Set in South America, Bond’s mission (played by Roger Moore) involves finding an obscure orchid which the villain (Drax) plans to use to eliminate humanity. Moonraker ll is the 1979 Glastron-Carlson ski-boat Bond uses to outwit one of Drax’s thugs. After a thrilling, high-speed river chase, he escapes thanks to a hang glider fitted to the vessel, launching the contraption into the air just as it plunges over a waterfall.
The boat was bought from the movie’s producers in 1980 by Picton’s Peter Carrington and immaculately restored over many years. He still owns her today, 43 years on. And as the Lake Rotoiti show demonstrated, Moonraker ll still has the ability to turn heads.
This year’s show (March 4-5) – the 23rd edition – provided a welcome return to normality after the Covid-affected ‘21 and ‘22 events. But as these vessels prove, the classic boat fraternity is nothing if not resilient and exhibitors returned in droves.
Visitors were treated
