The cup runneth over

New Zealand's marine industry has caught the America's Cup wave. And none more so than Rayglass Industries, writes ROBIN BAILEY.

Many drums were beaten about the economic benefits that would flow on from Team New Zealand's America's Cup victory. More rosy estimates followed the first successful defence.

Most have been borne out, particularly for the cutting-edge sectors of our marine industry, including composite construction and the top-end boatbuilding for America's Cup charter operators.

Rayglass Boats is one company that has been singularly successful, because of its high profile on the water during the first defence in 2000. The Auckland company supplied eight Protector rigid-hulled inflatable 8.5m umpire boats, and 20 of its 650 Legend course marshal boats, for that first Louis Vuitton challenger series and cup defence.

Rayglass has again been selected as boatbuilder of choice for the 2002-03 cup season, which will have 18 Protector 8.5m rigid-hull inflatables being used as umpire boats and 18 of its Legend 2150 trailerboats used by on-the-water officials.

Added to this fleet will be the three Rayglass Protectors used by the Auckland Regional Council maritime unit, a Louis Vuitton camera boat, two on-the-water ambulances and the Auckland Volunteer Coastguard's Protector fleet.

Then there are the sailing syndicates. Team New Zealand will run a complete Rayglass support fleet, including its new tow-boat, the 20m twin diesel-powered support boat that is the world's biggest production RIB.

Team New Zealand will also have three 12m, three 8.5m and one 7.5m Protectors. Alinghi Challenge will operate a similar fleet and there will be Protectors among the Victory, One World and Oracle support fleets. The total value of Rayglass boats circulating around the race course will be around $10 million, says managing director Tony Hembrow.

"Winning the America's Cup contract for the second time means a huge boost for the company," he says. "The first regatta was invaluable for us, and particularly for the Protector range, because it introduced the boats to the international market through TV coverage and to the thousands who came from overseas to watch the regatta.

"They saw the boats performing without a hitch in all sorts of conditions throughout the America's Cup summer. The boats logged a total of 1870 days on the water without a single problem."

The boats' popularity with race organisers and officials was instrumental in the company being selected for the second regatta. "When we asked the umpires what they wanted us to change about the Protectors they told us to leave the boats alone," Hembrow says.

"My team is totally proud of the Protector range. It's not a flashy Mediterranean-type boat; rather it is a big, powerful, robust, dry, soft-riding boat. We set out to build a workboat and it has found a big market in the work and semi-work leisure markets."

The boats have been successful all over the world. The latest exports went to the Siberian oil industry, but there are also Protectors working on the Baywatch TV programme, on international sailing campaigns and as support craft for three Volvo Ocean Race syndicates.

Export receipts increased 1200 per cent in 2000-01 and the boats are now sold through four distributors: Protector Europe, Protector UK, Protector USA and Protector Australia. Local sales reflect the international success and Hembrow says most of the superyachts capable of carrying a Protector bought one when visiting New Zealand.

Rayglass commits 3 per cent of turnover to research and development , strives to minimise warranty issues and operates a "no unhappy customers" policy. The company's Legends and Cruisemasters over 6.2m and all Protectors are built to commercial survey standard and are inspected by an independent surveyor four times during construction.

The company's innovative designs and high build standards have brought it 15 awards at nine of the New Zealand Boat Shows held in Auckland. Last year Hembrow won the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award and in 2000 the WestpacTrust Emerging Exporter of the Year title.

With 55 staff, two manufacturing sites and a belief that constant innovation and research is vital for survival, Tony Hembrow and his team are ready to benefit from the international exposure another America's Cup regatta will bring.

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