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SHANGHAI EXPO 2010

Andy Duerte
 
 
At the Shanghai Expo 2010 Andy’s company was commissioned to design, develop and manage 36 flag bearing boats that would sail down the river as a centrepiece of the extravagant opening ceremony.
The boats were designed in catamaran format and able to safely carry three people with submersed boons attached to allow them to be towed by RIBs in batches of eight.
Approximately 600 students from the Shanghai area were allocated to the project to support and receive training throughout.
 
Mercury Marine was chosen as the supplier to manufacture the 12-foot-long boats.
In towing the boats in a prescribed formation along the river, the team also had to challenges to contend with such as cross currents as well as tidal patterns as the formations would go both directions in the river.
The opening ceremony went smoothly and to exactly to plan – and the boats can be seen in the ▶ video here
Following the event, the boats were re-engineered and re-purposed to carry wheelchairs, thus allow people with reduced mobility to enjoy the experience of sailing.