The only specialised marine publication in Oceania that focuses on the maritime industry, from super yachts to small craft to large commercial ships, including coastal shipping, tugs, tow boats, barges, ferries, tourist, sport-fishing craft
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IMAG S OUR ESY MI S OLD IMAGES COURTESY: MILES HOLDEN PHOTOGRAPHY MA MAG A AG OURTESY: M URT O DE PHOT D OTOG P TO THUNDER JET RIDES A WAVE OF SUCCESS BY KEITH INGRAM H alf a century ago Sir William Hamilton used his Kiwi ingenuity to create a jet propelled boat that finally allowed farmers to reach their sheep hiding away in the wilds of New Zealand's southern high country. Sir William was not only an inventor but an explorer who, along with Sir Edmund Hillary, led a jet boat expedition up the Ganges River in 1977. But he did more than that, in refining jet propulsion and creating the modern jet boat in the process. Hamilton's quest for adventure, discovery and technical perfection has set the benchmark for many that followed, including the Queenstown based Thunder Jet team who wanted to share their intrepid journeys on Queenstown's waterways. His innovation has been embraced by many of New Zealand's top drivers among them Neville Kelly and Duncan Storrier, internationally respected for their pioneering expeditions. These two gents have steered a daring course through some of the most challenging uncharted waterways in the world from Argentina to Zambia. Their passion and prowess extends to competitive racing with both men holding international titles and Duncan winning the World Jet Boat river racing championship in the 90s. Applying these skills and their love of jet boating to the creation of Thunder Jet was a natural progression for these drivers who with hard earned skills can effortlessly combat whatever nature throws at them and handle grade five white water. They are guys at the top of their craft and while to the normal mariner their driving actions might look damn right dangerous, every twist and turn is calculated. Yes, there is a level of risk as in any adventure sport and adventure tourism is no different. It is how the company trains its staff and maintains its vessels that 8 Professional Skipper May/June 2013 is the key to mitigating risk. Sophisticated technology is combined with highly skilled drivers, these are not drivers who learned their skills as boy racers in the back streets of some hick town. We are advised that Neville and Duncan won't cut corners when it comes to safety. Their record is exemplary and with 50 years combined experience they know how to minimise the risks – for maximum fun. The company got off to a rocky start in December 2008 with a consent for one boat, four trips a day limit. After numerous attempts by local opposition to stop Thunder Jet from working, the boys took their case to the High Court in February 2009. It would appear that their consent was revoked on the grounds that the Council had not notified it correctly and they were told to cease operating. The boys had no choice but to comply and closed up in March 2009 after working eighty odd days without any problems. By then they had lodged a new application for the original consent and an extra consent for three more boats with a limit of 10 trips per day, per boat. This was lodged January 2009 and went to a commissioner's hearing in May 2009 who gave approval, despite opposition from one company. Another local competitor Kawarau Jet, now on public record, contested this decision, as they chose to take it to the Environmental Court which was not heard until June and July 2010. This, as one can imagine, was quite a drama in itself. Starting a new business is hard enough without having to face a long, difficult and expensive battle all because of trade competition. The end result was that Thunder Jet got their consents approved to increase from the one boat, adding a smaller 10 seater in May of last year and have now just launched the newest commercial twin engine latest designed Mackcraft hull on December 22, 2012.