Ocean racing veteran joins North Sails Australia, Bavaria Yachtbau back in action
by Peter Rendle, Sail-World.com 20 Sep 2018 23:00 BST
Robert Greenhalgh joins North Sails © Ugo Fonolla / Volvo Ocean Race
One of the objectives of Marine Business World is to update personnel changes within the industry. This week we report that Robert Greenhalgh, a veteran of five Volvo Around the World Races, has joined North Sails. He will advise North Sails clients around the world how to get the best out of their sails. Following the conclusion of the recent Volvo Ocean Race, Robert has chosen Sydney as his home base where he will be joining the North Sails team in Australia.
Safety is always a high priority when on the water and as sailors prepare for the 2019 season, Ocean Signal is raising awareness about a rule within the 2018-19 World Sailing Offshore Special Regulations requiring every crew member to carry a personal AIS device when taking part in Category 2 yacht races of extended duration, even if much of the route is close to shore.
For those that feel safer ashore of for that matter want to compete without having to find a boat to sail, the answer maybe the VR Sailing app. After more than six months of continuous iteration and improvement since its release on Steam, VR Regatta: The Sailing Game, has been officially released on the Oculus Store. VR Regatta is the product of years of research, development, design, and testing. All of this has culminated in a product that is not only an enjoyable video game experience, but also a solid introduction to the fundamentals of real sailing.
There was a time when New Zealand exported hundreds of boats to Australia, power and sail with brands such as Markline or Noelex. It is interesting to note that Australian builders have reversed that trend over the past decade or so. Riviera will present a fleet of seven gleaming new motor yachts at the Auckland on Water Boat Show from 27 to 30 September. The showcase at Viaduct Harbour, staged in partnership with New Zealand's Riviera and Belize representative R Marine Flagship, features supreme examples of three collections including the sophisticated 6000, 5400 and 4800 Sport Yachts, the blue-water 52 Enclosed and 43 Open Flybridge models and the sporty and adventurous 525 and 445 SUVs.
Exports are also heading for the USA and the summer season started with Aurora Yacht Logistics shipping $14 million in Aussie-made motor yachts, seven in one shipment alone, destined for the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show taking place on the 31 October to 4 November.
Good news for Bavaria owners and potential buyers: a private equity fund advised by the German investment company CMP Capital Management-Partners will continue Bavaria Yachtbau. The subsidiary Bavaria Catamarans is also being acquired. All 800 employees working in Giebelstadt, Germany and Rochefort, France will transfer to the purchaser.
And for dealers who have boats in the water and need to keep the hulls in pristine condition this new product will be of interest. With the new Davis Scrubbis™ Underwater Hull Cleaning Kit from Davis Instruments, one person can easily remove algae, marine life and waterline scum from almost any vessel while standing on the dock or deck, or even seated in a dinghy. Davis is introducing the product at IBEX, 2–4 Oct., Tampa, Florida, USA.
Aveagooden
Peter Rendle, Sail-World.com