Innehållsförteckning för July 2021 från Boating NZ

Getting out on the water has become safer and easier with shared-use boating service ‘Skipperi’ launching into New Zealand. Originally established in Finland in 2017 (with 300 boats now in service throughout Scandinavia), Skipperi’s Westhaven operation began in June with a fleet of 15 Haines Hunter SF545 boats, each powered by a 115hp Yamaha four-stroke outboard. The concept is a first for New Zealand. “The Haines Hunter SF545 is the perfect match for exploring the Hauraki Gulf,” says Skipperi New Zealand CEO, Alexander Rosenthal. “The response has been exceptional and the first boats are already fully subscribed. The rest of the fleet will roll out over the coming months, ready for summer. “Skipperi is perfect for those who might not have the time or means to own a boat outright…

Sedan-style cruisers with sturdy hulls allow owners to explore both inshore and offshore. They have the versatility to sneak under those river bridges while having the stability to comfortably venture offshore. Australian-built motor yachts have garnered a global reputation for their premium quality and design flair, something I’m often reminded of during overseas assignments. At last year’s Miami Boat Show, despite a myriad of competitiors, the Riviera stand was packed with eager viewers. Among the reasons is timeless design. The 645 moves this paradigm forward significantly. The motivation, of course, is that this particular boat tops Riviera’s popular SUV range, so as a flagship it has to bring enhancements from its smaller siblings, such as the competent 545 I reviewed in 2019. Experience and credentials count for everything in the…

The show – from 7-10 October – brings a focus on innovation, commercial excellence and large vessels to central Auckland. Running for 22 years, it has become a focal point for the marine industry. Utilising the America’s Cup marinas offers further scope for growth. New exhibitors like Euro City Marine (dealers of Crownline and Finseeker boats) will join established show stalwarts like Allan Tong Boatbuilders in showcasing industry-leading vessels. On-water exhibitors will use the sheltered harbour in front of the North Wharf restaurants, bringing back the ever-popular feature of viewing vessels on the water. A specially-built infrastructure is to be installed to expand on the America’s Cup marina facilities, allowing easy access for show-goers to reach exhibits, displays and sea trials. The on-land segment of the show will take place…

It is hard to believe that a dozen years have passed since Tesla introduced its groundbreaking, all-electric Roadster in 2009. Although hardly perfect – Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson initially gushed about the car being “biblically quick” only minutes before the production crew were shown pushing it off the track after its batteries ran flat – Tesla’s first production electric car laid the foundation for what today is clearly the future of the automobile. Although unintentional, it also laid a similar foundation for the future of boats. Electric boats are nothing new, but so far the overwhelming majority have been small craft focused on putting along at walking speed. That’s been partly by design, in an attempt by early electric boatbuilders to appeal to the sensitivities of the people seen…

I’d suggest even British navy aficionados would be hard-pressed to recognise her today, but W1 is an ex-WWII sea rescue vessel imported into New Zealand by the Royal New Zealand Air Force in 1939 for coastal defence duties. A high-speed launch (HSL) originally powered by triple 500hp Napier 12-cylinder aero engines, she is one of 22 sisterships built by the legendary British Power Boat Company – principally to rescue downed pilots in the North Sea before they drowned or succumbed to hypothermia. Speed was of the essence. The Napiers ran on high-octane aviation fuel and with the taps wide open the HSLs topped out at around 38 knots. Of the 22 only two survive – HSL 102 and W1. In fact, British naval authorities believed the entire fleet had been…

The team has been working with AFCryo, a Christchurch-based company involved with the design, development and manufacture of composite cryostats for the cryogenic and superconducting industries. ETNZ designers are working on a prototype hydrogen-powered foiling chase boat, to be built at the team’s North Shore build facility. Once launched and verified, and with the support of the Challenger of Record Ineos Team UK, it is possible that the Protocol for the 37th America’s Cup will contain a provision that all teams must use hydrogen-powered support boats. This would also apply to the 20+ event and race support boats which will have a considerable impact on the reduction of consumption of fossil fuels across the event. Says ETNZ CEO Grant Dalton: “We intend to drive the development curve of new and…

Over the intervening 40 years there has been a gradual refinement in the looks but no big step forward. That is until the Machina 701 rolled into town on its pimped-up custom trailer with its masculine good looks and stealthy angles. The 701 is the latest addition to the growing Machina range and marks a distinct departure from the usual pontoon hull. Designer/builder of the new boat Lee Cummings has drawn from over 14 years of experience in designing and building alloy boats to create a unique package aimed firmly at an outdoor-focused clientele and commercial operators who want robust construction, sea-keeping ability, and stability the pontoon boat configuration offers. Each Machina is customised to the owner’s requirements and the first 701 reflects this philosophy with her hi-spec and attention…

The electric motors used to power cars and boats rely on lithium-ion batteries as their power supply. And one thing all lithium-ion batteries have in common is the need for one essential ingredient – cobalt. Cobalt is an element that’s generally mined with other metals like copper or nickel, with the vast majority of it presently being sourced from mines in Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Global cobalt production in 2016 was 116,000 tonnes, with nearly 75% of it mined in Africa by firms based in China. Cobalt mining has come under tremendous scrutiny in recent years amid allegations of serious human right abuses, including reports of miners being made to dig hundreds of feet into the earth using hand tools alone, while protected by few if…

The Beneteau GT 32 is one such ‘crossover’ boat – a sports cruiser with twin outboards and overnighting capacity – she will have you zipping around coastal waters in no time. The marque is more commonly associated with cruising yachts and larger, luxury powerboats, but the prolific French builder also produces several smaller ranges, including the Antares and Gran Turismo (GT) brands, represented in New Zealand by Family Boats. The GT 32, and her big sister the GT 36, offers the speed and handling of a smaller powerboat without the maintenance and berthage requirements that come with owning a launch. The GT 32 is a comfortable weekender that can sleep up to four adults, but would be ideally suited to a family with one or two kids. Accommodation is down…

Puzzle no.284 Across 8. _____ Island – spot for boating and sailing in Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf (7)9. _____ hitch – nautical knot used to fasten line to post or spar (5)10. Small inflatable boat (3)11. Hard-won regatta triumphs, eg (9)12. Runs like boat motor when not under load (5)13. Stows on board tightly, eg (5)15. General word for handy marine gadget (5)17. Metal cable for anchor (5)20. Type of sail in photo (9)22. Mass of fish eggs (3)23. Smells like caught fish left in sun (5)24. Floating wreckage of boat (7) Down 1. Churning in circular motion like eddies in sea (8)2. Type of 15 Across used to keep instrument horizontal on vessel (6)3. Brings vessel to standstill (6,2)4. Haul boat ashore (5)5. “E” in phonetic alphabet used on marine…

With its September issue Boating NZ magazine will have a new editor – long-time Boating NZ editorial team member John Eichelsheim. John will take the reins from Lawrence Schäffler who has done such a wonderful job of curating Boating NZ since it transitioned to private ownership a little over five years ago. Under Lawrence’s care Boating NZ has tracked steadily upwards – in the breadth and quality of its content, the quality of presentation and sales. The magazine is much better for his time at the helm. Lawrence will take a couple of steps back so he can play more golf, but we can expect to enjoy his writing for many more years and John will continue working with him as a contributor. John is no stranger to magazine publishing…

As part of its 150th celebrations the RNZYS has organised a 500nm offshore race – the Three Kings Race – starting at Westhaven on Thursday 18th November. It will only be open to 40 yachts, with up to 20 of those being short-handed with two skippers. The Race will be Cat 2 with Advanced Sea Survival and First Aid Certifications recommended. Race Director Scott Wilson says the event will pose many challenges, especially with the unpredictable November conditions. The race is supported of the Short-Handed Sailing Association of New Zealand (SSANZ) and will act as a lead-in to the SSANZ 2022 Northern Triangle and the 2023 Round North Island events. It could also be used to qualify for the RNI. Two-handed racing is growing in popularity due to its challenging…

Seaview Marina – Wellington’s newest and largest marina – is enjoying a $2millon expansion project to add 78 new berths. These will be built over the next two years, bringing total berths to 407, catering for vessels from 10m to 24m in size. It is the only marina in the wider Wellington region with the capacity to expand and meet demands for new berths, says chief executive Alan McLellan. “This will be a welcome boost for the region. We are already full and have a significant waiting list for new berths, so this expansion will help to meet the demand.” The project’s first phase has just been completed with 45 new berths accommodating boats up to 14m. A further 33 berths will be built this year for boats up to…

Whangarei – in the early 1920s – had no clubs and few yachts of any kind. There was no organised sailing, apart from the New Year’s Day Regatta at Onerahi which attracted mainly visitors. That all changed on 26 April 1921 following a visit by the Governor of New Zealand, Lord Jellicoe. He arrived on the government steamer – the Tutanekai – and was met by a small fleet of launches off Manganese Point and escorted to Onerahi. A fairly modest welcome. The town fathers decided something more formal was needed and WCC was born. Arthur Pickmere – a man who understood the value of sailing and seamanship – was the founding Commodore. Comprising just a handful of seven-footers (the club’s first class of racing yachts) these were indeed humble…

Our modest cruising adventure was to the Coromandel and the inordinately lovely archipelagos of the Motukawao Group, along the peninsula’s western coastline between the towns of Coromandel and Colville. Just the naming of these places indicates a richness of history – perhaps, even, a confusion as to the telling of the stories thereof. Why, for instance, was Motukahaua re-named Happy Jack’s Island? Or why are the Ngamotukaraka also known as the Three Kings Islands? There are times, also, when imaginative history fails and becomes as banal and prosaic as Bush Island (for Motukaramarama); Double Island (for Motuwi); Rabbit Island (for Moturua); Goat Island (for Motuoruhi); Shag Rock (for Motuokino). And just plain Cow and Calf Islands. There’s mystery too, in the extraordinary rock formation at Tawhiti Point at the northern…

GRAN TURISMO 54 WITH ITS LARGE WINDOWS, vast sundeck and U-shaped cockpit seating, the Gran Turismo 45 fosters conviviality and offers a great indoor-outdoor experience. Add sleek lines and a sporty hull – this 14.78m yacht looks like a luxury sports automobile. The GT 45 takes all the best features of its predecessor, the GT 46, and adds Beneteau’s GT evolution markers. This approach extends to the yacht’s modular design and spacious, elegant interior with grey walnut and white lacquered joinery. Aft there is a full-width owner’s cabin with a private head and separate shower cubicle. The VIP cabin in the bow is fitted with scissor berths configurable as a double bed or two singles. This cabin also has access to the forward head and shower area, which can also…

Offering a dry ride, decent freeboard and good stability at rest, the Offshore is a small fibreglass cuddy-cabin family/fishing boat that’s easily towed, easily driven and robust enough to handle moderately rough water. This boat was designed as a practical, rugged 16-foot fishing platform. All up the boat is 5.5m long, including the bowsprit and swim platforms – this is the first 5.5 Offshore in New Zealand. In standard trim the 5.5m Offshore is fairly basic, but Scott White, whose family has marketed Caribbean boats in New Zealand for over 10 years, ticked all the factory options on this boat. These include LED navigation and cabin lights, a canopy, tonneau cover, removable carpet, port-side swim platform and boarding ladder, bilge pump, removable rear seats and a cabin-top grab-rail. White also…