NEW MARINA GATE AND GANGWAY FOR TEAM NEW ZEALAND

Notice anything special about this gangway? At first glance it’s identical to the 20 or 30 others we build each year to convey people and goods onto marinas from Lyttelton to Kerikeri. Sure, it’s sleek and durable, but basically it’s a Manson gangway; our bread-and-butter product.

The difference is this gangway is set to play a crucial role in New Zealand sporting folklore. It’ll have to be extra durable since it carries the weight of a nation’s hopes and dreams — along with the weight of Peter, Blair and the sailors on Emirates Team New Zealand. While of course we’re not an official sponsor of the 36th America’s Cup, every time the camera beams images of the team heading off to do battle, the world will see Manson’s handiwork.

The team here at Manson will be cheering harder than most Kiwis, since so many of the economic benefits of the Auld Mug accrue to the marine industry. If Emirates Team New Zealand manage to retain the cup, it’s bound to mean plenty of work, fair winds and a following sea for our business at Manson’s!