Challenge brings new skills

Todd Leahy, left, and NZ Marine field officer Mike Birdsall.

A 20-year-old boat-building apprentice at Opua has come second in a national boat-building competition.

Todd Leahy, employed by Far North Holdings, was part of a team, Apprentice Inc, drawn from marine businesses around the Bay of Islands to compete in the annual Marine Trades Challenge.

The team comprised three apprentices and a qualified boat-builder from FNHL-owned Bay of Islands Boatyard in Opua, Craig Partridge Yachts in Waipapa and Orakei Marina in Auckland.

Despite missing out on the overall winner's podium, the team won the Innovation and Best-built Boat category of the challenge.

Teams had to build a catamaran from a single design. The two hulls had to be joined by a bridge deck, built in advance by the apprentices and the only part of the build where they were allowed to choose their own materials and design.

"Todd and the boys turned up with a wonderfully made bridge deck built of plywood, cleverly designed and finished off to a very high standard indeed," said Mike Birdsall, a field officer with NZ Marine and the Marine Trades Challenge co-ordinator.

Mr Leahy said he learned new skills as a result of entering the challenge and now had more understanding about building boats from scratch and to plan.

Far North Holdings, the commercial arm of the Far North District Council, and NZ Marine, the organisation responsible for promoting the growth and development of national marine services, want local youngsters to learn about the career opportunities on offer in the areas of marine design and engineering.