Imported

Announcement: Strategic Partnership and New Developments at Sykes

Recognising that some countries have the scale and a lower cost base than Australia, in 2022 we decided to form a Global Strategic Alliance with one of the “Big 3” Chinese boat builders, the Hangzhou Kanghua Boat Company (Kanghua). This alliance is a merger of equals for mutual benefit, with several key pillars of collaboration, including:

  • Licensing Agreement with Kanghua: Sykes is providing its proprietary technology, intellectual property (IP), and design under license to Kanghua for the supply of high-performance boats to the rest of the world. This collaboration ensures that our innovative designs and high standards of quality are maintained globally.
  • Production Transition: Kanghua has taken over the production capability previously owned by Sykes in China. This includes the manufacturing of Sykes-branded Initiator and Accelerator Single Sculls, ensuring consistent quality and performance in these popular models.
  • Sourcing High-Performance Hulls: Sykes can now source new, high-performance hulls made to our licensed designs. These hulls will be fully customized and fitted out in Australia with genuine Sykes fittings, maintaining the exceptional standards our customers expect.
  • Agency for Kanghua Rowing Boats: Sykes is proud to become the Australia and New Zealand agent for the entire range of Kanghua branded rowing boats. This extensive range includes full pre-preg hulls, coastal and recreational boats, coaching launches, and other craft. This partnership expands our offerings, providing more options for our customers in the region.
  • High-Quality Fittings and Parts: Sykes will now source high-quality fittings and parts for all our Sykes branded boats. Whether the hulls are imported or domestically made, they will be equipped with the same top-tier components, all fitted and customized in Geelong, ensuring enhanced performance and durability across our entire product range.

The access to imported 4th generation Sykes hulls, as well as access to a comprehensive range of “Kanghua” branded boats, makes Sykes the only choice. To mimic a well-known retailer: if you can find a better price on a similar fully imported item, we will beat it by 10%. We will not be beaten on price!

These developments mark a significant step forward for Sykes, allowing us to continue delivering top-tier rowing products while expanding our global footprint. We remain committed to providing our customers with the best rowing experience possible, backed by our tradition of excellence and innovation.

Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,
The Sykes Team