Emirates Team New Zealand and 'Auld Mug' were welcomed at Emirates Group headquarters by Sir Tim Clark, president Emirates Airline, and Gary Chapman, president Group Services and dnata, along with Jeremy Clarke Watson, New Zealand Ambassador to the UAE

Ahead of their highly-anticipated welcome in Auckland, the winning crew of Emirates Team New Zealand arrived in Dubai, home of main sponsors Emirates, on Monday to proudly celebrate their America's Cup win.

Emirates Team New Zealand and 'Auld Mug' were welcomed at Emirates Group headquarters by Sir Tim Clark, president Emirates Airline, and Gary Chapman, president Group Services and dnata, along with Jeremy Clarke Watson, New Zealand Ambassador to the UAE.

Later in the morning, Emirates employees were given the chance to take pictures with the America's Cup trophy.

Emirates' sponsorship of Team New Zealand dates back to 2004 and has helped bring the Emirates brand to many parts of the world. Emirates announced its renewed commitment to Team New Zealand in March 2015 as the team took steps towards mounting their challenge for the 35th America's Cup, the oldest trophy in international sport and the pinnacle of world sailing. The team has held a number of America's Cup titles including clinching the trophy in 1995 and successfully defending the title in 2000. Emirates Team New Zealand celebrated an overwhelming victory last week at the final match-off in Bermuda taking the 35th America's Cup in a 7-1 win over Oracle Team USA.

After the title victory, Team NZ boss Grant Dalton had said: "We just can't wait to get home."

Emirates has been committed to New Zealand since 2003, and the airline currently operates 35 return flights per week to New Zealand via its two gateways, Auckland and Christchurch.

And apart from Team New Zealand players and officials, the cup is also getting deluxe treatment as they fly home from the America's Cup in Bermuda first class. The silverware Auld Mug stands 1.1m tall and weighs more than 14kg, and is safely ensconced in its Louis Vuitton suitcase.

Meanwhile, details of Emirates Team New Zealand's Americas Cup victory parade have been announced with the cup set to be greeted by tens of thousands of proud Kiwis lining Auckland's Viaduct Harbour on Thursday to welcome the winning crew.

Start at 12.30pm on the corner of Wakefield St and Queen St, the parade will run down to Princes Wharf and the team will then do a sail past ending at the Queens Wharf even as ticker tape, banners, plenty of Team New Zealand flags and patriotic cheering will welcome the men home.

| A  KT Report/Dubai release  ||  July 3,  2017   |||

C-Tech began life in 1997 as a small back yard operation in co-founder Alex Valling’s shed writes Chris Kitchen for Sailworld.com

Fast forward 20 years and C-Tech has a lot to celebrate. Their composite technicians have produced over 50,000 custom designed carbon spars, and they’ve had a successful partnership with Emirates Team New Zealand for five consecutive America’s Cup campaigns.

C-Tech and Emirates Team New Zealand first worked together during their 2003 campaign to supply sail battens. Despite radical changes in America’s Cup classes, 15 years later C-Tech continues to supply wing components, rudders, dagger board cases, dagger board tips, fairings, lifting posts, accumulator tubes, struts, prods and ‘bike components’ for their 2017 challenge. C-Tech has also supplied most of the other America’s Cup teams with their prods and a number of compression struts.

Emirates Team New Zealand’s 2017 challenge has been one of the most dramatic in their history with C-Tech.

Days before America’s cup qualifying was due to start Emirates Team New Zealand damaged a rudder. C-Tech got the call to build an emergency replacement. The C-Tech crew pulled together and rostered a 24 hour shift to get two weeks work completed in five days.

Two weeks later just hours after Emirates Team New Zealand’s capsize on the Great Sound during qualifying meant another phone call to the C-Tech team. Within hours the emergency order order of fairings and struts were being built. They were completed and shipped to Bermuda in record time.

Continue to the full article here on sailingworld.com  ||  June 24,  2017   |||

Two crowdfund investors in failed Balex Marine have bought the Tauranga company's assets because they say its boat loader is too good to fail.

Two expat Kiwi businessmen who participated in Balex Marine's $330,000 equity crowdfunding have now bought the automatic boat loader's assets from the liquidator for an undisclosed sum.

The innovative loader is "too good to fail", they say.

Liquidators were appointed to the Tauranga-based company and its sister firm Suelex last month after Balex couldn't find a new funding lifeline when high costs and slow sales had drained its coffers.

The boat loader raised $330,000 through 80 investments via equity crowdfunder Snowball Effect in October, just above its minimum target.

Participants included expat businessmen Daniel Given and Reon Oak, who run Hong Kong-based manufacturing and supply chain firm Gait International.

They bought the Balex assets including its intellectual property, stock and work in progress, they said in a statement on Wednesday. The assets will be poured into a new company - Balex Marine South Pacific - which will be based in Tauranga.

Gait International had already taken over the management and supply chain operations for Balex's automatic boat loader, and Mr Given said they plan to draw on their current business to support the new Balex.

The automatic boat loader "is incredibly well engineered, utilises the best in high precision components and has already gained remarkable traction in the market," Mr Given said.

"Reon and I only invest in companies that we really believe in and the Balex automatic boat loader is simply far too good to be allowed to fail."

Gait International is affiliated with Tauranga-based Gait Trading Co, which was set up by the Given family in 1989 as a wholesaler of residential locks and latches to the building sector.

It will continue to supply the boat loader to New Zealand and Australian boat manufacturers and marine dealers, and that the new entity is close to finalising a deal with a European distributor.

It also plans to look at entering the US.

To quote 'Sailing Prof' Mark Orams from is article in the NZHerald today, "Team NZ will likely be holding back some "kit" - but all teams are limited in new equipment. They are only permitted a total of four foils (and two matching spares). The main wing, hulls and the jibs (small triangular front sail) are identical on all boats.

Rudders, fairings and the "aero-package" offer potential for change. Aerodynamic and hydrodynamic drag is a big deal, so additional fairings or configurations to reduce drag could be an option, he wrote."

So what is aerodynamic and hydrodynamic drag?  Thats not a question that this writer can answer so a quick Google search came up with:

The aerodynamic or hydrodynamic lift is a force perpendicular to the movement of the fluid. It is created by the suction in a negative pressure zone, formed on top of the profile designed for this purpose. It depends on the displaced mass of fluid.  -  http://www.mecaflux.com/en/portance.htm   - for the full article

and/or

Aerodynamic/Hydrodynamic Drag - A Unit: Dynamics (Forces) & GravitationUnderstand and correctly use the term “drag” when it refers to an object that is slowed down by a fluid.

Visit http://www.mrbigler.com/moodle/pluginfile.php/10258/mod_resource/content/1/269_page_Notes-AP-Physics-1-2016-17.pdf to view the complete unit

By the way the  Google search threw up 317,000 results so within there should be enough tinformation to  answer most questions on how the present lot of America Cup AC50's work. Or just ask any  sailor that you sppot hanging around the Team New Zealand shed on the waterfront; there must be some left on home duties.

Balex Marine, the automatic boat loader maker, has been washed away after the high cost of manufacturing and slow sales saw the Tauranga-based company burn through the crowdfunded $330,000 it raised last October.

BDO's Kenneth Brown and Paul Manning were appointed liquidators of Balex and sister company Suelex on May 1 after events conspired to drain the companies coffers without an immediate lifeline. Balex raised $330,000 through 80 investments via equity crowdfunder Snowball Effect in October, just above its minimum target. However, Brown and Manning's first report says that was $700,000 below target, leaving it in a tight cash position until the end of March 2017 and prompting Balex's board to search for a new investor willing to inject between $2 million and $5 million.

The failure is the first by a company that's used Snowball's platform to raise funds, and while Snowball chief executive Simeon Burnett says it was surprising and disappointing how quickly liquidators were appointed after the capital raising, there were a number of "good reference points" such as the shareholdings of directors and management and the company's earlier funding rounds.

"Is there anything we would have done differently? Probably not," Burnett said. "Directors are responsible for the information they put out. The reference points were there and we got to the point of comfort and were clearly there for a number of investors as well."

Balex's local sales of its boat loader started in March 2016, six months later than scheduled due to design and manufacturing problems, and it later branched out into Australia, the UK and Europe and had planned to push into North Amerca this year.

Before hitting up the crowd, Balex had already raised $2.2 million since it was set up in 2013, with research, development and manufacturing needing "significant capital investment", the liquidators said. Its tight cash position got even worse through the tail end of last year with poor sales in New Zealand and Australia, the cancellation of a $180,000 order from a new Korean distributor, delays in European sales after the UK's vote to quit the European Union and limited opportunities to cut production costs in the foreseeable future.

The liquidators said Balex was spending about $100,000 a month, couldn't extend its funding line with Kiwibank and had no leads for a new investor by late January this year.

At that stage, the directors looked for a buyer of the business after seeking advice on the firm's financial position, and while there were a number of interested parties who got in touch, a deal hadn't been done by late April and the directors recommended a voluntary liquidation.

"The liquidators intend to advertise the business for sale and contact previously interested parties with the hope the business might sell and continue to market the product it has development," the report said. Due to the previous level of interest, the liquidators are hopeful a sale will be achieved."

BDO's Manning said the buyer interest had come from both domestic and international parties.

Balex's shareholders include managing director Paul Symes, Tauranga-based investor group Enterprise Angels, the New Zealand Venture Investment Fund's Seed Capital Investment Fund, and Auckland investors Ice Angels.

The liquidators didn't disclose the total amount owing or the value of group's assets. Balex had 28 creditors as at May 1. Suelex, which held the intellectual property, had two creditors. Of those, there were five secured creditors including Kiwibank. Callaghan Innovation had previously provided Balex a research grant and wasn't among the company's creditors.

|  A Business Desk release  ||  May 16, 2017   |||

Reinforces New Zealand connections with doomed Atlantic Liner

 New Zealand’s connection to the world’s most famous shipwreck the Titanic has become reinforced with the entry by Ocean Gate into the passenger tour business starting next year with scheduled dive tours to the wreck.

Ocean Gate is organised by Stockton Rush (pictured above) who is part of the family of the late Stockton Rush 11 who invented the high end terrestrial tourist business in New Zealand.

United States oilman Stockton Rush 11 developed Takaro Lodge in the South Island southern lakes district as a conservation and tourist centre for the rich.

The problem for the Lodge was that Mr Rush’s development coincided with the Labour government of Prime Ministers Norman Kirk and Wallace Rowling.

At this time the Labour government was anxious to be seen to be returning to its working class roots.

The publicity surrounding Takaro Lodge and especially its bathroom fittings which were said to be gold plated, along with the moneyed celebrities who stayed there meant that the Lodge became a target for government-inspired obstacles.

The current Stockton Rush is similarly in the premium tourist business, though this time of an undersea nature, and based in the United States.

Round dive costs have been calculated on an inflation adjusted formula relating to a first class trans-Atlantic berth on the Titanic itself (pictured below), this being in the region of NZ$150,000.

A qualified aerospace engineer and commercial pilot, Mr Rush is supervising the construction of his passenger dive craft known as Cyclops 2.

The Rush family’s tourist-based connection with New Zealand and the Titanic supplements the better known one of film magnate James Cameron and New Zealand.

It was Mr Cameron’s film, coincidentally financed by Rupert Murdoch, a continuing New Zealand omnipresence, that re-ignited the curiosity about the disaster and its causes and effects.

Subsequently New Zealand relatives have been discovered of Frederick Fleet the crows nest look out who first sounded the alarm about the imminence of the iceberg.

Mr Fleet later testified at the court of inquiry that the absence of any binoculars at his post meant that his warning came too late.

Meanwhile the Stockton Rush of Takaro Lodge fame an imposing-looking man who resembled the actor James Garner died at the age of 69 in 2000.

Mr Cameron with his numerous projects with New Zealander Peter Jackson resides in the Wairarapa Valley in which he has established a health foods grocery.

Lookout Frederick Fleet died in 1965.

|  From the MSCNewsWire reporters' desk  ||  Tuesday 18 April 2017   |||

It's always a buzz to see whatt's going on on the factory floors of businesses in New Zealand.  Here is a prime example of innovation, persistance and application about  Nick Fentan MD of Tino Marine and published in the mornings NZHerald  .  .  . 

> > > Continue here to read the article in full with images . . .

A dirty vessel ordered to leave Tauranga in the weekend will have to be thoroughly cleaned before it can re-enter New Zealand waters, says the Ministry for Primary Industries.

MPI ordered the DL Marigold to leave New Zealand within 24 hours on Sunday. The order followed the discovery of dense fouling of barnacles and tube worms on the bulk carrier’s hull and other underwater surfaces by MPI divers.

“The longer the vessel stayed in New Zealand, the greater chance there was for unwanted marine species to spawn or break away from the ship. So we had to act quickly,” says Steve Gilbert, MPI’s Border Clearance Director.

The DL Marigold arrived in Tauranga from Indonesia on 4 March. It had been due to stay in New Zealand waters for nine days.

MPI understands the vessel will go to Fiji for cleaning. It then plans to return to New Zealand to finish discharging a shipment of palm kernel expeller.

“The vessel won’t be allowed back until it can provide proof it has been thoroughly cleaned,” says Mr Gilbert.

He says it is the first time MPI has ordered an international vessel to leave a New Zealand port for biofouling reasons.

“We were dealing with severe contamination in this case.”

New rules will require all international vessels to arrive in New Zealand with a clean hull from May 2018.

During the interim period, MPI can take action in cases of severe biofouling.

| An MPI release  |  March 07, 2017  ||

Vesper Marine, an Auckland based  manufacturer of innovative marine safety products, has released  its revolutionary smartAIS technology. Combined with award-winning, proven Vesper Marine products, smartAIS provides used capabilities – including the world’s first black box AIS transponder with built-in safety alarms – to make boating safer and more enjoyable.

Unlike other manufacturers’ solutions that simply send and receive AIS data, Vesper Marine’s smartAIS goes much further. An active system with smart alarm logic, it proactively alerts boaters of potentially hazardous situations. Putting users in control, smartAIS combines navigation sensor data, and GPS and AIS information, with intelligent alarm management that prioritizes alerts for the most urgent response. While traditional AIS transponders require additional equipment to trigger alarms, Vesper Marine’s smartAIS units continuously calculate crossing situations and generate collision alarms for critical action, alerts the crew of anchor dragging, and activates alarms for immediate man overboard (MOB) retrieval.

The WatchMate XB-8000 smartAIS transponder is the world’s first black-box AIS transponder to incorporate built-in safety alarms to alert boaters of potential collision situations, dragging anchor or man overboard situations. used capabilities include collision prevention alarms; alarm profile management with Closest Point of Approach and Guard zone settings; and Anchor Watch capabilities with Move Anchor Position and Breadcrumbs of past positions of the vessel.

An extensible platform, smartAIS receives used innovative features updated automatically through a smartphone and the Vesper Marine WatchMate App. The smartAIS device includes WiFi connectivity for up to 5 mobile devices anywhere on board, allowing boaters using the WatchMate App to monitor vessel information, manage alarms and much more – right from their device. WatchMate Vision smartAIS has also been upgraded to include MOB labeling and an enhanced user experience on the App. “We are consistently pushing the envelope of the capabilities and uses of AIS technology and our smartAIS device intelligence is miles ahead of any other system,” says Jeff Robbins, CEO, Vesper Marine.

“In addition to used functionality that no other ‘black box’ AIS transponder offers, Vesper Marine keeps expanding the capabilities and benefits to our customers by adding used safety and ease-of-use features. With the launch of smartAIS technology, boaters will be safer and sleep better knowing that our transponders are always on and always watching, silently identifying risk situations and triggering alarms.” The smartAIS Anchor Watch is a unique feature of AIS transponders. It tracks vessel position in relation to the anchor and marks positions over time to determine if the anchor is dragging. The alarm sounds if the boat drags outside a circular zone configured around the set anchor position.

Additionally, on WatchMate Vision, users can set customized alarms for increased wind speed, wind direction change or minimum water depth. Even if a multifunction display or mobile device is powered off or the app is closed, the smartAIS Anchor Watch continues to monitor the situation and sounds the associated alarm when triggered.

The Vesper Marine smartAIS system is always watching for MOB situations. If a crewmember, who is equipped with an AIS MOB device from any manufacturer has fallen overboard, smartAIS will immediately sound its associated alarm and continuously update the individual’s location, bearing and range for easy retrieval. It can also be configured with MOB labelling which associates MOB devices to customizable names so that when an alarm is triggered, the system displays the name of the crewmember for quick and easy recognition. MOB labelling is available on WatchMate Vision.

The smartAIS proactively alerts boaters when there is a potential collision situation. Combining GPS data such as position, course and speed; along with, AIS data and smart alert logic it continually determines safety implications and alerts users using both the associated alarm and mobile devices. It computes the closest point of approach and time until the closest point of approach and has critical alarms to warn of vessels posing a collision risk with information about the approaching vessel.

Updating smartAIS transponders with used features and capabilities is effortless. Whenever there is a used firmware release and a mobile phone is connected to the internet, users will receive a notification on the WatchMate App of the update. Once the smartphone is linked to the transponder, the transponder is automatically updated. All existing WatchMate Vision and WatchMate XB-8000 users will receive the oldest functionality. Upgrades don’t require additional wiring, visits by a marine electronics technician or sending the equipment back to the distributor or manufacturer for upgrades. To make it easy to take advantage of the used smartAIS technology, the WatchMate XB-8000 will include an external alarm and switch for a comprehensive solution, that can be mounted anywhere on board. Alarm and switch kits will be available in March 2017 and will be shipped to all customers purchasing this transponder from today.

Future units will have them included in the transponder package. About Vesper Marine: Based in Auckland, privately held Vesper Marine is a global provider of marine safety products. Committed to rigorous R&D and innovation, the company designs and manufacturers affordable practical electronic solutions that enhance boating safety. www.vespermarine.com

| A BYMrelease  |  February 2, 2017  ||

A group from the University of Auckland’s Centre for Supply Chain Management, including Lynn who is editor of the FTD magazine, were invited to find out.

The Devonport Naval Base – HMNZS Philomel – is the home of the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN), where it hosts training and support services for all its ships and personnel, including engineering facilities. The Naval Supply Depot is also located at the base which houses the Supply Chain Group to support the material requirements for ship operations.Students past and present of the University of Auckland’s Centre for Supply Chain Management enjoyed a tour of the Royal NZ Navy Supply Depot late last year

Commander Julie Simpkins took over the role of logistics and supply chain manager in August last year following a diverse career in the RNZN dating back to 1989, including land and sea experience plus several overseas postings. She says the role of logistics within the RNZN is to ‘deliver today, shape tomorrow’.

>  >  >  Continue to read Lynne's article here