Tidelines: Brunswick eyes Asia and Eastern Europe

Brunswick chairman George Buckley says the marine giant will open new boatbuilding and engine-manufacturing operations in Asia, Mexico and Eastern Europe.

The expansion comes as the company is again riding high after a three-year lull in the marine market.

Buckley told a conference of financial analysts Brunswick was adding a second facility to its Mexican operation, which produces the Bayliner 175.

It is also negotiating to buy existing plant in China and Eastern Europe to break into local markets. It will begin producing engines at a new Chinese base in the first quarter of next year.

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Superyacht base planned at La Ciotat

A new $80 million superyacht repair base is planned for La Ciotat, just east of Marseille.

Already established as a centre of excellence for superyacht business, the aim is to create the world's biggest superyacht maintenance and repair base.

Twenty companies are already established in the area and the backers predict between 10 and 14 superyachts will be under repair at any time, with the potential for between $120 and $140 million worth of work annually.

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Word goes out to M-Class stalwarts

The M-Class Association has delivered a serious serve to members to try to drum up good attendance for this year's annual general meeting. It's at the Royal Akarana Yacht Club at 7.30pm on Thursday, September 23.

Robin Elliott reminds members of a busy year ahead and emphasises the need to share the association's administrative load.

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Water-Watch

The short-handed sailors are at it again today with the last race of the Simrad series, the Great Barrier 100-miler, starting off Orakei Wharf at 9am.

Other activities:

Today: Icebreaker regatta at Lake Pupuke (Murrays Bay SC).

Sunday: Association Day, Davidson 28, Lotus, Magic 25s etc W/L (Richmond YC).

Clubs and organisations planning events should register well in advance with the ARC on (09) 366 2000. The 24-hour response number for the ARC maritime unit is (09) 362 0397.

Editorial inquiries to Robin Bailey (09) 524 4572; email rbailey@ihug.co.nz