Cape Town's boatbuilding sector is a global success story
Two years ago Kirsten Neuschafer shocked the world by winning a non-stop, solo round-the-world race in 233 days.
Not only was she the first women to win the race, she was the first to complete it – and even rescued a fellow competitor along the way.
As per race rules she travelled 30 000 nautical miles without the use of modern equipment, navigating by the stars and sextant that wouldn’t look out of place at a vintage garage sale.
Fast forward to this week and South Africa is hosting the first ever African Boating Conference. That the event is taking place in Cape Town is itself a global triumph rooted in the same deep current of home-grown knowledge and adventure that propelled Kirsten to stardom.
Cape Town has grown into a regional boatbuilding hub, home to one of the world’s largest producers of luxury catamarans – Robertson and Caine – and several other top tier boatbuilding yards. The industry has seen huge export growth, underpinned by skilled artisans and led by a group of sailing and boatbuilding experts for whom boatbuilding was an extension of their sailing passion.
Before setting off on its epic voyage, Kirsten’s trophy-winning 36 ft yacht was modified and finetuned at one of these local Cape Town yards.
There are lessons to be learnt from these two interlinked success stories, the one a tale of personal courage, the other an inspiring example of business sector growth.
The common denominator is determination and the ability to make the most of competitive advantage – key components of most thriving enterprises.
South Africa’s boating community has been able to translate their passion into a globally competitive industry that now supports thousands of jobs.
For several years before Covid the sector grew at an average of 17% per annum (SABBEX figures), at a time when the national economy was only just stuttering forward.
Cape Town is now the city producing the most luxury catamarans worldwide, with barely enough marina space to park new boats before they are shipped overseas – mainly to the US.
In 2024 South African exported boats and ships worth R4.3 billion.
Partly this success speaks to industry stewardship that has attracted international investment and much-needed skills development. A group of close-knit professionals has teamed up with the City of Cape Town and the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront to form BlueCape, an initiative aimed at expanding the ocean economy.
As the key host of this week’s African Boating Conference, BlueCape is now sharing this sector success story on a global stage. It is a success story that, like Kirsten’s solo sailing triumph, is built on a legacy of passion and expertise.
John Lawson
CEO of the Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry