New Zealand boatbuilder receives honorary degree
By IBI Magazine
Mick Cookson of Cookson Boats Ltd. has been awarded an Honorary Bachelor of Applied Technology from Unitec in New Zealand. Unitec Programme Director Laurie Richardson said Cookson was a worthy recipient because he has built an internationally renowned business that reflects his commitment to quality and innovation. "Mick Cookson is the first choice for many clients looking for the highest quality products to compete on the world stage," said Richardson in a statement. Cookson's recent clients include Roy Disney's Pyewacket, Emirates Team New Zealand's America Cup yachts, Larry Ellison' Sayonara, Steve Fosset's Play Station, Ross Fields' Newscorp, Sir Peter Blake's Team New Zealand and Chris Dickson's Tag Heuer. Cookson has been involved with the design and manufacture of New Zealand entries in the America's Cup since 1995, including the winning 2000 America's Cup winners NZL 57 and 60, the defence campaign boats NZL 81 and 82 in 2003, and the current challenger boats for Emirates Team New Zealand. Cookson boats have also won many of the world's most prestigious yachting events in addition to the America's Cup. These include the Jules Verne Trophy (for the fastest yacht round the world non-stop), the Whitbread (now Volvo) Round the World Race, numerous One Ton, Admiral's and Clipper Cups and many world championships and 24-hour records. "Mick Cookson achieved these results by developing a large number of innovative techniques for the construction of high performance race boats," said Richardson. "He sets very high standards of both hard and soft skills for our students and graduates to aspire to."
(16 April 2007)
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