Innovation is the blood-type of New Zealanders, especially in the arenas of film, graphics, gaming technologies – and being fast on the water in sailing boats.
Innovation is obvious in our international racing fleets – monohulls, flying on foils, pedal power, new composites, and all the magic that sees us competing as giants in Sail GP and the America’s Cup.
Below the surface of these events are the logistics. Not only who when where and how, but also the challenges inherent in making the race a race. Teams of technologists, and others constantly asking how can we do this better? What problems are not obvious but still require solving?
Here’s an example. Critical, but not front of mind when focussed on the race and the battle to round the next marker, it’s the marker itself. Essentially the markers are boats containing all the electronics such as windspeed and direction indicators. They must be visible and situated as planned, robust enough to deal with being knocked about by the seas and competing boats and designed to be moved around from venue to venue in shipping containers.
Here’s where innovation happens again. But first this is a story of a need and an invention to meet it.
Al Howden always wanted a houseboat, a sturdy yet light, low maintenance and comfortable vessel which he could build himself and could call his “Floatahome” or picnic place on the water. His research showed he could invest in aluminium lengths, blue recycled barrels, or mussel floats – but none of the above worked for ease of construction and assembly, for versatility, flotation and comfort. So, he designed a system of pods which could be assembled as long and as wide as needed. Polyethylene, rotary moulded, light enough to handle, and rugged enough to deal with weather, rocks and, say, collisions. A main pod of 1.2 metres and 2 types of bow pods in any colour. “Pontoonz” was born, and after 20-plus years, thousands of pods have been sold. Crafts from houseboats, barges, walkways and jetties, pump and oyster barges, and many other applications, have found their way around the world.
This is where Al’s innovations meet sailing regatta needs. Pontoonz boat pods were recognised by America’s Cup and then Sail GP as meeting all their requirements for marker boats. Light, rugged, easy to build and able to be disassembled for transfer in containers to the next arena. The pods have been utilised by SailGP as markers since America’s Cup 2017 in Bermuda.
But the story doesn’t end there. Here’s where innovative thinking from our sailing teams comes in again. Problem – moving the markers, keeping them stable, there must be a better way? And yes, it’s brilliant. Now GPS and electric motors maintain accurate positioning of the markers.
White ones for America’s Cup Barcelona, and low-key black for Sail GP. Keep an eye out for them.
