PROTECTORS ON PATROL

New Zealand built Rayglass Protector RIBS (rigid-inflatable boats) have been chosen as the official patrol boats for two of the world’s major sailing regattas: the 36th America’s Cup and the inaugural Sailgp competition.

The agreements could be worth tens of millions of dollars to the local economy, including many large and small New Zealand marine suppliers.

A generous grant to Coastguard New Zealand from the Lottery Fund for community benefit related to the 2021 America’s Cup will see 24 Rayglass Protector RIBS loaned to Emirates Team New Zealand and America’s Cup Ltd.

These will be used as official patrol and support boats for the Prada Cup (the challenger series for the America’s Cup) and then for the America’s Cup Match itself. At the conclusion of the regatta they will be returned to the Royal New Zealand Coastguard.

In addition, Protectors have also been chosen as the support boats for Emirates Team New Zealand and most of the challenging syndicates.

Also choosing Protector are the organisers of the new Sailgp competition, an annual global sailing contest planned for Sydney, San Francisco, New York, Cowes and Marseille.

The new competition uses identical F50 catamarans, capable of exceeding 50 knots. Each yacht will be accompanied by a Rayglass 10m Protector centre-console, a first-response RIB capable of keeping up with the catamaran’s’ speed. Each RIB will be transported in a single container between events. www.rayglass.co.nz