Looking beyond Round 2

As with many of you, I suspect, my world deflated in a rather predictable fashion with the recent introduction on lockdown Round 2. Here we go again – shadow-boxing in a mask against an alien, invisible enemy. And just when things were beginning to return to normality. Bugger.

Magazine production has its challenges at the best of times – negotiating the hurdles and craters presented by lock-down adds multiple layers of complexity and quite a bit more grey hair. Still, we push on.

So after fortifying myself with a glass or two of merlot, I gave myself a strongly-worded rev-up (also delivered to the moping dog). I resolved to embrace and celebrate the positives in my (our) world. And without looking too hard, there’s much to celebrate.

For a start (and I hope this isn’t the kiss of death) it seems the marine sector is in pretty good shape – against all odds. Admittedly, the evidence is largely anecdotal, but here at Boating New Zealand we’ve intercepted scores of reports detailing a relatively ‘upbeat’ industry. Lots of new boat models being introduced, plenty of new builds, strong interest from buyers across all three sectors (trailer boats, launches and yachts) and a seemingly infinite diversity of new marine technology. What slow-down?

Explaining this happy phenomenon (against the backdrop of a local/global economy in a desperate tail-spin) is tricky – but a popular theory goes like this:

“The bloody bug has wrecked any prospect of overseas travel for (probably) the next 18–24 months. So Mr Average Boatie is instead considering upgrading or investing in a new boat and using it to explore/enjoy more of our marine playground. And newbies who’ve never boated before are contemplating getting into it for the first time – for the same reasons.”

I don’t have a better theory – so I’ll go with this one. Secondly, irrespective of your political colours, you’d have to concede that the country has weathered the crisis relatively well. For once our geographic remoteness/isolation/island status has worked in our favour. Right now, I can’t think of any other place in the world I’d rather be.

Finally, next month brings the Auckland Boat Show. That the organisers could get it all together – after wrestling with venue hiccups, unending construction and Covid-19 – is for me nothing short of miraculous. And it promises to be a zinger. And the America’s Cup looms large.

I feel much better already – and it has nothing to do with the third glass of merlot!

Happy boating.