This summary is found in the September 2025 edition
July showed that New Zealand’s boating world spans the future, the past, and everything in between. From electric hydrofoils to steam ferries, from offshore race drama to the quiet confidence of single handed cruising, the month proved that Kiwi ingenuity and seamanship reach far beyond our shores.
Tech that flies and drives
Innovation was front and centre, with Vessev’s carbon fibre electric hydrofoils and Tectrax’s all electric amphibious systems leading the charge. Whether flying silently across the water or rolling themselves out of the surf, these projects prove that sustainability and practicality can go hand in hand.
Driving into the blue: how Tectrax is redefining amphibious boating and now amphibious trailers
Honouring maritime history
While the future raced ahead, the past was being lovingly preserved. Ponsonby Cruising Club’s Hard Chine exhibition honoured John Spencer’s radical plywood racing yachts, while the Toroa Preservation Society marked the centenary of SS Toroa, Auckland’s last surviving steam ferry, now under restoration to grace the Waitematā once again.
Bigger boats, bigger missions
Bigger boats also had their moment. Bluebridge’s Livia revealed a powerhouse beneath the decks, MAN diesels, automated ballast control, UV water treatment, and layered redundancy, all engineered for decades of safe, efficient Cook Strait crossings.
EXCLUSIVE: Deep inside Bluebridge’s new engineering powerhouse
Kiwis on the world stage
On the world stage, Kiwis were making waves across almost every form of water sport. Hydroplane racer Ken Lupton balanced dairy farming with chasing podiums in the Hydroplane Racing League.
From farm to first: Ken Lupton claims victory at Thunder on the Niagara
Sailing farewelled Olympian and America’s Cup tactician Peter Lester, whose voice and insight shaped generations.
Peter Lester: sailor, coach, commentator – a true voice of New Zealand sailing
Offshore, Peter Burling claimed multihull line honours aboard SVR Lazartigue in the centenary Rolex Fastnet Race, as Roy Disney’s Pyewacket bowed out in style.
The Admiral’s Cup opened with a weather delayed but fiercely contested Channel Race, closing with Monaco and Hong Kong teams taking the top spots. And in Portsmouth, SailGP delivered high speed theatre, including the rare drama of a spectator craft forcing the abandonment of Race 6 moments after the start.
France triumph in Sassnitz as SailGP Germany delivers high drama on Super Sunday
Sailing solo in style
At the quieter end of the spectrum, more sailors are turning to single handed multihull cruising. With the right gear, smart layouts, and robust safety systems, skippers are enjoying the freedom, control, and confidence of taking a catamaran or trimaran offshore alone.
Alone, afloat, and in control: the rise of single-handed multihull sailing
Rescue reminders
Adventure always carries risk, and July brought a sharp reminder of the importance of preparation. A dramatic RNZAF Poseidon led rescue north of New Zealand ended well thanks to the skill of the Defence Force. Maritime NZ’s message, echoed by Burnsco, was timely and clear: equipment only helps if it works, so check, maintain, and replace before you head out.
RNZAF Poseidon leads high-seas rescue of stranded sailors north of New Zealand
