flag, but we are certainly the only ones in love with the Boxing Kangaroo. Yet in this age of global commercialisation, you could easily argue that in fact outside of the Olympics, the flag of the brand has indeed replaced the national Flag. Consider it like this. You drive a BMW or Mercedes-Benz, and consider it German, yet certain models are made in the USA. The Indians own quintessential English marques, like Land Rover, after that brand had a stint with the Germans, and the Chinese have a swag of other ones. Yet the Range Rover driver only things of rolling green hills, lounge chairs, crisps (we call them chips), and dismal weather. Not over-population, curries, Bollywood, and abject poverty.
Boats may well be heading down a similar path. A while back we looked at Bavaria opting for self-administration. At the time, Bavaria effectively drew up its own list of respectable suitors to provide a sizable dowry, some of which came from outside of the marine industry. An announcement on who the lucky betrothed is to be should be made very soon.
One of the gang of ten that made up that very list was thought to be none other than Groupe Beneteau. They have been splashing the cash around a bit of late. First company to now have a new majority shareholder was the maker of Slovenia's little pocket rockets - Seascape. Now Polish builder Delphia, who also make little sailing craft, small motorboats, and possibly most importantly, craft for other manufacturers (of which Beneteau is one). They too now have a new 80% matriarch.
The latter is no small fry, with 25,000 vessels under its belt since 1990. There are 670 staff, and importantly 18,000m2 of production facilities, all of which ties into Groupe Beneteau's desire to expand their small sailing craft opportunities, and more importantly, their offerings in the going stratospheric outboard powerboat market. No longer for 7m and under, multiple high-power donks hanging off the back of 52-footers is happening today. If you don't think any of it matters, then remember that Beneteau also have Four Winns and also Wellcraft, makers of the Scarab, as part of their stable. Any Equine expert will tell you that having a strong collection of good bloodlines is a great asset...
So does the announcement right now, and before Bavaria spills the beans on who gets to wear the ring, mean that Beneteau have now sated their appetite, or are they eagerly dabbing their lips with the serviette in readiness for more? Who knows? For the cone of silence has descended over Giebelstadt right now. If there are more monies available, then the additional production capacity, skilled staff, and a forward order book of up to 200 units, as well as tidy earnings and growth from the super-profitable and progressive multihull division await them.
Bavaria, and even more importantly its dealers, seem to be really feeling the love. Clipper Marine from the UK and Spain have something like 20 forward orders. Closer to home, Ensign Ship Brokers, are also very buoyant. The first of Bavaria's new C line will be on display at the Sydney International Boat Show. It's the wonderful C45, which is a size bracket that does very well in AUS. Tony Ross also adds that two C57s will be locked down as soon as it all becomes public, and there is Nautitech cat in build for an Aussie owner at present, with another soon to be standing at the altar.
Well moving on, and it almost feels like I have to wave a white flag, or place a classified, which I guess these days means Gumtree. 'Lost. Half a year. Where did the first bit go? Anyone got an idea on what to do with the next slab? Well here are two for you by the time Xmas comes around. There's 200 and a bit nauticals in the Pantaenius Newport to Coffs Coast, and 400 and a bit in the Pittwater to Paradise.
So just before we cross the line then, and well before we get to those Xmas time events once more, the 2018 Etchells Worlds in Brisbane are about to close early bird entries, and there's more than one boat that certainly decided to take advantage of the $300 saving before July 20.
Right oh - here today there are some gems for you to review. We have information on the OKs, the Transpac, Tornados, 49ers and Nacra 17s, Golden Globe, Volvo, Clipper, Sail Melbourne, RS Games, ESS, and certainly there is much, much more.
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John Curnow, Editor, Sail-World AUS