Innehållsförteckning för May 2018 från Boating NZ

We review the just-launched Absolute 58 – a superbly-crafted vessel from Italy. Equipped with twin IPS-800s (1200hp in total), this beauty’s highly-regarded for her frugal fuel consumption and maneuverability. She hosts seven guests with a maximum capacity of 14. A multiple world-champion of powerboat racing, Fabio Buzzi has just set a new world record for a diesel-powered vessel – 277.5 km/h. The milestone, certified by Guinness World Records, was achieved in March on Italy’s Lake Como. What’s particularly impressive is that Fabio is 75 years old. We profile the man and his remarkable achievements. The remarkable resurrection of one of New Zealand’s most revered hydroplanes. She featured in the recent NZ Antique and Classic Boatshow down at Lake Rotoiti, where she was driven by one of her original champions, Jon…

Visitors to this month’s Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show in Auckland (May 17 - 20) will pick up cool fishing tips and techniques at the show’s new Top Catch Master Class fishing seminars. The Master Class programme – put together with help from fishing retailer Top Catch – features easy-to-understand, practical advice from some of the country’s top fishing experts: …Pick up cool fishing tips and techniques… • Better Bait Fishing with Adam Clancy • Killer Kingfish Techniques with Ben Pokaia • Working the Workups with Paul Senior & Mark Kitteridge • Super Softbaiting Tips with Adam Royter & Craig Robinson • Simple, Effective Fish Filleting with Bruce Duncan and • Catching More Gamefish. There will also be sessions on Understanding Marine Electronics with Josh Western; Clever Kayak Fishing with…

Auckland’s Orams Marine is a finalist for the prestigious World Superyacht Awards in the Refit of the Year category for its work on the 45m motor yacht, Latitude. The extensive refit included a full repaint, engineering and major structural work on the vessel, which has traversed the North West Passage twice. She had covered 40,000 nautical miles through some of the world’s harshest conditions prior to reaching Auckland. The interior of the flybridge was removed in its entirety so that the structure and joinery could be completely remodelled. The addition of a bar and jacuzzi as well as mood lighting created a completely new space, and the structure was rebuilt in composite to reduce the weight of the upper deck and future-proofed it against corrosion. The refit also saw the…

When Mike Hunter reviewed the first Dickey 32 back in December 2008 it read like he had written it at the Boating New Zealand Christmas party. He appeared under the influence, or drunk-in-charge-of-a-pencil as it is called in writing circles. He waxed on about quality, design and detail and kept mentioning Lotto. He was in love and he was gonna buy one of these boats as soon as he got a raise from the editor. I could smell the rum on his breath. Ten years on when the current editor approached me to do the review of the latest version of the Dickey 32 – named Jack – I was determined not to fall into the same trap so I approached it all with the sobriety of a monk. DESIGN…

Located at the southern entrance of the Bosphorus, the tower’s commonly known by two different titles – based on two different legends – one Byzantine, one Roman. In the first legend, the Byzantine emperor heard a prophecy telling him that his beloved daughter would die at the age of 18 as a result of a snake bite. He put her in the tower built on the isolated rock to prevent any snake getting to her. But this strategy came to naught – a snake hidden in a fruit basket brought from the city bit the princess and killed her. The other legend involves the lovers Hero and Leander and is based on a tragic love story by the Roman writer Ovid. Hero (the lady) lived in the tower and Leander…

PWCs are more commonly called jet-skis in New Zealand. ‘Jet Ski’ was the brand name given to the original Kawasaki stand-up PWC from 1972 and the name is now also used to describe the larger sit-down PWCs that makes up the bulk of the market. Unlike the noisy, two-stroke machines of yesteryear which seemed to be exclusively piloted by young oiks keen on buzzing honest fishermen, annoying boaters and colliding with swimmers (I’m showing my age here), modern jet-skis are positively refined by comparison, and useful too. Not only are they larger and more powerful than before, they also use much less fuel and emit fewer harmful exhaust gases. PWC owners have on average become older and manufacturers such as Yamaha (WaveRunner), BRP (Sea-Doo) and Kawasaki (Jet Ski) have successfully…

Owners typically contemplate their vessel’s batteries only when the engine fails to start – and it’s usually along the lines of “why-is-the-bloody-thing-flat?” There are multiple causes, but sadly, many installations don’t meet some well-documented and specified data relating to charging parameters, discharge characteristics and installation requirements. Some of this data is detailed in manufacturers’ guidelines. Some can be found in AUS/NZS 3004.2:2014 – the recognised statutory standard for marine electrical installations. Yachting New Zealand also has installation requirements within its various categories of safety regulations. These regulations and recommendations all focus on safety of the installation and, indirectly, the life of the batteries. Until recently, lead-acid has been the major battery technology used in boats, with more modern versions in the form of GEL and Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM). By…

The last time we took our big twin-engine diesel powercat out for an extended run, we noticed the oil pressure on the port engine dropping slowly on the run home. Checking the bilge, we noticed a large quantity of oil in there and realised we had a serious leak. We made it home safely, cleaned up the oil and unsuccessfully tried to locate the source of the leak. Since we could not find the cause of the problem, we booked the boat for a haulout. For a variety of reasons, it was nearly three months before we were allocated a space on the hardstand. When we started up the starboard engine to motor in we were horrified to discover the same problem on that side – low oil pressure and…

A 50-foot, twin-hulled, open-ocean sailing canoe, a vaka motu is a versatile, eco-friendly work boat built to carry people and cargo within lagoons and over small distances between Pacific islands. It’s based on a traditional Polynesian design and this one is the third from Auckland’s Lloyd Stevenson boatbuilders. Two more are in production. And because they use an unusual blend of construction technologies, they pose a welcome challenge to Lloyd’s team. Laying up the hulls in the moulds is the easy part (epoxy, e-glass with foam core), but these are held together with heavy, wooden cross-beams tied by traditional lashing. Well, the method is traditional – the lashings – as well as the standing rigging, is a modern material (Vectran). There are plenty of other traditional components – check out…

Voyaging in the Roaring Forties and Screaming Fifties demands a heightened awareness. Weather maps, the sky and barometer are consulted more often because, when the weather does come away, the change is sudden and often violent. Mollymawks and albatross wheel overhead as the staysail ketch Evohe shoulders her way through the unending westerly swell. Squadrons of Cape pigeons and fulmars squabble around the stern. The team of DOC sea lion researchers soon settle down for the 460km (248nm) slog to Enderby Island in the northernmost Auckland Islands. Most of the scientists have spent a hectic few months finalising plans for research projects, working out timetables, assembling all the provisions, personal gear and supplies needed for several weeks stay in a ruthlessly hostile environment. Almost everything that goes to the sub-Antarctic…

Puzzle no.247 Across 1. _____ Islands – NZ’s northernmost islands located about 900 km northeast of North Island (8) 6. Code word for letter P in marine radio communication (4) 8. Fuel used in some boats (6) 9. Registers to take part in sailing regatta (6) 10. ____-bodied seaman – trained sailor in merchant navy (4) 11. Unsuccessful competitors in regatta, eg (4-4) 12. Curling peak of wave (5) 14. At right angles to length of boat (5) 16. Accompanied or guided another vessel (8) 20. ____ on water – what leaky boat did! (4) 22. Fishes by trailing baited line behind moving boat (6) 23. _____ over – capsized (6) 24. The ____ – literary expression for ocean (4) 25. Veteran sailor and rower Chay Blyth is one (8)…

Billed as the world’s largest underwater restaurant – and the first in Europe – Under is a new, must-visit dining facility nearing completion on Norway’s southern coast. The 600m2 structure – scheduled to open next year – will accommodate 100 diners. The restaurant’s name is also a play on words: in Norwegian, ‘under’ can also be translated into ‘wonder.’ And the view promises to be wondrous. Half-submerged, the building’s monolithic form breaks the water surface to lie against the craggy shoreline. A massive 11m x 4m panoramic acrylic window offers a view of the seabed as it changes throughout the seasons and varying weather conditions. Diners will see all sorts of fish species swimming by, including huge cod, colourful lip fish, lobsters, seals, spiny dogfish and distinctive seaweed and kelp…

The reliability of a safety harnesses has come under scrutiny following a man overboard fatality in November last year, during the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race. The incident – where crew member, Simon Speirs fell overboard from the yacht CV30 – is being investigated by the UK’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch. Spiers was participating in the third leg of the Race – between Cape Town and Fremantle – and was attached to the yacht by his safety harness tether. The hook at the end of the tether was clipped to a jack-line, but deformed under load and released, resulting in him falling overboard. He was recovered unconscious but could not be resuscitated. INITIAL FINDINGS Speirs was using a three-point webbing tether. The hook at the end of the tether…

Built in 1949 by the legendary Lüders Marine Corporation in Connecticut, Laughing Lady was recently relaunched at Omaha after years of neglect and a glorious restoration by the Whangateau Boat Yard. Her gleaming brightwork is offset by period fittings and fixtures – and though she boasts a few modern accessories such as a chartplotter, these are discreetly-mounted, hidden and out of sight until needed. So she looks pretty much as she did when first launched. Perhaps the most intriguing part of her restoration is the research that went into the project. Her owners – brothers James and Michael Dreyer, together with George Emtage and Pam Cundy at the boatyard – had very little to work with by way of original plans or photos. Finding this information took sleuth work, quite…

The fruit bowl of New Zealand, they call it. Hawkes Bay, the province of sunshine and plenty. And it does have great apples, and sun, and plenty. Yet there’s change afoot in Magpie country, a quiet revolution led by very smart people doing very clever things. Hawkes Bay’s new untold story is one of technology, manufacturing and innovation. And it’s bearing fruit. THE TOP ONE PERCENT Influenced by the diverse activities of entrepreneurs like Rocket Lab and marine pace-setter Dickey Boats, the cultural landscape of Hawkes Bay is evolving. In the world-class boat builder’s case, its acknowledged pursuit of excellence strategy is anchored by its growing team of dedicated marine industry professionals. “Good ideas only become great products when you have the right people to execute the entire plan from…

36 Degrees has formed a new boat syndication company and is seeking expressions of interest in the Beneteau Gran Turismo 40 – with an estimated cost of $149,500 per 1/6th share. The Gran Turismo 40 is a classy sports-cruiser with sharp lines and all the comforts that go with luxury cruising. Her Air Step 2 Hull Design technology offers multiple benefits, but essentially, it creates a cushion of air under the hull so she’s super economical and very responsive and nimble to handle at planing speeds. Equipped with twin 300hp engines, the GT40 sleeps six and features a central helm position, a swim platform that can be lowered below the surface, an opening hardtop and a wet bar and BBQ in the cockpit for cooking and entertaining. European styling finishes…

LUXURY SEA TRIALS Chase the European spring and head to Palma in May for the Prestige Sea Trials. Choose between the new, revolutionary PRESTIGE 680 S, which explores a new concept that’s somewhere between a flybridge and a coupé, or the PRESTIGE 630 with her well-balanced exterior and elegant, bright interior. PRESTIGE Sea Trials, 3-4 May, 2018; Owner’s Rendezvous, 4-6 May, 2018. Contact Orakei Marine for details. www.orakeimarine.co.nz FREE MAKO SUNGLASSES WITH SIMRAD Simrad Yachting is offering a pair of Mako Apex polycarbonate sunglasses to the purchasers of any NSS evo3 multifunction display. Next generation Simrad® NSS evo3 units feature new SolarMAX™ HD screens, dual-channel CHIRP sounder compatibility and an expanded keypad, plus a host of premium features suitable for power boaters and sport fishermen. The NSS evo3 series has…

We joined the Salthouse Corsair Euro 44E Liquid Paradise on an overcast morning with a strengthening north-easterly piling up a respectable sea at the entrance to the Waitemata Harbour. And it was a revelation: in the conditions the vessel inspired confidence and delivered a remarkably comfortable, composed ride. PEDIGREE Dean and Treena Salthouse from Salthouse Next Generation Boats have enjoyed considerable success with the revamped and totally updated Corsair sedan range, a development of the original Salthouse Corsair designed over 50 years ago by Dean’s father Bob and produced in Mark I and Mark II versions. The Mark II hull was the starting point for current models. Dean and Bob spent two years developing the new Corsair, lengthening and widening the Mark II hull, adding a skeg keel and modifying…

It can be hard keeping a sailing team together. Work commitments, babies, other sailing and that complicated thing called ‘life’ all get in the way. But late last year, a few of us ladies who used to sail together in the early 2000s, under Sally Garrett, decided it was time to ‘get the band together’ and get back out on the water. We last did the women’s keelboat nationals in 2007, when it was sailed in the Platu 25, but also did a couple of series on the MRX back in the event’s heyday, when there were so many crews wanting to compete that the format required a boatswapping round-robin. In the last few years, the number of women signing up for the event has dropped – but this year…

While Dan Leech is a qualified naval architect with a background in competitive sailing, he understands that the commercial market is weighted towards powerboats. And as most boat owners are averse to heeling, he’s specialised in catamaran designs. The stable comprises several variants ranging from 8.25m to 9.75m in length, and include both fuelefficient, semi-displacement models as well as performance designs. What makes them particularly attractive are their CNC-cut components, which make for a very accurate build and considerably fewer labour hours. All designs are available as a complete package, suitable for owner-builders who have the time and skills to do it themselves. But the more popular option is a professional build, either to hull-and-decks specification or a finished turnkey package. Ostra – a L825 performance power cat – is…

For those who aren’t classic-yacht aficionados, Rawhiti and Innismara have some similarities, plenty of differences – and one major common concern. Let’s start with the similarities and differences. Rawhiti – the name means ‘east’ or ‘sunrise’ – is over 100 years old. A 54-foot Arch Logan design/build, she was launched in 1905. This isn’t the place to sketch her remarkable history, racing pedigree and restoration (I’d need an awful lot more space), but trust me, she’s a jewel among the country’s classic yachts. And after an impeccable restoration a few years ago, she’s – well – magnificent. To see her in full cry with her gaff-rig carrying the full wardrobe is a real treat – even for non-sailors. Breathtaking stuff. Innismara – Gaelic for ‘island in the sea’ – is…

In an initiative designed to promote eco-tourism, the Okeanos Pearl is a cooperative project between Soel Yachts, the Okeanos Foundation for the Sea and the Bora Bora Pearl Beach Resort. With its efficient hull lines, the cat requires only 2.17kWh of battery capacity per nautical mile. To achieve the same efficiency, a petrol-powered vessel would have to use 0.22 of a litre of fuel per nautical mile. With a battery capacity of 120kWh, the SoelCat 12 has a 60nm range at her 8 knot cruising speed, and when the sun’s shining it’s even more. The integrated boost mode allows higher speeds – up to 14 knots. Bora Bora has more than 50 outboard and diesel-powered excursion and shuttle boats that consume more than two million litres of imported fuel every…

Two international expeditions are embarking on a hunt to find the wreck of the Endurance, Ernest Shackleton’s ship that was crushed by Antarctic pack ice in November 1915. The loss of the ship under the ice triggered one of history’s greatest survival stories. Shackleton and his 27 men spent weeks on the ice before using the ship’s lifeboats to reach nearby Elephant Island in the South Shetland Islands. The most remarkable part of the epic, though, saw Shackleton and five others sail the jury-rigged James Caird lifeboat 800 miles from Elephant Island to South Georgia – across treacherous, freezing waters with scant navigational equipment. The remainder of the crew were rescued in August 1916. A number of previous expeditions to find the Endurance have failed. Beginning in January next year,…

The seventh annual Tristram Marine Expo (17 – 20 May) is set to be the biggest yet, with displays including the company’s complete range of boats, Enduro Trailers, Yamaha outboards and Mercury/MerCruiser engines. The state-of-the-art production plant in Hamilton will be open for tours, giving the public the opportunity to gain insight into what’s ‘beneath the skin’ of each Tristram boat. “The in-house experience offers boating enthusiasts a transparent view into our production line, our brand philosophies and our culture – an experience that’s difficult to offer at a boat show,” says Tristram Marine’s Business Development Manager, Tristram Fink. For more information call 07-849-5225 or email tfink@tristram.co.nz.…

Whether the images of the yacht with one foil raised/one lowered remind you of a peeing dog or an aggressive praying mantis, the fact is there is no reference point on which we can lean to understand the viability of the proposed design. Because it is so far removed from anything seen thus far. Even the most advanced of the current crop of IMOCA 60s only become partially foil-borne when reaching. Without doubt the ETNZ and Luna Rossa design teams are among the best and the brightest, with the most sophisticated simulation tools at their disposal. If they believe the numbers to be true, who are we to doubt them? To my mind Schrödinger’s Cat would be applicable here. In his 1935 thought experiment, Erwin Schrödinger presents the scenario of…

Trade was the obvious catalyst for the development of Turkey’s seafaring tradition but, perhaps inevitably, the clash between Christianity and Islam added further impetus. After their conquest of Constantinople (previously Byzantium, now Istanbul) in 1453, the Ottoman Turks were in the firing line from the Holy Roman Empire. During the 15th century – during the reign of the Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent – every corner of the Mediterranean witnessed sea battles between the Ottomans and the Holy League’s fleet. These included ships sent from Venice, Genoa, Tuscany, Malta, from the Pope himself – and the Habsburgs. WW1 ushered in the sunset over the Ottoman Empire, but in the museums in and around Istanbul there are plenty of examples of the region’s maritime tradition – all well worth a visit. THE…

Today the aphorism’s usually offered by some snide git with the all charm of a dropped pie, and frankly, I totally disagree. If you can convince me that money can’t buy happiness, I’ll eat my shorts. But why the hell would I start a boat review with some crap homily about dosh? Well, to be honest, you’ll have to be a bit cashed-up to own a boat like this one, and it would help to have it moored in the playground that is Pauanui. Of course, to achieve this will require dedication. But why the hell do we work for 40 years – if not to get to the point where your money can buy you happiness? You get my drift? Anyway… I arrive early to meet the happy owner…

Tongs and son Nigel have a close association with designer Bill Upfold of Elite Marine Design and have built 10 of his launches. The production initiative is a new 43-foot model (Elite AT43) designed to fit a 13.5m or 14m marina berth. “We’ve secured the order for the first of these production boats,” says Tongs, “and are now completing the plugs from which to make the moulds.” While his existing North Shore factory remain the main manufacturing centre, the hand-laid GRP moulded hulls, decks and bulkheads will be produced at a West Auckland facility. Finished mouldings will be transported from there to the main factory for assembly and fitting out. Finding additional staff, says Tongs, is now the company’s immediate focus. The new Elite AT43 will sleep six (offering three…

Sailing a classic yacht is always a special experience, but Rawhiti elevates it to a different level – not only because of her exquisitely accurate restoration, but also because she commands such a distinguished place among New Zealand’s fleet of classics. She is one of only a handful of A-class gaff-rigged boats still around – her illustrious contemporaries include Rainbow, Ariki, Thelma, Rawene, Waitangi and Frances. Her racing record is complex and convoluted – settle back with a glass of your favourite cabernet and lap-top and Google search ‘Rawhiti – Logan Brothers’. Her trans-Tasman history in particularly intriguing. She ended up in Australia soon after launching and was the undisputed champion of Sydney Harbour (and the fastest yacht in Australia) for some 30 years. The Rawhiti Cup remains a key…

The marina now has 400 berths. A limited number of the new berths are available for sale, with the rest scheduled for long- and short-term leasing. Marina manager Paul Stringer says the expansion is designed to cater for the changing demands and sizes of visiting boats. “There’s been a significant increase in the number of catamarans making their way across the Pacific to New Zealand. We now provide the largest number of multi-hull berths in the country, along with a substantial pool of 16m-plus monohull berths.” Berth sizes start at 10.5m, but including those available at the commercial wharf, vessels up to 50m LOA can be accommodated. Depths within the marina range from 2m – 11m at mean low water. The marina office allocates an appropriate berth for each vessel.…