“What’s going on?” was 14-year-old Hamish Baker’s confused comment when he was told he’d won a boat. His father, Martyn, had managed to keep the prize announcement a secret until Hamish and his family turned up for the handover at Auckland’s Westhaven marina. 

Hamish was featured in Mercury’s Take A Kid Fishing section in the February 2024 issue of NZ Fishing News, entering him into the grand prize which is drawn annually.

Only two days after receiving his prize, 14-year-old Hamish Baker was out skippering his new vessel and catching snapper.

Each year Mercury, ably supported by Voyager Trailers and Kilwell Sports, puts up an inflatable boat powered by a suitable outboard, all on a customised Voyager trailer. Kilwell comes to the party with a new rod, reel and tackle box. 

Hamish lives in Milford and is a keen young angler who enjoys targeting snapper around the North Shore. Only two days after receiving his prize, Hamish was out there skippering his new vessel and catching snapper on softbaits along the Whangaparaoa Peninsula. It seems like the  Mercury 320 Ocean Runner RIB powered by a Mercury 9.9hp two-stroke engine will be put to good use in the coming years! 

At the handover, Peter Brown, Regional Sales Manager for Mercury, gave Hamish a thorough rundown on the operation of his new vessel and outboard.

Mercury's Peter Brown gives Hamish a thorough rundown of his new rig.

“Take A Kid Fishing is a great initiative to be a part of – we love seeing the next generation of anglers and boaters coming through.”

Nathan Brown, General Manager for Voyager Trailers, has a similar view about their sponsorship involvement. 

“It’s always exciting finding out who the lucky winner is each season and it’s a privilege being able to supply a quality trailer for the prize boat.” 

“Thank you for making our Christmas so much better,” were Martyn’s parting words.

- NZ Fishing News