Yellow cabs proving to be another waterside winner

By Fiona Rotherham

Long before the first race is sailed for the America's Cup, there is one sure winner out on the water - the water taxis that have been plying their trade around the Viaduct Harbour.

They have proven spectacularly successful, transporting 50,000 passengers last month alone.

Their renown has even spread across the Tasman, where the Sydney City Council wants them to perform a similar service during the Olympic Games in September. It is about to sign a deal for the taxi company Water Tours to set up on Sydney Harbour.

The distinctive yellow taxis have been one of the success stories of the American Express NZ Cup Village, says village spokeswoman Sue Foley.

"They are the equivalent of the yellow cabs in New York."

Water Tours is the tourism division of Auckland boating manufacturer SportsYachts, substantially owned by Gary McNabb.

It was set up three months ago after SportsYachts gained the licence to run the water taxis.

SportsYachts built six of the specially designed rigid-hull inflatable boats, at $90,000 apiece, for use during the cup and afterwards.

Mr McNabb said the firm had struggled to keep up with demand and in hindsight should have built 10 boats to cope with peak hours.

The taxis are licensed to carry up to 18 passengers and the $10 tour, which takes 20 minutes, includes a commentary.

A further 20 boats will be built to establish the Sydney Harbour service, which is likely to be based at Rushcutters Bay, close to the Olympic site at Homebush Bay.

Although there are already existing water-taxi operators in Sydney, most are owner/operators. The Sydney City Council is keen to have an established organisation move in and provide more regular services, Mr McNabb said.

The $2 million capital needed to expand into Australia is being provided by two new investors, the chief executive of Brocker Technologies, Mike Ridgway, and Auckland property developer Tim Manning.

One of the other spinoffs from the America's Cup tours is overseas interest in the boats' copyrighted design, leading the company to hope for export orders from the upcoming Singapore Boat Show.