International Boat Industry – June-July 2019

ibinews.com International Boat Industry | JUNE–JULY 2019 77

three separate layout options.
“Although the inquiry is strong, it is not at the
level of previous years, yet the calibre and credibility
of inquiry remains high. To date we have not seen
too much evidence of the predicted increase in work
the Americas Cup is supposed to generate, only time
will tell,” says Upfold.

STRONG SUPPORT FOR BOAT SHOWS
Apart from several regional boat shows, the main
events in New Zealand are the Hutchwilco New
Zealand Boat Show (May 16-19) and the Auckland
On Water Boat Show (Oct 3-6).
Stacey Cook, events manager for the NZ Marine-
run Auckland On Water Show, says that interest
from exhibitors has been very positive and they are
almost sold out. For 2019 the show returns to where
it all started at the Viaduct Basin and Te Wero Island
area. Team New Zealand has taken a lease on the
Viaduct Events Centre, where the show has been
held for the past years. The new venue still retains
some of the outside areas of the previous show, but
will mainly be a temporary marquee style show with
extensive on water facilities for boat displays.
“With the venue change there have been some
challenges, but we’re looking forward to creating a
vibrant show and are excited to be able to expand
our on water marina exhibition. We have great
support from our stakeholders and are increasing
our marketing activities this year,” says Cook.
The Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show,

A COMBINATION OF product range expansion, Australian export success and growth in

new customer acquisition has seen Connexwire go from strength to strength over the last 12

months.

Through a partnership with Yellow Marine Consultancy, the Connexwire team are

currently working with wire harness customers throughout Europe. This work complements

the ever-expanding European switch panel and retail distribution network.

“Connexwire has invested considerably to expand design and manufacturing capability

over the last 18 months and is positioned well for future growth,” says Scott Harty, sales

manager of Connexwire Ltd.

Connexwire will be at METSTRADE again this year. Based in the New Zealand pavilion

on Stand 02.232, they are interested in meeting with prospective customers and potential

distributors throughout Europe, North America and the Middle East.

CONNEXWIRE LIMITED

 Elite Marine Design

currently has proposals

out for costing for vessels

between 17m and 21.5m

and are optimistic for a

positive outcome on most

of these

IN 2007 JEFF ROBBINS and Deirdre Schleigh identified a need for improved collision
avoidance systems. With a background in high-tech product design and years of ocean
cruising experience, they joined with Carl Omundsen – a talented electronics designer
and enthusiastic sailor, to launch Vesper Marine. The goal was to create safety systems
that were smart, sophisticated and intuitive to use.
Vesper Marine launched its first product, WatchMate was an AIS transponder, in 2008
and over the following years developed a series of world firsts: the first black-box smart
AIS transponder with proactive alarms; the first AIS transponder with WiFi; the first AIS
transponder with Anchor Watch; the first AIS transponder with iOS and Android mobile
Apps that manage, configure, troubleshoot and automatically update their firmware;
the first colour touchscreen AIS transponder; and the first AIS transponder with its own
smartwatch App.
Vesper Marine’s smartAIS transponders have built-in safety alarms that proactively
warn boaters of potential collision situations, a dragging anchor or a man overboard.
Because this is built-into the transponder it doesn’t rely on any other equipment. As an
example, this makes the anchor watch ideal at night when multi-function displays are
switched off. With WiFi capability, users remotely control their smartAIS from anywhere
on board using a smartphone, tablet or smartwatch.
Vesper Marine, which is headquatered in Auckland, with offices in the UK and
US, says it will be releasing a new generation of safety devices later this year that will
combine the company’s technical innovation and boating expertise to create what it
claims will be another ‘world-first’. Watch this space.
vespermarine.com

VESPER MARINE AND THE NEXT GENERATION

 Jeff Robbins

claims Vesper will be

launching another

ground-breaking

product soon

 The WatchMate

AIS transponder from

Vesper