Indholdsfortegnelse for March 2019 i Boating NZ

In the sailing world, these people are revered I rather than scorned. They allow us to live vicariously through their adventures and doff our caps to those who seemed to have mastered the elusive art of freedom in a world that wants you to be anything but. It is rare to meet the perpetual cruiser these days, as affluence has made popular the opt-in-opt-out kind of cruising that goes with large property portfolios or successful business. But in the quiet reaches of the Whangarei River, waiting out the Pacific cyclone season, are two of the best perpetual cruisers you’re ever likely to meet. Gary ‘Fatty’ Goodlander and his wife Carolyn are moored only metres from the hustling downtown of Whangarei, but about a million miles from the edge of western…

Ownaship boat share has been a steadily growing force in the marine industry in the last few years, from humble beginnings on a single trailer boat back in 2007 to a fleet of 16 luxury vessels and counting as of 2019. The company took a big step last September when it took delivery of a Maritimo M51 luxury launch and a Lucia 40 catamaran – the first vessels in the Ownaship fleet’s 40ft-plus range, and the first catamaran to boot. With these boats launched and running smoothly Ownaship has seen interest surge. “It seems like we’ve reached a critical stage in our growth where our enquiry level is just skyrocketing,” says MD Simon Barker, “and this comes on the back of a record number of enquiries at last year’s Auckland…

It’s big enough to handle the open ocean I and, with a range of more than 4,000 kilometres, it’s capable of circumnavigating both the North and South Islands on a single tank of fuel. It’s trim enough to tuck into small harbours and shallow anchorages, giving it the flexibility to go absolutely anywhere. And it’s luxurious enough to please a prince. Can the new Grand Banks 60 Skylounge really be the ultimate long-range cruiser? I decided to find out. I’d been impressed by the 60 Flybridge model when the first drawings of it appeared in 2017, but I became even more intrigued last year when the newer Skylounge version emerged, with its enclosed upper bridge for added comfort and living space. Completely climate-controlled, the Skylounge allows comfortable access to the…

I have a long and acrimonious history with I boat refrigeration. Like a lot of cruising folk, I’ve been tied up in some godforsaken long-drops of ports waiting for fridge parts to arrive from elsewhere – or the people to install them to turn up in the few hours between siesta and sundown. A defunct fridge caused us to cancel a lucrative 10-day charter in the Caribbean years ago – and left us with tepid Heinekens after a hard day’s racing at Antigua Race Week. True, I do suffer from that sailor’s complaint MPS – Mechanical Paranoia Syndrome. We should form an association and hold meetings: “Hi, my name is John and I’m a mechanical paranoid.” We’re the people who change the engine oil 100 hours before it’s due and…

Sir Peter, then 17, and his brother Tony started building the keel yacht in 1966 in the backyard of their family home in Bayswater, with help from good friend Crawford Duncan. At 7m LOA the boat may be small but she is a big part of the country’s maritime history – building and sailing the boat was how Blake gleaned his craft. His 30-year career as the world’s most celebrated yachtsman saw him circumnavigate the globe six times, win the America’s Cup in 1995 and head ecological expeditions from the Antarctic to the Amazon. Bruce Tantrum of the Classic Yacht Charitable Trust, who discovered Bandit in a shed in Warkworth in 2013, says the Maritime Museum’s Blue Water Black Magic gallery is the ideal place for Bandit to be on…

The regatta is designed to highlight the importance of the superyacht sector in New Zealand’s marine industry, as well as showcase some of the country’s most visually-striking cruising grounds. With the approach of the 36th America’s Cup, organisers expect to see the competing fleet swell exponentially over the next three years. The event attracts yachts with a penchant for adventure and is lauded by entrants for the sense of camaraderie found in this part of the world. “We’re already receiving entry enquiries for 2020 and 2021,” says event organiser, Stacey Cook. “The J Class Association has also accepted our invitation to race in 2021 and we know having the strikingly-elegant classic yachts race alongside the event will add an extra dimension to our racing.” At the prizegiving later in the…

“Great interest is being taken by launch owners and boating men generally in the fine new boats now building. Not only will they be larger than any of our present fleet, but they will have considerably more power and several new features, including ‘midship cockpit and controls, while their ample beam will not appear excessive owing to the rest of the design being well balanced. They should be good sea boats, and be able to make a trip on the coast in almost any weather without undue discomfort and in average weather will be very comfortable, their good beam allowing the crew room to stretch their legs. Messrs Court’s [Gladys II], Holloway’s [Atatu] and Colebrook’s [Mollie] boats will be out-and-out cruisers, with a fair turn of speed up to about…

The cheer that erupted for Bay of Islands local Chris Hornell and the crew of his TP52 Kia Kaha at the CRC BOISW prize-giving ceremony was perhaps the loudest in the event’s 17-year history. Kia Kaha nailed the top honour of the event – the South Pacific PHRF Championships trophy. And the crowd were clearly pleased to see this local hero – sailing an older TP52, with second-hand sails and an amateur crew – claim the win. Chris Hornell says local knowledge helped “a little” but other factors were more important. “We had a good bunch of people, and everything we did turned to gold. Good conditions for our boat.” Also competing in the A Division, Jim Farmer’s Georgia claimed a win on general handicap after three days of racing.…

L925 POWER CAT Another sleek design from the drawing board of Dan Leech, this cat is the perfect getaway vessel for an adventurous couple. CHRISCRAFT REPLICA A study in infinite detail and perfection, this 1940s design has been patiently recreated by a young Christchurch cabinetmaker. G STUNNING SYMBIOSIS Cars and boats might be different forms of travel but they often share a surprisingly similar heritage, as many of the world’s most famous car/boat brands attest. CAN SHE BE SAVED? Waihape – a Johnny Wray-built vessel – is lying derelict and abandoned in a North Island estuary. But attempts to recover her are afoot. www.boatingnz.co.nz…

Neville, the new Senator’s owner, lives beside the Mangawhai estuary and enjoys riparian access from his front lawn. Neville and partner Anne love fishing, so that’s what this vessel will be used for, spending time around the Hen and Chickens and Mokohinau Islands. Usually they’ll take day trips, but the boat is fully-kitted for overnight expeditions and longer. Motorsport enthusiast Neville is a bit of a speed merchant. It’s no surprise, then, that his new boat has a pair of Yamaha 350hp V8 outboards bolted to the transom – had they been available when the boat was being built, he says may well have opted for Yamaha’s new 425hp engines. As it is, the smaller V8s give the SL1170 a top speed of almost 40 knots. During initial testing out…

This mid-sized cat, says Ownaship MD Simon Barker, is aimed squarely at the cruising family or a couple looking for space and performance on a safe, easily-handled platform. “She’s big and wide and stress-free for a couple – in fact, we’ve set up this particular model for single-handed sailing. “To that end we’ve added components like an electric halyard winch – as well as automated wind direction so you can flick the auto switch and she will follow the wind and point efficiently. One person can manage her very, very easily.” To personally explore the Lucia 40’s charms, I ventured out on to Auckland’s Waitemata Harbour on a sparkling summer’s day. And stepping aboard you can’t escape the remarkable sense of open, light-filled spaces that integrate stern and saloon –…

“It’s been an amazing experience that we’ve loved sharing with our friends and family.” Ownaship is New Zealand’s largest boat share management company. It’s all about making boating easy and accessible, regardless of experience, budget, or time limitations. It believes in helping Kiwis get out and enjoy our marine environment. That’s what gets the team up in the morning. For the last 11 years, it has operated the country’s largest recreational boating fleet, looking after more than 120 shareholders across an ever-growing selection of luxury vessels. That’s because it makes things easy. When you buy into a vessel with Ownaship, you’re not just buying a boat, you’re buying the whole experience. Every boat in the fleet is managed to make it seamless and easy to use. You simply ‘walk-on-and-walk-off’. Cleaning…

EXCESS CATAMARANS This is a very exciting development… 36 Degrees Brokers has been appointed exclusive dealer for Beneteau Group’s new Excess catamaran range. The Excess 12 and Excess 15 were revealed at the Dusseldorf Boat Show in January. A collaboration between VPLP Design, Patric Le Quement and Nauta Design, the vessels promise to impress in an entirely new way. The Excess 12, with a length of 11.73m, a beam of 7.4m and a draft of 1.4m, is available in multiple configurations for private or charter use. The Excess 15 is 14.8m long, has a 8m beam and 2.9m draft. With a 8.5m2 rig and available in multiple layouts, it will sail like a dream. The Pulse Line performance package offers a taller rig and bigger sail area, Dyneema steering cables…

Developed from the 370 Aft Cabin D Cruiser, European Powerboat of the Year 2009, the Marex 375 was introduced in 2016 to universal acclaim. Nominated for European Power Boat of the year in 2016 and receiving a Highly Commended award, it earned positive reviews from the European boating press and quickly became a strong seller. This Marex 375 is the first of its kind in New Zealand, chosen, says Richard Wardenburg, who with wife Suzy owns Hybrid Boats, because they felt it would fit the New Zealand boating lifestyle to a tee. “The Scandinavians understand all-seasons boating. The 375 combines a flexible, user-friendly internal layout and versatile outdoor spaces for year-round use, with the looks and performance to turn heads.” The Wardenburgs fell in love with the Nordic style and…

Around the northeastern coast of the North Island, ‘kina barrens’ have become an unwelcome feature of the underwater landscape. Kina barrens are characterised by bare rock overrun with sea urchins (kina). The reason kina barrens exist is widely believed to be an explosion in the sea urchin population because predatory snapper and crayfish are no longer present in quantities large enough to control urchin numbers. (Some scientists believe barrens are nothing to do with kina but rather the result of storm damage… Either way, the balance has been upset.) Kina feed on kelp and when their population density gets high enough, they quickly denude reefs of their kelp cover. The extent of reef stripped bare by rapacious urchins is growing and new kina barrens are forming all the time. Along…

DEVIL RAY BALLET This graceful photo of three giant devil rays performing a ‘ballet’ – shot by Duncan Murrell – was judged the Best of Show at the recent Ocean Art Underwater Photo Competition, organised by the Underwater Photography Guide. Judges said this 7th annual competition attracted a very high calibre of photos from 70 countries and that 2018 was the most competitive year to date. Murrell’s shot uses soft, ambient light to accentuate the movements of elegant giants. Other exceptional images include astonishing fish and marine life shots, rarely seen animal behaviour, innovative shooting techniques, stunning portraits, seals, ocean adventure, whales and some dramatic moments between humans and marine life. Sixteen different categories ensure a competitive contest for all levels and disciplines of underwater photography, including compact, mirrorless, and…

It comes after the February signing of a Development Agreement between the city’s redevelopment agency – Panuku Development Auckland – and marine services company Orams. The new facility will feature a marine haul out and refit facility, commercial buildings and a residential tower on the northern end. It will target marine vessels up to 800 tonnes, which accounts for 85% of the world marine market. Auckland Mayor Phil Goff says the facility is expected to generate more than 500 jobs and as many as 200 apprenticeships. “Currently, a piece of poorly-utilised land will become the heart of a thriving marine enterprises precinct, which carries on the historic presence of boat building in this area. Built in time for the America’s Cup 36 races, the precinct will benefit hugely from the…

Designing boats is like writing books. Some languish in the sale bins, while a select few bolt for the heady heights of the best-seller list. The performance, we’re told, is down to the quality of the marketing – but in reality, it comes down to a little magic. The Noelex 22 is one of these designs and, like the Nordic Folkboat of Scandinavia, it was a case of the right design for the right time. The time for the Noelex 22 as it turns out, was the trailer-sailer boom of the 1970s and 80s. It was all targeted at the baby boomer with limited time, money and the complexity of young families who wanted to get out sailing. The solution was an armada of light, trailable boats that could be…

Northerly winds dictated the route of our week’s cruise around the Inner Hebrides, so with full sail on Aisling – our Contessa 32 – we headed south along the rock-strewn coasts of Skye. Atlantic gales bring powerful seas and winds to this west-facing coast of Scotland so cruising sailors have to be hardy and cautious – which explains why there are so few. There are many variables about west coast sailing but there is one constant: rain. Often arriving horizontally but then again often innocuously persistent and even pleasantly warm thanks to the Gulf Stream. Our cruise brought all the classic weather ingredients – two gales, heavy rain, stunningly clear sunshine and, thankfully, only neap tides. “You can tell it’s very windy because the rubber dinghy flies behind the boat,”…

Both events drew record participants and spectators, a testament to the organisers’ abilities and proof that boating – in all its multiple, diverse forms – is a core component of the New Zealand public’s DNA, perhaps more so than in any other country. The Mahurangi Regatta is always a colourful affair, with its extraordinary mix of classic yachts and launches. This year’s event, though, chalked up a particularly important milestone because it witnessed five of the most legendary Arch Logan yachts coming together for the first time in decades. In a splendid display of ‘functioning history’, Thelma (1897), Rainbow (1898), Ariki (1904), Rawhiti (1905) and Rawene (1908) drew resounding rounds of applause. Magnificent stuff. And proving that age and wisdom often outweigh youthful boisterousness, the graceful Thelma, under the expert…

Puzzle no.257 Across 6. Square canvas hoisted from yard that is oblique to mast (7)8. Device that is basis of depth sounder (5)9. Navigational map (5)10. _____ Marine – well-known manufacturer of marine motors and engines (7)11. Course taken on boat trip (5)13. Sea _____ – practical testing phase for new boat (5)15. Point opposite zenith used in old celestial navigation (5)17. Riding _____ – illumination used by anchored vessel at night (5)19. First name of NZ boardsailor in photo (7)20. Shore where land meets sea (5)22. Pirate’s plunder! (5)23. Billowed out like wind-filled sail (7) Down 1. NZ-designed radio-controlled model yacht (8)2. _____ down – fit ratlines to shrouds (6)3. Marine bivalve shellfish (5)4. Investing in cover for boat in event of loss or damage (8)5. Common NZ name…

Further into the ranks of the marina, F serious, muscled young crew in boat uniforms wrestled sails aboard the big racers. But at the Opua Cruising Club dock our team, with creaking knees and ready smiles, clambered into dinghies and puttered across channel to our entry. In a world of mylar sails and hull forms that carry their beam all the way aft like a fleet of floating sumo wrestlers, Wetherly is more of a kindly, dowager aunt with her overhangs, tumblehome and shapely transom. “No,” Tony Kiff says, “it’s not a spelling mistake – it’s the name she had when we bought her in 1988 – and we just kept it.” Appropriate maybe, for a yacht that was headed for a new home in a country where sheep outnumbered…