Hakes Marine is a New Zealand-based yard based in Wellington, founded by Paul Hakes in 2002. Known for its TP52s, the supermaxi Zana and several IMOCA Open 60s built for the Vendée Globe. The yard was dissolved at the end of 2012; Paul Hakes then co-founded HH Catamarans in China with Hudson Wang, before leaving HH in 2024 to launch Shift Yachts with his son James (design in New Zealand, production in Thailand).
The New Zealand yard behind the TP52s, Zana and Mike Golding’s IMOCA 60s
Trajectory
Paul Hakes trained in New Zealand at the leading raceboat builders of the time, including a dozen years at Cookson Boats (60+ boats delivered). After a stint in Germany as project manager on the Illbruck Challenge (Volvo Ocean Race), he returned to Wellington and founded Hakes Marine Construction Limited on April 26, 2002. The yard built custom raceboats — TP52s, IMOCA 60s, supermaxis — and operated until its dissolution on November 20, 2012, when Paul Hakes moved to China to co-found HH Catamarans with Hudson Wang.
Skysat on board
Skysat worked on the IMOCA Ecover 3 under its current FDJ United-WeWise management (Fabrice Amedeo).
