Scot Cort's Thunderbird, a Ryan Craft power boat built and designed by Jack Ryan in 1958, took out the Jens Hansen Cup for best vessel overall at this year's New Zealand Antique and Classic Boat Show. The cup was being awarded for the 27th time since the show's establishment in 1989, and the veteran wooden craft's win sat comfortably within the spirit of the event.
Judge Ashley Johnson said the wooden craft ran true to the boat show ethos of winners with a story to tell.
"There are always boats with a great history and Thunderbird was a standout example of 1950's power and speed," he said. "Another boat that caught our eye was Ding Ding - we created a new award for best aluminium boat for this runabout built by De Havilland Aircraft after they stopped making planes. It was made in Australia, shipped to New Zealand for assembly and worked as a hire boat on Lake Wanaka for many years."
John Harris of Nelson received the Keith Walker Memorial Trophy in recognition of his long service as a volunteer. Co-organiser Glenn Common noted that Harris had helped shape the show from day one: "He's much more than a volunteer - he's an integral part of show."
The People's Choice Award, decided by public votes, went to Malc and Trina Russell of Blenheim, whose boat Avanti II also claimed the Mathieson/Jeffcott Trophy for best motor-powered craft.
More than 140 boats entered this year's show, and an estimated crowd of three thousand attended across the two days. Co-organiser Pete Rainey said it was great to see the continued interest in the history of on-the-water recreation in New Zealand.
"Highlights for me included the big turnout of sea scouts and their impressive rowing in vintage clinker dinghies, the passion of entrants such as Russ Cloake from Southland who won best display with his 14 British Seagull and Anzani outboards, seeing New Zealand's oldest racing boat Pit-a-Pat on the water and of course the fly-past of the RNZAF Beechcraft T-6 Texans against a perfect blue sky."
The full list of awards at the 2026 New Zealand Antique and Classic Boat Show
WALKER FAMILY BEST NEW CRAFT: Bonnie Moon owned by Neil Moon, Richmond
BEST RESTORATION: Brass Monkey owned by Vincent Revell, Mapua
PORT NELSON HOUSE PARTS BEST ROWED CRAFT: Ferryglide owned by John Hitchcock, Wellington
CWF HAMILTON TROPHY BEST JET-PROPELLED CRAFT: Guy owned by John Wicken, Christchurch
JOHNSON FAMILY TROPHY BEST SAIL POWERED CRAFT: Wind Song owned by Matt & Rosie Michel, Picton
MATHIESON/JEFFCOTT TROPHY BEST MOTOR-POWERED CRAFT AND PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD: Avanti ll owned by Malc & Trina Russell, Blenheim
RON CULLY STEAMBOAT TROPHY: Kelly Maree owned by Stuart Lee, New Plymouth
BEST AMERICAN TYPE CRAFT: Glastron Jet owned by Janvier & Sue Marchand, Christchurch
BEST CLINKER CRAFT: Ripples owned by Richard Winn, Wakefield
KEITH WALKER MEMORIAL TROPHY FOR LONG SERVING VOLUNTEER: John Harris, Nelson
BEST ALUMINIUM BOAT: Ding Ding owned by Isaac Green, Oamaru
EVENTIAC BEST THEMED DISPLAY: Best of British, Russ Cloake, Mossburn, Southland
BOATING NZ RETRO BOAT TROPHY: Solitaire owned by Joel Porter, Blenheim
BEST OUTBOARD MOTOR CRAFT TROPHY: Dash owned by Alan Doak, Wellington
JENS HANSEN CUP BEST VESSEL OVERALL: Thunderbird owned by Scot Cort, Christchurch
