Spirit of Wellington, 12.6

Size: 12.6m - Backup Pilot/Rescue Boat
Location: Wellington Harbour, New Zealand

The Port of Wellington and the Wellington Volunteer Coastguard both required craft around the 12 metre mark. The Port of Wellington Pilots required a craft as backup for busy times and while their main Pilot Boat was undergoing maintenance. The Coastguard, however, needed a dedicated Rescue Craft to ply the turbulent and moody seas of Cook Strait. These two groups decided to come together in a joint venture to share a vessel.

The 12.6 metre Naiad Pilot/Rescue that was chosen was built, in aluminium, to Lloyd's Register SSC (Special Service Craft) 100A1 rules.

Powered by twin 225hp outboards "Spirit" provides a top speed of 33 knots with an all up weight of just over six tonnes. It has proved to be fast and comfortable in choppy seas whipped up by 35 to 40 knot winds.

Naiad's mechanical fastening system - designed to attach the buoyancy tubes to the hull - had to be tested and approved by Lloyd's. The attachment needed to exceed the minimum required tensile strength of the fabric. It did this easily, with a 35 percent safety margin. Because the PVC-polyurethane blend fabric used for the outer pontoon cover has such a high abrasion resistance and excellent weathering ability, this fabric is now the preferred choice of end users, over hypalon.

The deep "V" (23 degree) hull gives an exceptionally comfortable ride. With the wide placement of the two engines and the windage positioned amidships, the 12.6 will turn in its own length without having to reverse, making it ideal for performing delicate manouevres.

Captain Lew Robinson from the Wellington Pilots calls "Spirit" a purposeful craft, highly functional, well-conceived from customer input, and well put together by Naiad's design team.