Tidelines: Export action

Trade New Zealand is opening an office in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to give marine exporters a gateway to the lucrative United States market. Business development manager Lance Sheppard, who will manage the office, says 10 companies have signed on so far with significant subscriber growth expected once the office is fully operational.

Watcher charts

The Navy Hydrographic Office has produced a chart folio for the Louis Vuitton and the America's Cup in conjunction with LV, Auckland Coastguard and the Auckland Regional Council. It helps interpret the racing format for spectators and includes a template to place over the sailing course which rotates for wind direction to show the race track. Available from marine stockists and coastguard, the retail price is $22.50.

Innovation centre

Brunswick New Technologies, a division of the giant Brunswick Corporation, has opened a new marine innovation centre at Raffles Marina in Singapore. Corporation chairman George W. Buckley says the centre will test and pilot a new generation of electronics solutions for the marine and recreational industries. The Singapore Economic Development Board was instrumental in siting the new unit on the island as part of its policy of attracting leading edge technologies to the region.

Sailing show

Sail America, the trade association of the sailing industry in the United States, has launched a new yachting show for the New York metropolitan area. Called the Harbour Sail Expo, it will run from September 25 to 28 next year. The in-the-water show will be held at the Liberty Landing Marina.

Water-watch

As the Louis Vuitton challenger series is now into Round Robin 2, spectator interest on the Waitemata is expected to increase this weekend. Other activity:

Saturday: Kawau Island race (DYC); Cruise to Kawau (Weiti BC); Cruising race to Oneroa (PCC); P-Class and Starling North Island championships (MBSC).

* Organisations planning future events on the Waitemata or Manukau harbours should register with the Auckland Regional Council's Enviroline on 0800 80 60 40.