NZ Marine Cup gains support from Harken, Events Clothing and ENL
Wednesday 17 February 2010, 8:21AM
By NZ Marine
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A one-off superyacht event in New Zealand on 4 March 2010, the NZ Marine Cup: Kiwi Kawau Challenge, has secured the support of more leading marine industry companies.
Harken New Zealand, Electronic Navigation (ENL) and Events Clothing have signed up to sponsor the one-day race to Kawau Island for superyachts currently in or around Auckland.
Garry Lock, managing director of Harken New Zealand, says: “We are pleased to be involved with the NZ Marine Cup to help ensure the Kiwi Kawau Challenge is a memorable experience for participants and sponsors. Harken’s founder Peter Harken, and Corrine Rich are planning to attend to ensure the party atmosphere lives up to expectations!”
Lock says that Harken, Inc. is a leading manufacturer and marketer of quality sailboat hardware and accessories, with their blocks, travellers, furling systems and winches found onboard the smallest dinghies to the world’s largest mega-yachts and cruisers. “The New Zealand office is one of 48 Harken offices around the world.”
Gareth Hodson, ENL’s general manager and director, is equally supportive of events like the NZ Marine Cup. “The NZ Marine Cup and its sister event, the Millennium Cup, are important ways to profile the wider New Zealand marine sector and New Zealand as a whole to the world’s sailing community. The team at ENL is delighted to support NZ Marine in its role as an ambassador for our marine industry and its events which add to our global profile.”
From the most complex application for defence, commercial and superyacht use to a stand-alone fish-finder for a trailer boat, ENL has the experience and expertise necessary to specify, supply, install and service quality marine electronics, says Hodson. “With offices in Auckland and Nelson, ENL also has an extensive dealer network throughout New Zealand and export-focused staff working in a number of key markets around the world.”
Events Clothing represents the well-known Line 7 brand internationally, with a particular emphasis on the superyacht sector. Owen Rutter, director of Events Clothing, says the involvement with superyacht races is an ideal venue in which to promote Line 7.
“A superyacht race and the accompanying after-party offer Events Clothing and Line 7 excellent profile among our key audience. We’re very happy to be involved with the new NZ Marine Cup and its inaugural event, the Kiwi Kawau Challenge,” says Rutter.
The NZ Marine Cup: Kiwi Kawau Challenge runs just before the Louis Vuitton World Series being contested in Auckland from 9 March. The Kiwi Kawau Challenge sees superyacht participants racing under sail from Auckland Harbour to the finish line off Bon Accord Harbour on Kawau Island. After the racing, a prize-giving, BBQ and entertainment will complete the day. SY Drumbeat, a 174 ft (53 m) Dubois-designed, Alloy Yachts-built ketch, is the first confirmed entry with organisers expecting to confirm more entries within the next few days. More details can be found on www.nzmarineevents.com.