Strong winds of change

By ROBIN BAILEY

After almost 20 years working in the marine industry in the United States, Aucklander Brett Rennie is back and busy getting to grips with the huge advances this country has made since he left in 1984.

He is also quick to acknowledge those areas of technology and boat construction where New Zealand is ahead of the game as he experienced it from a base in San Diego.

The Rennie marine story begins in 1979 when he accepted the challenging job of project manager on the construction of Kalazar, a 25m Don Brooke-designed steel ketch his father was having built in Tauranga.

A keen sportsfisherman who had owned a string of blue-water powerboats, Jack Rennie wanted something different - a big sailboat. Once the finished hull was delivered he quickly realised that was just what he had and quickly recruited son Brett to oversee completion of the yacht.

"When we stood inside the boat was huge," Brett recalls. "The way ahead seemed hugely daunting, but we had had a couple of brilliant Brians on the team, cabinetmaker Brian Saunders and boatbuilder Brian Lonegan. Their combined experience and expertise convinced us that completing the project was possible."

Brett Rennie came to the challenge from the automotive industry, having worked for Repco in Australia for a year, and spent some time servicing heavy-duty mining equipment.

On his return to Auckland in 1978 he worked as fabricator and engine-builder for McIntosh Formula 1000 circuit racing. He helped to develop the Suzuki-McIntosh machines on which the late Dr Rodger Freeth won the New Zealand series two years in a row. Freeth also won Bathhurst on a McIntosh, breaking the lap record on 10 successive laps.

After life in the motorcycling fast lane, it was down to earth in Tauranga for four years ensuring the Kalazar took shape to the specifications of both the designer and eagle-eyed owner. It wasn't always easy.

"Getting even the stainless steel nuts, bolts and screws etc in the quantities we needed was a problem," says Rennie. "Then there was the bow-thruster. The American manufacturer we were trying to extract prices and performance data from wouldn't even reply to our telexes. The attitude at that time seemed to be New Zealand was not worth bothering with.

"That's all changed now, thanks to the America's Cup and the impact our new breed of racing yachts is making around the world. A good example is Virbac, designed by Bruce Farr, built by Cookson Boats here and being campaigned by Frenchman Jean-Pierre Dick in the 2004 Vendee Globe round-the-world single-handed race.

"Then there is the reputation of New Zealand's superyacht builders and the work of leading-edge companies like Navman and High Modulus, which are at the forefront of marine technology internationally."

Rennie's San Diego business initially specialised in engine and generator repair and maintenance but over time grew to include specialist electric and electronic installation. His last two years there included subcontracting to Suncoast Yachts (Hatteras, Grand Banks, Packet Craft and Island Packet agents), handling commissioning and installation work on new boats.

"The Hatteras boats are typical of where the American market is at today," says Rennie. "The hulls are heavy and rugged, with solid fibreglass and no coring below the waterline. They compensate for the weight by bunging in huge power plants. That's just about the opposite to the way the industry has developed in this country where light weight and high performance has always been the aim.

"The American owner, too, is a different animal to your typical Kiwi. We built Kalazar as a working sailboat - wet weather gear lockers, practical layout and rugged practical finish. I quickly discovered the boat was unlikely ever to do any serious sailing.

"The owners would probably be aboard for a few weekend entertaining cruises a year. If it was going seriously offshore a professional crew would handle the delivery and the owners and their guests would fly in. Most don't have the time or the desire to go blue-water cruising."

Back home with an American wife and 8-year-old son, Rennie is looking forward to getting the youngster into a P-Class and himself into the Kiwi-style marine industry and renewing old contacts.