Innehållsförteckning för December 2021 från Boating NZ

Welcome to the December issue of Boating New Zealand. As I write this on a sunny spring morning, another month living in Covid-19 purgatory has slipped by. The good news is that restrictions in Auckland are about to ease slightly, with the Government taking a more pragmatic approach in preparation for ‘living with the virus’. Kiwis should again be free to go boating anywhere in Aotearoa by Christmas. And aren’t we ready for it! There is so much pent-up demand! Last weekend great weather and ‘permission to picnic’ brought Aucklanders out in droves. Boaties were no exception – the Hauraki Gulf was awash with boats of every description. At my usual lightly used, minor boat ramp on the Puhoi River, there was a long line-up to launch and an even…

Boating New Zealand correspondent Bruno Cianci, on the left, known for his many books, articles and awards – and for his association with the Rahmi M. Koç Muzesi, a world-class maritime museum in Istanbul – was recently knighted for services to Italian-Turkish bilateral relations. Cianci, who is also pursuing a PhD in Marine Sciences and Technologies, was awarded the insignia and the honorific title of Knight of the Order of the Star of Italy (OSI) by the Italian ambassador to Turkey, Massimo Gaiani. Rahmi M. Koç, CBE was present at the October 18 ceremony to congratulate Bruno Cianci on his OSI and to thank him for increasing the brand awareness of his museums worldwide. Founded in 1994 in Istanbul, the Rahmi M. Koç Museum is well-known for its incredible floating…

oat launching ramps can be chaotic at times, especially during periods of heavy use. Observing the comings and goings of trailer-boaters at any busy boat ramp on a holiday weekend reveals a plethora of mistakes, unsafe practices and poor ramp etiquette. Most of them are the result of ignorance rather than bloody-mindedness, but they can be potentially dangerous and/or seriously inconvenience other boaties. By following a few simple steps we can avoid problems and minimise unpleasant exchanges between boat ramp users. Like so much else with boating, launching and retrieving a trailer boat quickly and efficiently is about proper preparation. With that in mind, the good folk at Powerboat Training NZ have produced a simple trailer boat launch and recovery checklist. What follows is a good basic guide. However, all…

After another year of Covid lockdowns, the escape to fresh-air therapy in the form of the summer cruise aboard your own or a friend’s boat is certainly alluring! To be properly prepared for this well-deserved outing, a good stack of summer reading for the boat’s library is a must. And if the lockdowns continue – well then, they will probably be even more welcome! NEW BOOKS SALT IN OUR BLOOD BY IVOR WILKINS (RNZYS 2021) Acclaimed yachting writer Ivor Wilkins has just finished a three-year labour of love. It’s the epic and eventful history of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, from its beginnings in 1871 to the most recent adventure, the successful defence of the America’s Cup in May 2021. Impressively illustrated with fine photographs, as all Ivor’s books…

“SOMETIMES, I DON’T even know what it is that I know, until someone asks me a question,” chuckles Keith Ryman. Over five decades, the 71-year-old has acquired an unrivalled understanding of yacht coatings, having devoted the majority of his career to leading development in laboratories in New Zealand before more recently becoming an integral part of the International brand’s Asia-Pacific sales operation. “I’ve learned a lot over the years,” he admits. Aged just 22, Keith joined renowned New Zealand brand Epiglass, which became part of International Yacht Coatings in 1989. “I came onboard as a junior chemist and was thrown into this pretty dingy lab with three or four others. We were pretty much left to learn everything ourselves. We were told, ‘You’re the chemists – you sort it out’.…

The precinct is rapidly taking shape with the construction of two large boat sheds, a massive 840m2 canopied undercover boat yard area, and seven marine trade units well underway. In total, the new precinct will offer 1400m2 of undercover space, along with a huge expanse of uncovered clean concrete hardstand area. The two boat sheds will be the new homes of boat painter Gloss Boats Marine Spraying and boat builder Condon Marine Services (CMS). The seven trade units are also going fast, and we are now targeting specific trades to be part of the full service offering at the precinct: • DIESEL MECHANIC WORKSHOP • OUTBOARD MECHANIC WORKSHOP • MARINE ENGINEERING The standard trade unit size is 6m x 18m but there is some flexibility in unit size and configuration…

Golden Eagle, a flagship vessel from the desk of the Formula Cruisers whose reputation precedes itself is ready for the next chapter in its life. Coming in at 21 metres long/68 feet Golden Eagle is a work of art from her time and she is still every bit as impressive when she pulls into a bay today as she was in 1998. Boasting full MNZ Survey to carry 34 passengers with her major 5 year Survey just being completed in 2020 prior to the Americs Cup and having successfully carried out a busy charter schedule means she presents as a viable business opportunity. Realize this great opportunity to run a fun tax effective business to wash its own face or privately. We have a feasibility spreadsheet available on request. When…

How much can your vehicle tow? Most vehicle manufacturers, says NZTA’s website, have tow ratings specifying the gross trailer weight (braked, unbraked, or both) the vehicle can safely tow. Although the law does not require these tow ratings to be followed, NZTA recommends that they be taken into account. In addition, the law requires that every light vehicle and trailer combination must be capable of stopping within a distance of 7m from a speed of 30km/h. In effect, this means the maximum allowable weight of an unbraked trailer is limited by the weight and braking ability of the vehicle being used to tow it. As a guide, NZTA recommends that the laden weight of an unbraked trailer should not exceed three quarters of the unladen weight of the towing vehicle…

While a strong Canadian accent might give the wrong impression, Dibley has an unquestionable Kiwi connection through his New Zealand-born father John, who’d met and married Edie in Alberta, Canada. After moving to Vancouver Island in British Columbia, John Dibley built a 12m ferro cement yacht, Toroa, which housed his family for a number of years. Born in 1965, Dibley had a solid boating childhood; as well as living aboard Toroa at the boatyard his father managed on Gabriola Island, he and his elder brother John Jnr. had access to any number of boats to learn to sail in. “Just a beautiful childhood full of boating and exploring,” Dibley remembers. The love of boats certainly rubbed off as two of the Dibley children chose the marine industry for a career.…

The circumstances were almost routine. In every southern hemisphere summer since 2000, Europa has undertaken several such voyages – typically five each season and with up to 55 people on board, most of whom are charter guests. To keep on schedule towards the end of this voyage Europa had to motor quite a bit of the way across Drake Passage as it was upwind. “We always plan a little sail-by off Cape Horn at the end of those voyages,” Eric Kesteloo, Europa’s captain since 2006, told me, “and then we have the westerlies for the last day’s sailing. That all went well.” But as she entered the Beagle Channel the crew heard some news on the VHF radio which was to fundamentally change Europa’s plans – immediately and for the…

The Classic Wooden Boat Association’s 25th annual boat parade and fun weekend is scheduled for February 4, 2022, Waitangi Weekend. The organisers would love to see as many classic or wooden boats of any type join the parade to make this year’s event the biggest ever. The weekend kicks off on the Friday night with a Captain’s briefing dinner at the VR Rotorua Lakeside Resort. The parade starts in the Okere arm of Lake Rotoiti the next morning. Organisers expect around 100 boats to parade past the reserve in line, very many of them historical and well-decorated wooden launches with costumed crews, as well as every other type and size of small boat imaginable – sailed, rowed or powered–including some strange ones like the vintage tiny Personal Water Craft. A…

Forest & Bird has created a series of maps from official data, showing virtually all conservation land on mainland New Zealand, and massive areas of privately owned land, is under attack from herds of wild deer, pigs and goats. Forest & Bird is calling for the government’s climate plan to urgently fund the largest deer, pig and goat control programme New Zealand has ever seen to maintain important carbon sinks and the ecological health of native forests. “The number and extent of wild deer, pigs, and goats on all land types across New Zealand is at crisis levels,” says Forest & Bird Chief Executive Kevin Hague. Regeneration of palatable tree species has almost entirely stopped in many forests, as the increasing number of browsing animals destroy young trees and undergrowth,…

COASTGUARD AND ITS NEWEST PARTNER, INSURANCE COMPANY TOWER, are calling on boaties to get prepared for a safe summer. After another year of lockdowns, both organisations are expecting a boom in boating activity this summer. Coastguard Chief Executive, Callum Gillespie, says in 2020 there were 1,672,920 recreational boaties across New Zealand. From powerboats, sailboats, jet skis and everything in between, Kiwis love getting out on the water, and the 2021-2022 summer season could be even bigger. “The key is taking steps to stay safe on the water. Unexpected events can always happen, such as equipment failures, operator distraction and running out of fuel, and now’s the time to get prepared.” Each year Coastguard’s 2,000 volunteers help bring more than 8,000 Kiwis back home safely to dry land – from Cape…

MULTIHULL SOLUTIONS and The Yacht Sales Co have appointed Patrick Reddick as Service and After-Sales Support Manager in New Zealand. The appointment follows the continued growth of the two operations in New Zealand. Patrick joins the NZ General Manager Dominic Lowe in delivering the best possible client service, bringing a wealth of technical experience and knowledge to the role. Prior to his appointment with Multihull Solutions and The Yacht Sales Co, Patrick accrued extensive experience in New Zealand’s marine industry as a commercial skipper, service and commissioning coordinator, and a marine technician. Dominic Lowe said Patrick was also appointed for his impressive integrity and commitment to providing the highest standards of service. “I have worked with him for many years and know how much respect he has from every client…

The well-proven two-step Axopar 37 GRP hull has been updated from the initial model but looks very similar. It has the same stepped chine forward with pronounced longitudinal strakes and flares to deflect waves. The shallow forefoot allows easy beaching, yet doesn’t compromise linear performance, thanks to a long keel and effective deadrise. Practicalities include an additional rub rail below the rubber gunwales – ideal for bumping against a superyacht mothership, or for when errant journalists are behind the wheel. The Mercury 450 Racing engines are super-smooth and super-lethal, capable of 85mph, according to the maker and with maximum torque at 5,500 rpm. A silky-smooth gearbox gives seamless shifting between forward, neutral and reverse. Stored power is in 4 x 100Ah lithium-ion batteries mated to a 300W inverter. Batteries are…

Out on the water a chart plotter provides a similar level of functionality for boaties, enabling them to find their favourite Spot X or locate new positions of interest based on structure visible on the chart. So, it may be a surprise to most people that there is still no simple solution to navigating once you drop beneath the surface. Radio waves simply do not penetrate through water, except for extremely low frequencies. Hence GPS signals cannot be received, and two-way underwater radios are not possible. To make it worse, visibility underwater in most of New Zealand’s coastal waters is limited so it is very easy for divers to lose their sense of direction. Sometimes even being just five metres away from your reference point (such as the boat’s anchor…

The moment they arrived in March 1934 George Dibbern and Te Rapunga were good news in Auckland. George seemed to be a new face of Germany; not the comic burly Hun of the wartime cartoons, but a lean, fit, liberal man of the world, a symbol of freedom, giving Old Man Depression a kick in the face. Sadly, the true new face of Germany was what he was fleeing, Adolf Hitler and the Nazis. George had developed an engaging speaking style in talks to yacht clubs in California and Hawaii. In New Zealand he became in great demand as a speaker. While Akarana Yacht Club had adopted Te Rapunga, every yacht club had George in turns to speak. The boys and girls of the Herne Bay Junior Yacht Club and…

The 42nd edition of 606-nautical mile Rolex Middle Sea Race organized by the Royal Malta Yacht Club (RMYC) started from the Maltese capital Valletta, a UNESCO World Heritage Centre, on October 23, 2021. Along with the 695nm Rolex Fastnet Race held biennially in August, and the 628nm Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race each December, this supreme test of seamanship is part of a triumvirate of epic ocean contests integral to the Swiss watchmaker’s close partnership with the sport dating back more than 60 years. The racecourse is as challenging as it is scenic, taking in the active volcanoes of Etna and Stromboli, as well as regular sightings of marine life, remote islands and rock formations. Most editions expose crews to a mix of big seas and fierce winds in the…

Emirates Team New Zealand (ETNZ) has signed Nathan Outteridge, previously the helmsman of Swedish team Artemis Racing, who made a strong contest of the final series for the Louis Vuitton Trophy in Bermuda during AC35. Outteridge is a long-time rival to Peter Burling and Blair Tuke in the 49er class, where he has won Olympic Gold and Silver medals, and on the SailGP circuit, where he sails for JapanSailGP. Where he will fit within ETNZ remains conjecture, as is the future direction of Burling and Tuke. Their decisions will likely rest with the announcement of the Protocol for the 37th America’s Cup and the venue for the Regatta. www.emirates-team-new-zealand.americascup.com…

Fl(3) WR 8s 15m 14/11 M She flashes three times every eight seconds. White or red lights, depending. They are elevated 15m above the mean low tide mark and can – nominally – be seen from 14 nautical miles (the white light), or 11 (the red). That’s the simple translation of that arcane formula on your chart NZ 532 Approaches to Auckland. Four red arcs, three white, showing respectively those dangerous courses into and out of the Waitematā Harbour, and those safer. She does not shine her lights on Bastion Point, Mission Bay Kohimaramara, or St Heliers. And she has done so, non-stop, for 150 years. She’s our last wooden, wave-washed sentinel, a Historic Place, Category 1. Just to the north of her, there’s 23m of water, which is why…

US-BASED BRUNSWICK CORPORATION said all of its businesses – boats, engines, P&A and services – had another outstanding quarter, on their way to closing out the most successful year in the company’s history. “As we close out 2021, we’re focused on elevating production levels to meet demand and refill field inventory during the retail off-season, integrating Navico and our other acquisitions, progressing our strategic initiatives, and closing the most successful year in Brunswick’s history,” stated Brunswick CEO David Foulkes. He acknowledged that the entire industry has experienced more pronounced supply chain disruptions than anyone anticipated. Nonetheless, Brunswick has continued to deliver boats, although, he noted, “robust retail demand for our products has driven field inventory to the lowest level in decades, at just over 10 weeks on hand.” International sales…

The simplest way to get a return on this investment is to use a ledger or dropper rig. This consists of a streamlined sinker tied to one end of the leader, a swivel on the other end, with two single hooks on branching droppers between them (see diagram 1). This rig is generally lowered straight down and is better used in water 20m deep or deeper – fish generally dislike having a boat casting a shadow over them and making strange noises, both more noticeable in shallow water. However, murky water and/or a decent current flow can disguise the presence of the boat so that ledger fishing in shallower conditions still works well. Fishers who plan to use dropper rigs will likely have a few pre-made - it’s possible to…

CREWSAVER PRO 50N EX SMART STUFF LEADING SURVITEC BRAND Crewsaver has introduced a new high-end buoyancy aid for watersports enthusiasts and instructors looking for the next level in on-water practicality and comfort. The Pro 50N EX features a stylish, sleek black cover design with honeycomb and bronze detailing. It is highly versatile and designed to allow the wearer to switch between watersports activities without needing to change buoyancy aids. While greater practicality and durability are key aspects of the design, the use of a hard-wearing 300D Polyester fabric has not impacted on wearer comfort. Crewsaver has used 50N of lightweight foam and incorporated stretch-mesh shoulder straps and side panels. Breathable Airmesh technology also helps control body temperature, while internal rubber grip strips prevent ride-up. FIND IT @WWW.CREWSAVER.COM RAILBLAZA BIMINI RAILMOUNT…

While it’s easy to become frustrated when working through our towing regulatory framework, how often is an underpowered tow vehicle or overweight boat/trailer actually a problem? Based on US research, it seems very rarely. American insurance company BoatUS handles thousands of calls every year for towing breakdowns. An analysis of five years of data (2013-2017) highlighted the most common issues. Tyres (44%) – typically caused by underinflated trailer tyres. Wheel Bearings (21%) – cold water ingress into hot (poorly-protected) bearings promotes early failure. Axles (11%) – usually caused by rust, exacerbated by not washing down a trailer after saltwater launchings/retrievals. Miscellaneous (6%) – failure of items such as brakes/brake lines, suspension and towbar/towball. Tow Vehicle (5%) – mainly overheating engines.…

Puzzle no.289 Across 1. Inside strake that braces boat’s hull (8)6. Timbers as they rise from keel to form shape of hull (4)8. ____ of the bilge – point where bottom and sides of boat meet (4)9. Literary word for old large merchant ships (8)10. Unit of measurement of 21 Across on nautical chart (6)11. Sailors’ periods of duty at helm (6)12. Narrow gap between planks in wooden-hulled boat (4)14. Two-masted square-rigged sailing vessel (4)16. Flat-bottomed boats used for carrying heavy loads (6)19. System used in marine GPS (3-3)21. Horizontal line on nautical chart (8)22. Cat-o’-____-tails – rope whip formerly used for punishment in navy (4)23. Marine and coastal bird of cormorant family (4)24. Mount and housing for ship’s compass (8) Down 2. Makes sheet or sail tighter (7)3. _____…