I found this quite interesting.

[Peppermint]

It's a press release that may have lost something in the translation. The idea that a Clipper boat is an F1 is amusing but the steely determination of Chinese industry is quite scary.


"China. New yacht from Double Happiness causes stir again
Monday, 28 February 2005
Press release:


Shanghai Double Happiness Yacht Co., Ltd. located in Shanghai's Jinshan District, recently caused a stir during the London International Boat Show with the presence of the "Liverpool" sailboat that was custom-built for the 'Clipper 05-06 Round the World Yacht Race.' The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is usually described as the "Maritime F1." Traditionally, sailboat builders from Europe, North America and Southeast Asia serve as the primary providers of sailboats used the competition. Through the international bidding processes, Shanghai Double Happiness Yacht won orders for all ten sailboats for the 5th Clipper Round the World Race. During the show, the second boat completed for Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, named "Scotland," was launched on the River Thames. The remaining eight sailboats will be delivered during the first half of this year.

Shanghai Double Happiness Yacht Co., Ltd. builds 45-foot medium-end, 80- foot luxury yachts and 86-foot super-large yachts. The company is striving to become the yacht-manufacturing center of the Far East and contribute to the future of yacht manufacturing with regard to Jinshan's yacht dock and yacht club development.

In recent years, Jinshan district has enthusiastically taken good advantage of local maritime resources. In an effort to contribute to this modern service industry, Jinshan District has established Coast Line Development Management Committee and Golden Beach Investment Development Co., Ltd.,

Last Updated ( Monday, 28 February 2005 ) "

 

[ChrisE]

At the risk of being slightly controversial, good luck to 'em. A little bit of competition does nobody any harm. I'm old enough to remember laughing at the first Honda motorbikes, at a time when British bikes were at best of questionnable build quality. I'm not an expert in this field but to my untutored eyes, the latest Triumphs seem to possess a build quality that is up with the best of them. I doubt that this would have happened without the pressure from Japan. Translate this into nautical themes and we might get better boats as a result of a bit of interest from the East.

I've spent too many years wandering around boatyards and marine building places being impressed with the enthusiasm and knowledge of the builders but less than enamoured with their production capabilities.

 

[Swagman]

Suspect even the Chinese had realised the F in F1 did not in this case stand for formula...

 

[Sgeir]

The Return of Zheng He

Very interesting - in HK recently, where there were brand spanking new mainland-built pianos retailing for less than £1k. Might not have graced a concert hall, but certainly good enough for pleasure use. The pianos don't sail very well though.

Given the enornous energy of its people, and the absolute vast size of their home market (yes even for yachts apparently), I suspect their yachts will be hitting our shores big-style in 5-10 years. Their website needs speeding up though!

 

[Peppermint]

Re:You don\'t think...

that what we'll really get is unemployment then?

Or perhaps more 1st world boat builders asking "would you like fries with that".

After all, a little bit of competition has been so good for the steel, mining, shipbuilding, heavy engineering industries. You know. Where men worked at proper jobs.

I suspect that the grip on our industrial bollocks is tightening and we invited them to take a hold in the first place.

 

[jamesjermain]

In the 80s we all waited in fear and trembling for the invasion of the Japanese. In the end, Yamaha made a brief and unimpressive foray and that was it. Japan has never (yet)developed much of a boatbuilding industry and doesn't look likely to do so.

The Chinese do, however, seem to be taking it all much more seriously and I suspect it will become a major player. After all their bete noir, Taiwan, has been one of the biggest suppliers to the American market. It will be interesting to see if they assault the mainstream AWB market or stick to the more specialist and larger sectors as they have to date.

 

[Cornishman]

Re: Cheoy Lee.

I sailed a Cheoy Lee yacht built in HK back in the 60s, and a fine piece of the shipwright's arts she was, too. A miniaturised replica of the Gloucester fishing schooners of the American East Coast, she took us from Singapore to Malta calling at various places en route in four and a half months. Anybody know if the Cheoy Lee yard is still building?

 

[ChrisE]

That\'s one view

Innovate or die is another. I have real sympathy for those that lose their jobs as a result of the world moving on but you can't stop it. Better to try to take advantage of a changing situation.

 

[30boat]

Re: Cheoy Lee.

I think it's still in business.

 

[Ships_Cat]

Re: Cheoy Lee.

Anybody know if the Cheoy Lee yard is still building?

I believe so but no ordinary sized sailboats anymore, just big motor yachts (and maybe big sail ones).

John

 

[bob_tyler]

Re: Cheoy Lee.

[url="http://www.cheoyleena.com/home.lasso"]www.cheoyleena.com/home.lasso [/url]

 

[Peppermint]

Re: Oh I know there\'s no choice.

It's just that, in the end, you can't compete with people who work for food. Not if you want a new car and two holidays a year. Not everybody gets to innovate either.

 

[oldgit]

Re: no choice.....but to run a bit faster.?

Think we have been competing against folks who just work for food since the beginning of the industrial revolution and we seem to have done OK for the last 250 years.You just have be aware of the problem/challenge(pick your own word).