Waterline - March 2019

BOAT | FIS H | WAT E R SP O R T NZ

AU T U MN 2019

H20, a 20-foot hydrofoiling catamaran.

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0800 93 93 93 | centurybatteries.co.nz 2

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Your perfect fishing partner

The region’s favourite watersport and boating magazine, Waterline.

Bigger, brighter and with increased circulation, Waterline is making more of a splash in the booming marine market, with a new look and a wider reach.

It’s the flagship of the region’s boating community, embraced by clubs, active boat owners, fishos, divers and

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watersports enthusiasts.

The coppertone bronze summer

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Introducing kids to fly fishing

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Home-build H2O makes foiling affordable 8

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The day my octi saved my life

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Taupo’s freshwater kayaking paradise

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Tips for safe autumn boating

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Happy Birthday Late A Gain

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Fishing fun for Nauti Girls

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Sailing and salvation

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What’s in a name?

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For advertising and story enquiries please contact: Kathy Sellars on 07 928 3053 kathy@sunmedia.co.nz

www.waterline.co.nz waterlinenz Editor: Brian Rogers Advertising: Kathy Sellars, Jo Delicata, Sue Wilson Graphic Design: SunMedia Ltd Photography: Bruce Barnard and John Borren

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Waterline is a SunMedia Ltd publication © All material is copyright and may not be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher.

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The coppertone The usual seasonal media hype about sharks has gone into a feeding frenzy this summer.

And at the risk of fueling the hysteria, it’s worth noting that sharks definitely seem more prevalent this year than other seasons.

Or at least, the stories are bigger and more colourful. Yet, the bad incidents are surprisingly rare. It could be that sharks need some help with their public relations.

The fact remains that there are very few shark attacks, considering the number of people swimming around with them… and some spearfishers have enticing dead fish in tow.

New Zealand has recorded 12 fatal shark attacks since records began in the 1850s, and about 50 non-fatal attacks recorded.

That’s a dozen deaths over a century and a half, around one fatal encounter every 14 years. That’s not very impressive stats for the sharks. They’re lagging behind skateboards, jetskis and stingrays.

The last fatal was six years ago at Muriwai Beach.

And on the non-fatal injury statistics, sharks struggle to keep up with Labradors, Lime Scooters and tequila shots.

Trolley rage There’s a Shark Attack Data website (it’s not very busy) that claims 125 “attacks”, but this includes minor incidents such as sharks nudging people. You’re more at risk of being bumped into at the local supermarket. Although I guess a blue shark hitting at speed might hurt a bit more than trolley rage at Countdown, as Paul Baird found out in 2010 at a Nelson beach when he was rammed by a bluey. “It felt like I’d been hit by a small car,” he told the Nelson Mail at the time.

It’s a fact of life that sharks have always been around and we hardly ever see them. Anecdotal evidence suggests however this summer they’ve been keener and more brazen than before. Plus every man and his dog now has a fancy phone camera on hand,

and the ability to quickly share the drama wide and far.

Locals have been catching big bronzies off the beaches for ever, mostly releasing them after an epic landbased fight. Check out the photos of Matt Wakerley recently on the beach at Matakana, the family landing Bronze Whalers at one of the most popular swimming and boating areas of the Tauranga Harbour.

Taxman audit Fishos in the region’s harbours report excellent snapper fishing and a few good kingies, but many of them have been audited by the taxman before they’ve got to the boat. I’ve not heard so many “sharked” stories before, and they all seem to fit a new pattern.

It’s likely that the bronze whalers are excited for the same reasons as the fishos… where there’s good fishing there’s plenty of fish and so it follows that the sharks will be on scene. The water has been warm, the temperature at the entrance on the outgoing sitting at about 23 C. Bronze whalers are very common in Tauranga harbour and generally keep a low profile. Land based anglers have been landing and releasing them regularly at the harbour entrance, along the surf coasts of Mount and Papamoa.

Yet the ski brigade never see them in the ski lanes, but they are there, and it would seem, harmless to human activity unless you have a twitching fish on the end of your line. Pilots flying over the harbour report regular sightings all over the shallows and in Hunters Creek.

Spear fear Spear fishos are also reporting more shark encounters along the outer coastlines from the Bay to Coromandel. Interesting that there have been no reports of serious injury, despite some close quarters interaction.

Jacinda the inquisitive bronzie with the overbite, sniffing around the fishing kayak. Always looking for a new opportunity to tax the unsuspecting.

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bronze summer

Shark tales from around the bay

I’ve had a couple of close inspections from makos while spearfishing this year, a plus few other dark shapes on the edge of viz, but nothing with seriously sinister intent.

One spearo in Whitianga is reported to have fended off a bronzie with his fist and speargun in January, ended up with a few notches out of his gun and rubber and a few tears in the wetsuit. It’s not known whether the shark caused the suit tears, or if they were the result of an rapid re-entry onto the boat.

Keep the distance

Wettie float boat.

One thing that does make sense is for spear fishos is to keep the catch away from your body. Never tie speared fish around your waist. Best option is to use a float boat, instead of a stringer line. Getting the catch out of the water reduces your chances of unwanted attention from large predators. And reduce the chance of getting caught up in a munching frenzy.

Float boats Float boats are also a good safety feature, making a spearfisher more obvious to boats. A full size float is also handy to hang on to for a breather, to store spare gear and a water bottle, and some can even be climbed on like a giant flutter board, to save energy and move long distances more efficiently. This may not be a big deal with you’re young, fit and hyperactive, but those of us spearfishing in our advancing years need every cunning advantage we can find.

I’ve trialled and tested several float boats over the years, ranging from the most primitive home-made contraptions, through to the most snazzy commercially produced designs.

Matt Wakerley with a decent bronzie on the beach at Matakana Island this summer.

The old boogie board with a catch bag tied on the top is a good cheap option, but the best I’ve found so far is the Wettie plastic moulded float boat. It keeps the catch clear of the water.

Its buoyancy is sealed so it’s unsinkable and the PVC cover with stretchy ties keeps the sun off the catch and is easy to use.

The Wettie version is low profile, so has less windage than other brands and is also slim to stow on a boat. It is relatively light to handle.

The big grab handles around the sides and rear make it easy to hold. The rounded chines make it quiet through the water and it seems to tow easier than any of the others trialled.

Evolved fish eaters And as far as sharks are concerned, they’re built to eat fish. They’ve evolved very successfully over millennia to do just that.

Some good advice to avoid being mistaken for a fish: Don’t swimming in murky water and where fish filleting or burley trails are happening. Dusk and dawn are feeding times, so you’re unlikely to be on the menu in broad daylight. Sharks may cruise by, but most of the time they’re just inquisitive.

Brian Rogers

Todd Wakerley.

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Alana French with the perfect result.

Introducing kids to fly fishing I started trout fishing as an eight year old boy in a small stream called the Ruruanga, located in Kawerau. I can still recall vividly how I caught my first trout from this small piece of water.

I was using a spinning set made up of a boat rod and a huge surfcasting reel. I had found a Mother of Pearl spinner in my Dad’s tackle box and although a little big, it certainly looked the part. I had two friends on a bank above the piece of water I was flicking into. I guess you could say they were spotting for me but that term came much later in my fishing journey.

Adrenalin rush I had cast downstream of the fish and was slowly bringing the lure back upstream. As it got opposite the trout my friends very excitedly explained what was going on. “It’s moving up, oh its close, oh wait wait” by the time the trout took it, I was a mass of trembling adrenalin. I can’t remember much of the fight but the feeling of elation and pride as I rode home with it dangling from my fingers, showing the world, was a changing point in my life.

I have spent the last 44 years trying to perfect and learn as much about fly fishing as I possibly could. I watched the fishermen around me and through that my abilities grew. My father had a big hand in my tuition at the start, he was an excellent wet Line fisherman and was very successful, fishing all the Rotorua lakes and the very special Waitahanui River in Taupo. From him I learnt knots and the figure of eight retrieve, used before casting baskets and shooting heads were invented. I would stand beside him with my Rubber waders freezing my toes off in -5 Deg at 7am and think it was the most thrilling thing a boy could do. My love affair with fishing culminated in me becoming a Trout Fishing Guide for just over 10 years and you know what, I’m still on a learning curve. So when Kathy from Waterline asked me to write a piece giving some tips for parents to introduce their kids to fishing, I thought what a great idea and here I am.

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If you were a beginner, never had picked up a fly rod in your life and I asked you to “start casting” you would go, “umm ok what do I do” The fly reel does not have a bail, so you have to pull the line out for a start, you actually have to pull all the leader through the rod eyes and get the main line out before you do anything and what the hell is that fluffy looking thing on the end of the line anyway!

Perseverance needed Fly fishing is not easy, I believe it is the hardest form of any fishing including all sea techniques. It requires dexterity, timing and the ability to do many things all at once. So to expect a young kid to pick it up quickly is not reasonable. You run the risk of them getting bored and frustrated because they feel they can’t do it and spend more time untangling line and re-tying way more than fishing. If you are keen for your kid to pick up this sport and they have showed interest in it I would invest, (for their birthday or Christmas present) a half day with a guide. If the guide is worth anything they will jump your kid about five years into the future in four hours on the river. This is what I would do with your precious little one.

Explain that the leader is tapered, that is it is thick up the top and is thinner down at the end we tie on the two nymphs. It is tapered so it makes casting easier. The leader for most of the water I fish never needs to be longer than ten feet. This makes it easier to cast for beginners. To start with I only use one nymph that has a wee bit of weight, maybe 2.8mm of Tungsten. I explain that the “Fluffy” thing on the end of the fly line is called an indicator and that your eyes never move from it for more than a second at a time. If it goes under you must “Strike”. I get my clients to stand in the running water and show them how to strip out line from their reel. I cast that downstream for them, probably about 20 feet. They will be doing all this by themselves within an hour but to start with and for time’s sake, I do this for them. I get them to hold the rod comfortably with the line in their left or right hand.

I explain that for this technique to work the line all the way to the Nymph has to be straight. Then with one steady motion, I pull the line out of the water below us and land it in front of us,

on the water. This is called the water load. It is a great way to get distance and accuracy. I then take the rod off them, get it down stream again, hand them the rod and get them to do it again.

We do this until I am happy that they can feel it coming off the water, loading the rod and shooting the line. From there the next step is a bit of line control.

They have the line in their free hand, (not holding the rod). I get them to place the line in the hand with the rod and to pull from behind their little finger. Getting them to take the line in and out of the rod hand and bring line in, keeping in touch with the indicator that they haven’t taken their eyes off of yet. Then comes the “mend”. We talk a little about the mend as it is so important in catching trout when in a river situation. So by that stage they are water loading, bringing in a wee bit of line and mending.

Splashing nymphs The next step is getting their line back down stream for the re-cast. I don’t allow them to just let the drift swing across at the bottom as in most cases due to snags this is not an option. They have to bring enough line in to have control, then I get them to “Roll Cast” downstream. The nymphs must splash below the indicator. Then I get them to think about a clock in front of them. They need to crisply snap the line out of the water and stop at 10 o’clock, pause for a half second and drop the rod tip back to two o’clock and stop. With practice this manoeuvre will enable them to cast their line downstream in a straight line where they can “Water Load” again.

Before you know it, they are fishing. They are not slashing the water, catching Trees and themselves, they are casting much further than they could ever dream of doing in such a short space of time and they are doing it accurately. I play a fish for them too as it is pointless in getting them to do all these great things and not teach them what happens when they hook up. The fact

Alana showing perfect line control and watching the indicator.

that you have taught them the two and ten o’clock positions and getting them to pause is great practice for when they do start to “false cast”. They will enjoy the fact they think they have a chance at catching a trout because they are spending all their time untangling and re-tying. They will want to get out there and explore, they might even put down their X Box controller but don’t bank on that.

I hope this helps you. I have guided many young ones in my time, most of the time the Dad has given it a go but as we all know kids always know better than their parents and so many of my clients have given me their kids as they believe I will be able to get through to them better. The above technique is what I use and so maybe give it a go and jump start your kid into a lifelong healthy addiction. I have a U Tube channel called RiverGod21.

In my How-To section there is a video called how to water load, Shane French have a look at it and see how easy it is.

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Home-build H20 makes foiling affordable

Bruce Beca.

Thanks largely to the impact of the last couple of America’s Cups, there’s a new generation of sailors who want to go foiling.

Hydrofoils, to give them their full name, are the slender, curved underwater appendages that lift the hulls of the boat completely out of the water once it reaches a certain speed.

It takes sailing to a new level of exhilaration, but – possibly again due to the America’s Cup – the impression is it costs an arm and a leg to get into a boat capable of doing it.

That’s an issue Tauranga’s Bruce Beca, driving force behind composite-specialist design and manufacturing outfit Fast Fibres, has put his considerable boatbuilding, designing, and sailing experience to work to resolve.

His solution is the H20, a 20-foot hydrofoiling catamaran which can be largely home-built, and thus coming in at a price that leaves its competitors trailing in its wake.

“If you’re keen to undertake sailing of this kind at this level,” says Bruce, “you’ve got a couple of options to buy them brand new out of Europe – albeit they’re manufactured in Asia – but they’re going to cost you somewhere between $NZ65,000 – 70,000.

“So it’s very expensive to buy them brand new and it’s a lot of money to have invested in a beach cat that’s pretty challenging to sail for a novice sailor.”

But for someone handy with tools, and possessing just a basic level of skills, DIYing an H20 is totally do-able, with Bruce supplying the trickier components and the detailed instruction book he’s putting together.

“It breaks it down, keeps it real simple. You build your basic hulls, and you do the assembly, and I supply foils, rudders, rudder stocks, beams, masts - as much or as little as the client wants.

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“We kind of give them the easy stuff to do, and then help them out with the hard stuff.”

Fast Fibres can supply a fully-built ready-to-fly H20 if that’s what the buyer wants, or to save serious money – and that’s what this project is all about – virtually everything can be home-built.

“The mast, booms, gennaker sprit, beams even, can all be made DIY,” says Bruce.

“The only thing we really want to hang on to, and it’s purely because of the size of the moulding and the weight of them, is the main foils. Everything else can be made by the home builder.”

Sailing a boat like the H20 is not for the beginner, especially in foiling mode. But despite that, it’s a design that looks after its crew, Bruce says.

“We’ve only had one capsize, and it was only because they had a gear breakage. And had a bit of a rookie crew on board.

All the H20’s components can be home built by a DIYer with a moderate level of skills, apart from the main foils due to the size and weight of the moulds.

“It’s actually an easy boat to sail, incredibly forgiving. It’s really robust, and has some nice things about it in terms of its behaviour that would encourage people to push it quite hard, even with moderate levels of experience.”

Easy it may be, but it still takes some learning, says the bornand-bred Bay native who completed his apprenticeship in Auckland before heading off for a seven-year OE. He returned to Tauranga - “the coolest place on Earth” - he declares, to become an Open 60’ construction manager, for Southern Ocean Marine, while on the side establishing his specialist composites operation, which has now become his primary focus.

He’s been sailing most of his life, says Bruce, but never on a foiling boat like the H20, so even he’s had to learn to sail all over again.

“I felt like a bit of a beginner, but it didn’t ever feel like the

learning curve was too steep.

“It’s not very hard, no-one’s been hurt, we haven’t damaged the boat.”

What about the ultimate nightmare of foiling sailors, as Team New Zealand discovered on the waters of Bermuda’s Great Sound, the tendency of these beasts to fall off the foils and pitch-pole?

“We’ve tried!” says Bruce. “It went bow down to the front beam, and we went from 19-and-a-half knots down to 15, but then the boat just came back out of the water and kept going. It barely even slowed down.”

Despite how tolerant his H20 is on its foils, Bruce recognises there are those put off by the mishaps of the America’s Cup boats, and the technical ability required to sail them, and just don’t want to take sailing to its extremes. So he’s designed the boat to sail well in its alter ego as a regular catamaran. ...continued

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continued...

“You could put a conventional board in it, and then it would be just a great sailing boat all round.

You could build it either way.”

While the instruction book remains a work in progress, due to the pressure of boatbuilding and other work on Bruce’s shoulders, a buyer could start building their H20 now, he says.

“If someone came to me tomorrow and said could I have one of the plan books, I’d deliver them stage one, and that would give them enough to get three-quarters of the way through the build anyway.”

Taming the beast, once it’s in the water and foiling, may remain a challenge, but at least finding the budget to realise the dream has become so much more of a realistic possibility, thanks to Bruce’s innovative thinking.

Chris James

Fast Fibres L i g h t e r . S t r o n g e r . Fa s t e r .

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Cruising under a supermoon Boaties and kayakers enjoying big tides on summer evenings have bathed in the eerie glow of February’s supermoon, likely to be the biggest and brightest of the year.

It coincided with the moon being at its perigee, a point in the moon’s orbit when its closest to earth, creating a Supermoon.

The moon was as close as it ever gets to earth, making it appear 14 per cent larger and 30 per cent brighter than at any other time. This astronomical spectacle was visible for two or three days either side of perigree.

Because of the time of year in the US, the event is called the snow moon, a Native American nickname to the monthly events, like harvest moon for September and strawberry moon in June and sturgeon moon in August, giving it the full name Super Snow Moon.

Another Supermoon is expected on March 21, but will not be as large or bright as this one.

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Seeking abundant fisheries for all Rebuilding coastal fisheries to abundant levels

has been an executive of the New Zealand Sport Fishing Council for a decade. His passion is offshore game fishing. is essential to provide for people’s health and Deryk is an active advocate for local issues, working closely with representatives from the Coromandel, Waikato and eastern Bay of wellbeing, a better fishing experience for today, Plenty clubs to achieve better outcomes for local fisheries. He and a healthy marine environment in the future. was instrumental in launching the successful 2013 Save Our Snapper in the Bay and more recently the Time Out For That’s the aim of LegaSea, a committed group Tarakihi campaign. of Kiwis working together to restore our coastal Mixing Deryk’s good nature with support from fisheries. It is a mixed team of professionals and the New Zealand Sport Fishing Council and a volunteers striving for abundant fisheries, a diverse lot of hard work by a local team, there are now marine ecosystem, and more fish left in the water constructive conversations between game fishers for future generations. and purse seine interests to try and reduce conflicts LegaSea was established in 2012 as a not for profit on the water. Talks are ongoing. organisation. It is a subsidiary of the New Zealand Being the humble man that he is, Deryk always Sport Fishing Council, which works with a range of puts his success down to good team work. LegaSea is organisations to advocate for change. pleased to have Deryk working hard for fishing interests This work is particularly important for the Bay of Plenty Deryk Nielsen. in the Bay of Plenty. which has seen a dramatic drop in productivity and fish abundance due to decades of bulk harvesting using damaging bottom How can you help? contact methods such as trawling and dredging. Purse seining surface LegaSea wants you to get on board. schools of fish has depleted once-abundant stocks.

LegaSea wants to power you up with new knowledge and then have you share that How is this work funded? info with family, friends and colleagues.

Please sign up to receive digital LegaSea’s work is funded through public donations. A host of newsletters and learn more. generous business partners assist with LegaSea’s running costs.

Donate or become a regular contributor The Tauranga Sport Fishing Club has its HQ in Keith Allen LegaSea Legend.

Drive, Tauranga. It has hosted a variety of events for LegaSea and Get others involved – share our Facebook posts. is an active fundraiser for the cause of more fish in the water.

Join the team - find out how to get more involved.

Club President Deryk Nielsen is a strong LegaSea supporter and

Birds likely to blame for Uretara river issues Bird poo is the most likely cause of high levels of E.coli in the Uretara River, according to Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s recent river monitoring work.

The Regional Council started looking into what was causing the high levels of bacteria after Toi Te Ora Public Health issued a health warning advising the public to avoid swimming in the river in December.

To find the source of the bacteria it set up 13 additional monitoring sites upstream of the popular Henry Road Ford swimming hole, to test both the water and sediments.

Regional Council Land Management Officer Braden Rowson said the testing has identified the bacteria is predominantly from birds, with one key site showing extremely high levels of avian faecal matter in the sediments.

“This upstream site had become home to a number of birds including a flock of nesting geese with hatchlings and a high

number of resident pukeko. They poo in and around the water which then flows downstream affecting the waterway,” Mr Rowson said.

The landowner has since removed the geese from the site however it will still be a while until E.coli levels start dropping.

“The E.Coli remains in the sediments and as it is disturbed it will continue to affect water quality. But without being stirred up it will not get flushed out of the river system,” he explained.

Bird poo may not be the only contributing factor and the Regional Council will also meet with landowners to see whether any activity on their land may be contributing to the increased bacteria levels and if so will explore ways to prevent it.

“Working with the community we want to better understand the impact natural fertilisers like chicken manure may be having and how we can better manage that impact,” Mr Rowson said.

Toi Te Ora Public Health advises people to avoid swimming in the river and parents should particularly make sure that their children do not paddle or play in the river.

To check if an area is safe to swim, visit www.lawa.co.nz

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Record paddlers for ocean run

Rachel Clarke.

The 11th annual James Moore-Morial race, New Zealand’s biggest coastal race of its kind, this year attracted a record number of competitors.

Simon Longdill, Tom Ashley, Garth Spencer.

Hiria Rolleston, Nicky Kingi, Tui McCaull.

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The 30+ km ocean run for outrigger canoes, ocean skis and SUPs, took place at Mount Maunganui in February with 134 registered crafts.

The race is held in memory of James Lance Kiri Moore (aka Bhutty), who lost his life in July 2009 paddling the same course in rough conditions. Bhutty was a core member of the Goodyear Outrigger Canoe Crew and New Zealand’s white water rafting team, and the event celebrates his life and achievements.

Race coordinator Paul Roozendaal gives a roundup of the day: What a race it was. I had been telling lots that we were due a flat one. Although the charts showed there was a possibility of the wind turning up, unfortunately it did not and we were treated to a NE breeze. This did make it a bit cooler in the hot sun.

With 134 crafts registered to race it was always going to be the biggest field we have ever had in the 11 years of the event. Race start was postponed an hour with the hope of the wind coming a bit earlier. But the wind didn’t arrive until prizegiving.

The race was tough, with New Zealand’s best paddlers having an honest battle for three hours plus with a few finding it too hard and pulling out.

Tupuria King showed his class taking his fourth win in five years for the men, with Nicky Kingi getting her first win in this event. Jordan and Richard on the W2 did their best to beat Tupu only to be caught and passed in the last 20 minutes.

Maylene and Louise were the sole relay team to race in the first of its kind for this race. They finished with smiles and lots of energy. They highly recommend the relay for next year.

Former Olympic Sailor Tom Ashley won the ski division in his first attempt, with former world ski champion Rachel Clarke winning for a second year in a row.

Special mention to three individuals that competed in the race for their 11th consecutive year - Mark Roozendaal, Tonga White and Paora Mcgrath. It’s a huge effort to just do the race once.

Thank you to the team of volunteers for running such an outstanding event and to the sponsors that make it so memorable for the participants. (Everyone gets a spot prize.)

Huge thanks to Strongarm - Power in the Water, Kai Wa’a Canoes, Loaded Sports Drink, Kitesurf Nelson, Tuakana Customs, Oceanrider, Okerefalls Store, Ipaddle, Red Seal, East Coast Paddler, Sharkskin, Chocolates Are Us, The Rising Tide, Turkish Delight and Ocean Culture.

If you want quality products. Make sure you use them.

Mark Roozendaal.

Paul Roozendaal

Sup Winner Okere Falls Nick Chater.

Tonga White, Paora Mcgrath.

Tupuria King with 2man division winners Jordan Edmonds, Richard Thompson.

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Come fishing in Whitianga Whitianga is the main town in the beautiful Mercury Bay, Coromandel and has some of the most spectacular fishing in the country as well as the world-renowned Cathedral Cove (Te WhanganuiA-Hei) Marine Reserve on its doorstep.

PB snapper or Kingfish. The absolute thrill they get from it is an amazing experience to be part of and something we take much pride in doing. It all makes me realise, how lucky I was growing up with a mother who taught me to do these things and how much I have taken these experiences for granted in the past.

Our boat, Zodie 1 provides the perfect fishing platform for everybody to get out fishing and she is big enough to take larger groups out. I believe we are not only the newest charter in town, but we can take the most people out fishing, we are also the most affordable and the only charter that offer kids prices, so the whole family can get out fishing together. We provide our customers with a professional, friendly and fun service.

The fishing has been awesome and with the best months for fishing yet to come, it’s all about to get even better.

So why not come fishing in Whitianga?

24 pound Kingfish caught by Kerry Bowler.

Whitianga has a beautiful harbour and coastline that you never get tired of looking at.

The variety of fishing in and around the Mercury Bay, Mercury Islands, Opito Bay and the Alderman Islands is amazing. You can head out for a few snapper, gurnard or trevally for dinner.

Or set off out wider to take on the mighty Kingfish, Hapuka, Tuna and Marlin. The marine wild life is amazing with many dolphins, seals, orca and whales visiting the region often and the beautiful clear water creates a spectacular experience for snorkelers and divers to see the beautiful reef fish that inhabit Mercury Bay. These are some of things that attracted us to move here and start our own fishing charter last year. With many years of recreational fishing and boating experience in Coromandel, and an offer we couldn’t refuse on a charter boat, my husband Noel and I decided it was time to sell our home in Tokoroa and make the big move the Coromandel Peninsula.

After many months of hard work, lots of paper and forms we finally did it. Labour Weekend 2018 marked our first weekend as official charter operators and we haven’t regretted one single part of it yet. We have had much pleasure in taking families, friends, newbies, groups and individuals out to experience the same love for fishing we have had for many years.

Our favourite times are taking both kids and adults out to catch their first fish or the more experienced person to catch their

Denise Bowler, Fishing NZ Adventures

15 pound Snapper caught by Glenn Roycroft.

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The day my octi saved my life Dan Bunting, PADI MSDT, Wild Blue, Hamilton

Here in New Zealand the Octopus, octi, secondary, safe second or, as its more commonly known here – that yellow thing that keeps leaking – gets a bit of a bad rap.

Canterbury Bow. All photos Stuart Hofstetter.

Sonar Control, about a third of the way through.

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They are often not installed on regulator sets initially to save money or removed down the line to reduce servicing costs. With justifications from “well it’s not going to save my butt” to “I only need to have that on there for Australian diving” (spat out with the venom that is reserved only for our western neighbours) they are unscrewed and left to gather dust in the back of a cupboard.

Now I could talk about incident report statistics, training agency recommendations or safe practice procedures but you’ve heard that all before. So I’ll tell you what happened to me.

A couple of years ago, when I was working for an operator up north, I was guiding a dive on the wreck of the Canterbury in Deep Water Cove. Everything was proceeding as normal, following my usual track around the wreck, hitting each highlight right on time. No problems. Until I got to the telephone. As usual, I pulled it out of its box, dropped my regulator out of my mouth, made a mock call for the amusement of my group and replaced the phone. Then it came time to put my reg back in.

I put it in, gave a good blast from my lungs and tried to breathe in. Water. Out again, hit the purge button, air flows. I try breathing from it again, I get water, again. One last time. Purge works, but the reg won’t breathe. Finally I switch to my octi and we can carry on, back to the shot line and the surface.

Midships machine gun position, the start and finishing point of our dive.

All this happened in less than 30 seconds. Having an octi provided me with an immediate resolution that kept me well within my safety margins and allowed me to return to the shot line and ascend safely, including a stop. Could I have swum to the surface, dumped my weights and floated up or buddy breathed off a single second stage? Perhaps. But all of those would have been more stressful, less controllable and push me closer to the chances of decompression illness and a much more serious incident.

My equipment was from a well known brand with an excellent reputation for reliability. It had been regularly serviced by approved technicians. Even then I still experienced a failure.

You don’t need an octi until you really need one. I hope you never do. But keep it on your gear – it could be the difference between you or your buddy making it home from a dive.

Interior of the Canterbury’s helicopter hangar, half way though our dive.

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Land and water vessel blessed Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s new boat, Kaha, is a welcomed addition.

A special ceremony was held at the Harbourside Carpark in Tauranga for the blessing of the boat.

Bay of Plenty Regional Harbourmaster Peter Buell says the new boat is a great addition as it allows more work to be done out on the water.

“Our new vessel is Sealegs, it’s a New Zealand built vessel.

It’s going to really give us an increase in capability in terms of operating on our harbour.

The boat is unique in the sense that it can drive on land and water.

“Our harbour dries, one third of it on every tidal cycle, so we’re going to have the ability to get many more places and do many more work that we couldn’t do before. That ranges from navigation aid maintenance right through to our participation in any search and rescue that might be required.

“It’s going to give us a lot more flexibility that we didn’t have before.”

The boat has been built carefully so it is unlikely to be damaged or to damage other vessels.

“In terms of patrols, it’s a soft sided boat, so folks won’t be worries when we come up across them, so that should help us on our patrols as well.”

Peter says he and his team will make good use of the boat in the warmer months. It will be used during winter when there is dangerous weather or emergencies.

A new vessel Kaha was blessed at the Tauranga Harbour on Tuesday March 5.

“In the summer it will go out every day for about 10 hours a day, in the winter it’s more as required.

“Certainly it will be a weekly, and depending on the weather, maybe more than that. Obviously if we get storms we might be required to go out and do more work after that as well.

“Everybody’s been inducted in it and is really familiar with it now, and it’s really been a great addition.

“Everyone’s really happy that we’ve got it in our fleet.

The land and water vessel will be based in Tauranga, however it can travel on a trailer around the region as required.

Win for high country access Fish and Game is welcoming the government’s move to end tenure review of the South Island High Country, saying the controversial process has cost New Zealanders dearly.

Tenure review allows Crown pastoral land to be sold to a leaseholder, with areas with high ecological and recreational value becoming conservation land.

So far, more than 350,000 hectares of land has been freeholded under tenure review, with private landowners taking control of what was public land.

Land Information Minister Eugenie Sage today announced the review process would end, saying it has resulted in more intensive farming and subdivision.

She said that has contributed to major landscape change and loss of habitat for native plants and animals.

Fish and Game New Zealand chief executive Martin Taylor is pleased with the government’s decision.

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“A great day for outdoor lovers, conservation and the environment” - Fish and Game welcomes the halt to high country tenure reviews.

“The tenure review process has seen huge expanses of public land transferred to private ownership with no benefit to the average New Zealander,” Martin Taylor says.

“Tenure review paid little attention to improving or even preserving the public’s access to the backcountry.

“The result has been Kiwis locked out of enjoying their own outdoors because provisions for public access were woefully inadequate.”

Martin Taylor says Fish and Game has battled for years to get a better deal for all New Zealanders and is pleased that progress is finally being made.

“Kiwis deserve much better - after all, they are the underlying owner of the land but were being cut out of the process,” Mr Taylor says.

“The Government’s decision recognises that outdoor recreation, conservation and public access are of vital interest to the public.

“It’s a great day for not only outdoor lovers, but also the environment, conservation and the public estate.”

Source: Fish and Game NZ

Angler diary for trip info Fish & Game is appealing to trout anglers for information about their fishing trips in the Eastern Region that includes the Rotorua lakes.

Management of the trout fishery, which is a key role of Fish & Game, depends on quality information about anglers’ fishing activities, says Fish & Game Officer Mark Sherburn.

“We survey thousands of fishers face-to-face but we always need more information, especially from some of the lesser known ‘out of the way’ places,” he says.

Fish & Game recently set up an online angler diary so that trout fishers can enter information about their trips.

Mr Sherburn say they want to know about all fishing activities, both successful and unsuccessful trips, on rivers, streams and lakes.

“The information helps us build a picture of the fishery and alongside our own fisheries monitoring so it is vital for the management of the trout fishery.”

Anglers shouldn’t worry about their ‘secret spot’ getting known either as the data collected is treated in confidence, says Mr Sherburn.

“We’re not going to blab about hot fishing spots as we know fishers guard those secrets very closely,” he says.

Fish & Game has also made returning tagged trout information easier.

Previously, anglers needed to post in their tags but this can now be done online.

“We realise that many people can’t be bothered with stamps and envelopes, so now it can be done from your smart phone,” Mr Sherburn says.

We are providing some rewards to anglers who go to the trouble of sending in their information, he says.

“People who use the anglers’ diaries go into a draw to win a $100 voucher, and all tagged trout entries go into the draw to win one of 20 free adult trout licences.

Eastern Angler diaries are found online here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QRSD7D3 Eastern tagged trout data can be entered online here: https:// www.surveymonkey.com/r/QCH5ZR6 For further information contact Fish & Game Officer Mark Sherburn on 07 357 5501 or 021 244 1774. Source: Fish and Game NZ

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Taupo’s freshwater kayaking

e s i d a r Pa

With New Zealand’s largest lake and a myriad of

kids who are not into team sports and suddenly the challenge of kayaking comes along, and they open up and blossom,” he says. rivers, from thrashing whitewater rapids to calm, “Kayaking is something that can help in all aspects of life, not just sport ... when you’re out on the water there’s a sense of crystal clear tributaries, Taupo is a freshwater accomplishment in getting to go where other people can’t get to kayaker’s paradise. on foot or in a bigger boat. Only kayakers get to see these things.”

Within the sport, there is a discipline to suit everyone, says Whether family fun at the weekend, or serious adventure Mike. paddling, kayaking has never been so popular, says Canoe and However, it’s important to have the right boat and the right Kayak Taupo operations manager Mike Pennefather. advice for a successful and safe kayaking experience.

“Just about everyone in Taupo has a roof rack on their car.

A good starting point is to take lessons, allowing you to try out Everyone, from toddlers to grandparents, is giving it a go,” says different kayaks, and source expert advice at the same time.

Mike.

Taking a course might seem like a more expensive option that He attributes its growing popularity to both an increase in buying a kayak over the internet, but it could save you money in awareness and the number of boats on the market, including a the long run. cohort of extremely competent New Zealand manufacturers.

“Often people turn up with their own kayaks that they’ve “Kayaking is more accessible than ever.” bought and they are very tippy and unstable, and they end up As someone who has been involved in kayaking and rafting having to sell them and go out and buy another one,” says Mike. his entire working life, Mike says it’s a recreational activity with Even in multisport, kayaks that are bought for speed can slow multi-tiered benefits. you down, he says.

He uses the example of kayak fishing, “You have people who have bought which provides a physical workout, solitude a quite stable kayak that a lot of people and access to secluded spots that larger boats perceive as a slow boat, but they are can’t get to. the ones paddling past others who have “A lot of people look at it as cross-training. broken down. Slow boats are often the You get your fitness and rest and relaxation fastest boats in the long term.” in at the same time – and come home with He also cautions about ‘learning-bysomething to eat,” he says. internet’ because what’s true for one South African-born, Mike has been in New discipline can be different for another.

Zealand for 11 years, of which nine have “The dangerous thing with the internet been spent in Taupo. is you’re going to get conflicting advice.

He has paddled his way through Mike at Ngaawapurua.

Kayaking comes with a wide range of Zimbabwe, Zambia, Swaziland, Scotland and conditions. Someone who follows really Colorado, but was captivated by New Zealand’s Jurassic Park-like good practice for flatwater can find themselves in a hazardous landscape. situation if they follow the same practice for whitewater,” says “New Zealand is definitely home now. Both our children have Mike. black passports,” he says.

“You use a paddle leash on flatwater, but in whitewater you He was also impressed with the growing number of could get tangled in it. That’s the biggest hazard - people using opportunities for young people to get involved in kayaking. the wrong tool. You don’t know what you don’t know. You’re “One of the reasons I stayed in New Zealand was because it’s better off doing a course for the type of kayaking or paddling so big in the schools. It’s a really great way to get kids who might you’re into, to get expert advice.” not be into team sports to find their niche. There are quite few 22

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Even families who just want something low-key to paddle around in, should seek advice from someone who is familiar with kayaking, as a badly designed boat will be wobbly and potentially unsafe, says Mike.

“Go into a store and talk to someone face-to-face, and take the kids with you.”

From there, the world is your playground.

Mike’s top spots in and around Taupo Recreational/Sit-on-top kayaks Anywhere along the Taupo Lakefront. Park up, off-load the kayaks almost straight into the water and let the kids loose (or let your inner kid loose!).

Acacia Bay- beautiful in its own right, if it’s windy on the lakefront, Acacia Bay can be absolute glass.

Sea Kayaks Paddle out to view Matahi Brightwell’s Maori rock carvings.

Paddle back, or, if you’re keen on covering more water, carry on west to Whakaipo Bay. Explore the Western Bays of Lake Taupo. You can do a day trip or pack camping gear and take your time soaking up the rugged beauty of the steep cliffs, waterfalls cascading directly into the lake and hidden sandy lagoons.

Go against the flow- for a short, half-day trip you can explore the lake created by the Hinemaiaia Hydro Dam. Paddle amongst submerged trees and native waterfowl undisturbed by masses of visitors. When you get to the Hinemaiaia stream, carry on going until the walls narrow in and the roar of rapids stops your upstream travel. Then turn around and float on out.

Ngatoroirangi watching over them?

Paddle north from Kurutau (or up the river) to escape the rat race and go fishing in isolation.

Whitewater Ngaawapurua was the Up close to the Maori rock carvings. scene of the 1999 World Freestyle Kayak Championships and remains a world-class wave.

Upstream is a fantastic Grade 2 paddle (with natural hot pools when the river is low). Be sure to tell the friendly folk at Rapids Jet that you’re going so they know there are mobile obstacles in the river. Warm up at the slalom course at Hipapatua (Reid’s Farm) before you go.

The famous Tongariro River. Stacked with rapids of all sizes, there’s a section for paddlers of all abilities to paddle through lush green gorges.

Wait for rain and get to the National Park rivers. Normally rocky streams, when the rain hits, runs like the Whakapapanui, Makatote and Manganui-a-te-Ao start to flow. Break out the drysuit and go get it.

“Just because you’re on a sit-on-top or a fishing kayak doesn’t mean you can’t do one of the sea kayak paddles, or if you look down on kayakers from a paddle board you can still find great secret spots in the Western Bays. The important thing is that you remember to carry waterproof, working means of communication, tell someone your plans and paddle to your ability. Paddle safe Julia Proverbs and we’ll see you on the water!”

Sea Kayaking on Lake Taupo.

Fishing Get up early and watch the sun rise as you fish the river mouths that flow into Lake Taupo along the southern end.

Do a bit of casual harling along Whakamoenga Point to the Maori rock carvings. How many fishermen can say they caught a trout with the 14m stone waterline Autumn 2019

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BOAT OF THE MO

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NTH

A642T KWIKKRAFT SEDAN 11m, alloy hull, composite topsides, launched approx 2009.

370hp Volvo diesel on DuroProp, 18-22kts. Auto anchoring chain/rope, BBQ, beach trailer, shore power, holding tank, leather upholstery, toilet, shower, fridge, 4 burner stove, 5 single berths, 1 double, good electronics. Nicely presented. NZ$ 250,000 Ph Brian Worthington, A/hrs 027 447 2393.

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“White Star” White Star is a strongly-built 44’ Kauri carvel planked bridge deck built by Ken Turner Boat Builder in Coromandel and launched in 1968.

This sturdy vessel is built from a single kauri log, sourced by the original owner in the Colville Area.

White Star was named after the Coromandel mine “White Star Mine” and launched and kept at Coromandel harbour for a number of years.

Powered by a 190hp 671 GM diesel with a cruising speed of 8 knots, a large volume vessel with side opening wheel house doors, walk-through transom, toilet, shower, fridge, freezer and four burners/oven.

There seven single berths and one double in three cabins.

White Star presents as a great traditional classic cruising launch.

More details are available from Brian Worthington at Gulf Group Marine Brokers, Tauranga.

Launching of White Start in 1968.

Insurance Brokers Bay of Plenty

insurebayofplenty@bwrs.co.nz

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The Phantom trikes Back S Nick Scott, Evinrude News Network

It was a perfect day out at Lake Rotoiti when we

arrived to have a go in the Phantom SR20 ski-boat from Torque Marine.

My initial apprehension gave way to a sense of pure exhilaration. The boat was incredibly stable and there was no doubt that the raw torque and power of the E-TEC was the perfect choice for a true performance boat.

Designed by Nic De Mey the sleek and perfectly proportioned boat stood proud on its custom-made trailer. The Evinrude E-TEC 200 H.O. engine mounted to the transom not only perfectly complimented the boat, but provided a sense of real anticipation. And we were not disappointed, After a quick chat with boat-builder Russel Smith from Torque Marine who explained that the construction materials had been slightly adapted to make the boat even more affordable for average Kiwi’s we launched the boat and set out to experience the performance first hand.

I felt secure knowing that I was in very capable hands. At the wheel was legendary skiboat racer and multiple champion and record breaker, Dennis Toy. Dennis must have seen that I was a tad on the nervous side and asked Boat builders from Torque Marine, Russell Smith and Josh Hansen Smith. Phantom SR20. me: “Are you ready?” I think I nodded but my inner voice was saying “No.” I got new respect for the driving skills of Dennis Toy who Nothing could have prepared me for the sensation when, once was in perfect control at all times. Having said that, and not to clear of the speed restrictions, Dennis, with a final nod in my diminish his tremendous ability in any manner, shape or form, direction, went full throttle. the boat performed so incredibly well that Dennis kept it pointing The E-TEC 200 H.O. growled angrily and the boat leaped out in the right direction with minimal input, both in terms of of the water. It felt like we were vertical for a moment. I had the steering and trim. go-pro on me for our first run and for those of you who can read The E-TEC 200 H.O. simply performed magnificently. After lips, my reaction was obvious, but I am not allowed to repeat my the initial growl that propelled us forward like a bat out of hell, it words here. was quiet and effective. We simply gobbled up the miles. If you The boat was on the plane in what felt like milliseconds, and want to see the boat in action visit the Evinrude website at we went skimming across Lake Rotoiti like a bullet, approaching www.evinrude.co.nz It’s worth watching, trust me. ninety miles per hour.

The Phantom SR20 dubbed “Suspect” reached speeds approaching 90-mph on Lake Rotoiti. Photo: Shutterpad Photography, Hugo Schutte

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Have your say

Have your say on proposed changes to blue cod fishing rules.

Fisheries New Zealand is over halfway through the consultation period on proposed changes to the blue cod fishing regulations.

Consultation will run until 5pm on 26 March 2019 and we encourage anyone with an interest in the fishery to take part.

The proposed changes are one outcome of the National Blue Cod Strategy which was announced by the Minister of Fisheries, Hon Stuart Nash, in December last year. The proposed changes were identified as priorities through the early engagement processes which were run during the development of the strategy.

Public consultation opened on 29 January and Manager of Inshore Fisheries Steve Halley says that with just under a month left of the consultation, it’s important that anyone with an interest in this fishery has a say on the proposed changes.

“Blue cod is the most popular recreational finfish species in the South Island, and the third most popular in New Zealand.

It’s a unique, iconic New Zealand species that is important to tangata whenua, commercial fishers, recreational fishers, and environmental groups,” Mr Halley says.

“The proposed changes reflect the feedback we received from public drop-in sessions and online surveys, as well as advice from a Technical Working Group, which we received during the development of the strategy.

“The changes are designed to address the decline in blue cod abundance that we have seen in localised areas, and to improve the consistency of the blue cod fishing regulations nationwide.

“Potential options we are seeking feedback on include changes to recreational fishing regulations to: lower daily bag limits in the South Island, introduce a two-day accumulation limit, require blue cod to be landed in a measurable state, and standardise the Minimum Legal Size of landed blue cod to 33cm nationwide.

“We are also seeking feedback on introducing a minimum cod pot mesh size of 54mm for both recreational and commercial fishers.

“Once the consultation has closed, Fisheries New Zealand will develop a decision document for the Minister of Fisheries, who will make a decision on which, if any, options will be progressed.

Any potential regulatory changes will be announced later this year.

“We appreciate that many have already shared their views on the issues facing blue cod fisheries through the development of the strategy. For those that may not have yet had a say, we want to remind them of when consultation closes and encourage them to participate to ensure we can all get the best now and in the future from our important blue cod fisheries,” says Mr Halley.

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Killer footage for researcher Antarctic scientist Dr Regina Eisert has captured extraordinary video footage of her close encounter with a killer whale on the edge of the sea ice.

The encounter happened mid-February in the final few hours of her research for this season in the Ross Sea region Marine Protected Area.

The University of Canterbury marine mammal expert was standing on the edge of the sea ice collecting biopsy samples from adult whales when a juvenile Type-C Killer Whale made its approach.

“I put my whalfie stick [a whale selfie stick] in the water as soon as I saw it come close and waited to see what would happen.

“It made a beeline for; bumped the camera with its nose, opened its mouth and showed me a piece toothfish inside, as though it was trying to get me to take it.

“It was really special, the only way I can describe it is like when a cat offers you a mouse,” says Regina.

She has spent this Antarctic season studying Type-C Killer Whales in order to gain an understanding of how many there are in the region, where they live and what they eat.

Her research focuses on the Ross Sea region Marine Protected Area, and how the whales would be affected by a change in toothfish availability due to fisheries.

The moment was made all the more poignant for her because of this. “Here I am carrying out research to help protect the Ross Sea region and find out whether or not the whales eat toothfish,

Antarctic scientist Dr Regina Eisert has captured extraordinary video footage of her close encounter with a killer whale.

and one comes up showing me it does.

“Whales are highly social and there has been an instance in the past where a leopard seal offered a diver a penguin, but I’ve never had an experience quite like this,” says Regina.

The research is supported by Antarctica New Zealand and the Pew Charitable Trust through a Marine Conservation Fellowship to Regina Eisert.

Eimear and her team hone in on eels As a young child growing up on an Irish farm, one of Eimear Egan’s chores was to regularly clean out the well from where her family drew its drinking water. In the well lived a large eel that, no matter how many times it was shifted, just kept coming back.

“I was traumatised by it for years, says Eimear. “It bit me several times.”

The eel got the last laugh. Now Eimear, a NIWA freshwater ecologist based in Hamilton, is studying eels and what makes them tick. She’s leading a team that recently secured a grant from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment Endeavour Fund for a three-year project to enable her to do “some very exciting research” on both longfin and shortfin eels.

Longfin and shortfin eels spend a portion of their life in marine and coastal environments. Once the adults reach sexual maturity in freshwater they migrate to the western Pacific Ocean to reproduce.

The resulting larvae are transported by ocean currents back to NZ’s coastline where they develop into glass eels, at this stage up to 7cm long. The marine phase of their life cycle is mysterious and poorly understood.

Eimear and her team will be studying the ear bones of glass eels to learn more about their spawning locations and larval oceanic movements.

“Longfin eels are only found in NZ, and according to the NZ threat rankings, they are at risk and declining. At the moment, we

don’t really have a good understanding of their early life history including locations of spawning grounds and larval migration routes.

“This information is important because we don’t know if the numbers of glass eels making it to NZ are affected by processes happening during their marine life. We are going to use some quite novel methods to help fill in these knowledge gaps.”

That’s where examining glass eel ear bones comes in. “Ear bones can tell us so much information about the environment a fish experiences on a daily basis,” says Eimear.

“Each day they add a layer of calcium carbonate which is almost like keeping a diary of their lives.

“They tell us about their growth, spawning and hatching dates, the chemistry of the environment they live in, their diet and movement. And because of that daily layer we can potentially figure out what routes the larvae took to get to the NZ coastline.”

The researchers hope to understand if the eels are coming from different places within the western Pacific Ocean, and whether long and shortfin eels share spawning grounds and larval migration routes.”

There is evidence of a worldwide decline in recruitment of glass eels, particularly for the European and Japanese species.

Factors contributing to this decline are likely to include climate change, loss of habitat, pollutants, over-fishing, and obstacles to migration.

Dr Eimear Egan, eel earbone detective.

Photo: Stuart Mackay.

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Lights at night To help other boaties understand what you’re doing and which way you’re heading while you’re underway, your boat must display lights from sunset to sunrise and in rain and fog. Not using lights is dangerous and could result in a fine.

Under 12m

Over 12m

Under 20m

Over 20m

If motoring, see rules for power boats

Under 7m powered under 7 knots

All boats at anchor

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If motoring, see rules for power boats

Under 7m non-powered

must have top white light

Tips for safe autumn boating With the end to daylight savings fast approaching, boaties need to put their vessel lights on between sunset and sunrise.

Unlike headlights on cars, navigation lights on vessels are not intended to illuminate what lies ahead, rather, they are there to make the vessels visible to others.

They also communicate information about a vessel’s purpose, size, and direction of travel to others in its vicinity, to ensure safe navigation and avoid collisions.

Waikato Regional Council maritime team leader Richard Barnett says “it’s easy to decide to stay out on your boat for another hour, and then before you know it you’re travelling back to the boat ramp in complete darkness and without lights.

“If this happens, you’re putting yourself and other vessels at risk of a collision.”

He says skippers need to be aware of the sunset and sunrise hours when they go out, and keep in mind when daylight savings ends on 7 April 2019.

“Your boat must display lights from sunset to sunrise, as well as in times of poor visibility.”

The basic types of lights are red (showing the port side of the boat), green (for the starboard side) and white (which is used as a stern light for sailing boats and a masthead or all-round light on powerboats).

“Most marine retailers are able to give you some good advice on fitting suitable lights on your vessel.

“And make sure you have a full set of emergency battery operated navigation lights on hand in case you lose power while at sea.”

Check your speed It is the skipper’s responsibility to ensure the safety of the boat and crew. This includes knowing and understanding the rules.

Why do we have 5 knot rules?

Travelling at 5 knots or less is deemed a safe speed, and prevents big wake.

Most boats traveling at or below 5 knots are unlikely to disrupt others while still having full control of their own boat. At this speed or less, skippers are easily able to spot swimmers, divers and other boats, and, most importantly, have time to take the appropriate action.

Speeding and consequences Speeding close to others could result in: serious injury to swimmers. collision and damage to another boat crew losing their footing and falling over creating a big wake that disrupts other boaties’ safety and enjoyment.

If you are seen speeding, members of the public can report you, and the consequences could result in official action taken by the harbourmaster, Waikato Regional Council and, if required, Maritime NZ. • • • •

Safe speed around dive flags Like submerged rocks, divers are hard to see and the only way to have confidence that you will see them is to travel at a 5 knots or less when you are within 200m of a vessel displaying a dive flag.

Speed rules in the Waikato Inland Go no faster than 5 knots (a fast walking pace) within: • 50m of a vessel, swimmer or structure • 30m of the shore • 200m of any vessel that is flying a dive flag.

For full information, go to clause 2.4 of the Navigation Safety Bylaw found on the Waikato Regional Council website.

Coastal • Go no faster than 5 knots (a fast walking pace) within: • 50m of another vessel or swimmer • 200m of the shore, any structure, or any vessel flying a dive flag.

For full information, go to clause 2.4 of the Navigation Safety Bylaw found on the Waikato Regional Council website.

Marinemate MarineMate is a helpful smartphone app that gives you information on all the local boating rules in the country, tide times, boat ramp locations and VHF channels, all in the palm of your hand.

More info at waikatoregion.govt.nz/ navigation-safety

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Happy Birthday Late A Gain

Boats head out for Omokoroa.

 It is scarcely credible that more than 70 sailing enthusiasts could come together to celebrate the launch of a yacht 40 years ago, but it happened at the Omokoroa Yacht Club on Tuesday 12 February.

A flotilla of seventeen yachts started from the line at Tauranga Yacht Club, followed by three launches carrying those for whom there was no space on a yacht, or who are less agile than they were in former years. There was an almost cloudless sky and a North West breeze provided a close hauled run along the channel to the finish at Omokoroa.

The event was the brain child of John Burns the present joint owner of Late A Gain, a Farr 7.5 trailer yacht, with Paul Smolenski. John received generous help in planning and organizing from Lynne Whitaker and her team from the Tauranga Yacht & Power Boat Club over several months.

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Left: Skipper, Graeme Allen, with crew Brian and Margaret Nock, John Burns (centre co owner of Late a Gain). Right: Pix and Frank Mackie and Paul Smolenski (co owner).

Pix Mackie, Skipper, Graeme Allen, Paul Smolenski, and Frank Mackie. Frank and Pix were the first owners of “Late a Gain”.

Most of the people who came and brought their yachts and launches were ‘old salts’ from the Yacht Club who had at some time or other in the past owned a trailer yacht, or who had sailed in one with friends. Original owners of Late A Gain, Frank and Pix Mackie joined John Burns and his co-owner Paul Smolenski on the day too.

The fleet was met at Omokoroa by dedicated volunteers from our hosts Omokoroa Yacht Club, who used their inflatable rescue boats to guide the bigger yachts to free moorings, and ferry crew and passengers to the beach.

A festive atmosphere greeted the arrivals at the club, and old friends greeted each other with unrestrained pleasure.

For many of us it was just great to be still alive, to shake hands and look in the eyes of once familiar faces. Omokoroa Yacht Club catering staff provided a sumptuous lunch fitting for the hot, hot, weather, that was consumed under every piece of available shade.

After we had all eaten our fill, there came the formality of issuing awards to some of the participants in the day’s event listed below: For longest membership of the TYPBC - Garry Denniston, a member for 72 years.

For still sailing their own self built yacht - Bevan Grant in ‘Clean Sheets’.

For long time owner of the same yacht - Graeme Allen, 40 years.

For longest distance travelled to be present on the day - Lee Jordan, from Thailand.

Smallest trailer yacht participating Geoff Collins in ‘Xena’ and Mike Lee in ‘Breeze Hunter’.

Most recently purchased trailer yacht - Sascha Pearce in ‘Say Please’.

Several members stood up to pay tribute to the trailer sailor fraternity and to thank John Burns and his team for a great day out on the water.

Thanks were also expressed to the members of Omokoroa Yacht Club for their generous hospitality, along with the number of skippers who took time off work to host the veterans from past year. The “old salts” were very grateful to members of the Tauranga Yacht Club who took time away from work to bring out their Trailer Yachts.

Those of us suffering the penalties of old age watched the fleet sail back with a following breeze from the elevated bridge of a launch, and rejoiced in memories of days spent on the high seas in our small trailer yachts.

Graeme Allen, with crew Margaret and Brian Nock.

Bob Shaw

Skipper of “Breeze Hunter”, Mike Lee.

Centre, Skipper, Graeme Allen with crew, Margaret and Brian Nock. waterline Autumn 2019

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Fishing fun for Nauti Girls Every February for more nearly 30 years a unique event has been held off the pristine waters of the Coromandel Peninsula.

Whangamata Ocean Sports Club proudly promote their Nauti Girls fishing competition as “the largest ladies only fishing competition in NZ… probably”.

In February the hugely popular event saw 561 anglers competing on 184 boats chasing a prize pool hitting $45,000, with the after-party evening event attracting more than 1000 people in the marquee.

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Club manager Phil Keogh says the Nauti Girls is the party event of the year and the one they look forward to the most.

“It is the funnest event and our largest event angler-wise,” says Phil.

The fishing area was between Mercury Island (north), Motiti Island (south) and unlimited to the east.

Phil says two teams tagged and released striped marlin within the time restrictions before the weigh-in and another missed the cut-off with a 139.3kg beauty.

“Helen Hughes on the boat Devotion landed a 70kg marlin and Kay Oliver on the boat Nauti Forty tagged an 80kg marlin. We probably had four or five marlin hooked and dropped as well.”

A social highlight of the celebrations was the Fashion in the Field competition with many of the teams dressing up for the occasion.

Among the happy fishers was Team Stingray.

While Tauranga’s Nadine Thomas and her team of Shannon Maxfield, Jill Agnew and Emma Priest, with trusty boat captain Bryan “Beanz” Grafas, did not get to tag and release a striped marlin, they had a great day.

“It is the first time our team has got back together in 11 years to compete in this event after we entered it for four years,” says Nadine.

“Shannon I have known since I was about 11-years-old and she is into fishing as well. Another girlfriend Emma I have known for about 25 years and she lives in Aussie and came over specially for it which as awesome.

“The captain of our boat is Beanz and his wife Jill didn’t go in the fishing competition but she made all our costumes to try to get us a prize.”

The costumes got plenty of attention with Nadine’s team dressed as stingrays.

“We sourced blue capes and Jill did a great job. She sewed a stingray tail on to it and glued blue dots on. I sourced some swimming goggles that are blue, turquoise and white so they are going to be our stingray eyes.

“We had white tee shirts on as well that Jill had printed with Nauti Girls and our names on it.”

Nadine says the Nauti Girls is a wonderful opportunity for women to give fishing a go.

“It gives a chance for the women to get out there. It is important for me because I get to do something pretty exciting and fun with a good bunch of friends. It is a super fun event to go in.”

Team Stingray caught loads of fish, including Nadine’s personal highlight of a large hapuka, but it was not to be their lucky day out on the water.

“I was really stoked about catching the hapuka. But it was not on the rules sheet as one of the fish you could weigh in so we were a little bit gutted about that.

“We caught loads of tarakihi which we had smoked, a large orange perch and a snapper. We had a fabulous day.”

There was never any doubt that Nadine and her two brothers would love being on the water.

Her earliest memory is when her dad came back from a day’s fishing in Raglan.

“He had a big cooking pot in the driveway where he would cook up crayfish. I was still in nappies and I remember reaching over and trying to pluck the crayfish claws out.”

Her parents Neil and Barbara Thomas have a lifelong passion for the sea.

You have to be dedicated to spend three years on an adventure most boaties would love to do at some stage in their lives.

They sailed on their purpose-built 53foot trawler Starlight through the South Pacific to Japan and onto the Aleutian Islands in the Bering Sea and Alaska from 2002 to 2004.

Barbara put the adventures together in a fascinating book called Into the Midnight Sun which she self-published in 2011.

Above: Nadine Thomas and her hapuka She describes the extraordinary places and wildlife they encountered including with Shannon Maxfield and Emma Priest. undisturbed remains of WWII Japanese She says looking back now it was something submarines and grizzly bears gorging pretty special to have achieved. themselves on salmon.

Nadine Thomas, Shannon Maxfield, “There were a few challenges we faced but “It is all about the history of how we got Emma Priest and Jill Agnew having you just dealt with them at the time.” into boating and then the trip of course and fun at Whangamata.

Barbara also has fond memories of competing all the amazing people we met along the in the Nauti Girls fishing competition. way,” says Barbara.

“Yeah that’s something I used to do. I was in a women’s team “It was Neil’s motivation really. He wanted to go to Alaska. out of Tauranga for some years.

He has always done a lot of hunting and fishing and he thought “One year the team landed a marlin which was really good.”

Alaska was the last of the wild countries that was easily accessible for us.”

Peter White

Bad paddle crabs nabbed Biosecurity surveillance in Tauranga Harbour has discovered four Asian Paddle Crabs.

This is the second discovery of the invasive pest in the Bay of Plenty region after two were caught near Matapihi Bridge during a pest surveillance survey conducted by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) earlier last year.

Since the initial discovery the Bay of Plenty Regional Council has been leading a surveillance programme with the University of Waikato as well, to determine the extent of the incursion.

Regional Council Biosecurity Officer Andy Wills says they’ve laid more than 400 crab traps from Bowentown to Maketu, as well as in Ohiwa harbour, and had not found any more of the invasive pest.

“We were optimistic that they had not established as aggressively as they have in other parts of New Zealand,” says Mr Wills.

The four crabs were caught in MPI’s summer marine high-risk survey in two locations. Three near the Mataphi Bridge and also one in Omokoroa. Asian Paddle Crabs (Charybdis Japonica) have already established in Northland and the Hauraki Gulf and are an extremely invasive pest.

“These crabs are nasty pieces of work. They compete with our own native crabs and also feed on shellfish such as pipi, tua tua and cockles” says Mr Wills.

The Regional Council will continue their surveillance work to further understand the extent of the incursion before reassessing the situation.

It is not known how the pest spread to the region, but it’s likely they floated here or hitched a ride on a fouled hull or in ballast water from another part of the country, said Mr Wills.

Asian Paddle Crab, Charybdis japonica.

Photo: S Wilkens NIWA.

The Regional Council asks people to keep an eye out for Asian paddle crabs and encourages people to kill them on site and report the find via 0800 STOP PESTS (0800 786 773). It is illegal to move living pest crabs.

Facts about Asian Paddle Crabs They can grow up to 12cm and have six distinct spikes on each side of the carapace (body) with five spines on each claw.

In New Zealand they prefer to hide in estuaries (where there is firm sand or muddy fine sand) in depths of up to 15m. waterline Autumn 2019

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Sailing and salvation If multi-millionaire Geoff Hunt has a mantra it’s that “money never fixes the problem”.

But he believes sailing just might.

The Auckland property developer and keen yachtsman says it’s the most valuable advice his father ever gave him, and is something he has called upon often, having weathered his share of financial ups and downs.

“I’ve gone from $12 million to 27 cents, and I’ve learnt it’s getting through with family and mates that creates a change,” says Geoff.

The other ‘teacher’ in his life has been the ocean, which he says has imparted many life lessons.

“You can’t argue with the ocean. If there’s a storm, you tie the sails down and have a sleep, ride it out,” he says. “It’s a bit like life.”

Sailing has taken Geoff around the world, opened doors and, he believes, kept him out of jail – and now he wants to give back and help disadvantaged youth by putting them at the helm.

Geoff has established a sailing trust to give young people, who would otherwise not get the opportunity, to experience sailing his fleet including two ex-America’s Cup yachts.

“Sometimes they just need a mentor, someone who can motivate them better than their parents,” he says.

Maverick of the seas

Multi-millionaire Geoff Hunt wants to help disadvantaged youth take to the seas.

another “wellness” project in the planning, to help those suffering from anxiety and depression – an initiative inspired partly by his son, Ryan, who has Asperger’s Syndrome.

“I was only in Tauranga 12 hours and I found a deal. No-one else would take it on,” he laughs.

“I’m the misfit guy who likes challenges. I’m the great transformer of assets.”

The trust, which is in the process of being finalised, currently has six yachts, including NZL 20 in Auckland, infamous for the bowsprit scandal in the 1992 America’s Cup challenge, and NZL 14, a former America’s Cup trial yacht which is moored in An entrepreneur in the making Queenstown.

One of 12 children, Geoff had a privileged upbringing but his Three Etchells are earmarked for Tauranga while the sixth, a Irish Catholic Father, who started his working life in a grocery kauri sloop Geoff purchased nearly a decade ago and which is store at the age of 12, made sure his children learnt the meaning based in Auckland, has its own tale to tell. of hard graft.

The sloop belonged to Brian Johnstone, whose son was “We lived in a 12-bedroom house with a housekeeper and a Christopher ‘Marty’ Johnstone, or “Mr Asia”, as he was known gardener. My father ran a business with a staff of 300. He was for his part in the 1970s international drug trafficking saga. a bit of an ‘extra-mile’ man. He was a tough guy, but very fair Marty had sailed on the boat as a boy, and Geoff muses that and very kind. He didn’t suffer fools the boat is being given a second life in easily. helping others who are at risk of losing Sailing opened a world of “My mother, even though she had 12 their way. opportunities for Geoff. children, never had a bad hair day. I feel However, what motivated Geoff to blessed to have had such a great mother purchase the yacht was not its chequered and father.” past, but its nostalgic value, as it shares While Geoff ’s friends’ fathers were the same designer – Knud Reimers –as doctors, surgeons and accountants, his own childhood boat. his father was an “Irish Paddy” whose “It was a small sister ship to my entrepreneurial spirit rubbed off on father’s yacht,” he says, fondly. him.

“When I was 12 my father got a yacht “I did paper runs and I was a money and a captain. He was no sailor, but he lender at 13. I would buy and sell knew it would open up doors.” things, like push bikes.”

Dressed in shorts, a tropical print At 14 he ran away to Australia – an shirt, red suede Puma slides with gold expedition that was short-lived. lettering and dark sunglasses, Geoff has “I knew a guy whose mother had left an air of Jack Nicholson about him. him a whole lot of half crown pieces “You should see my brother, he really ... I bought myself a pair of Levis jeans does looks like him.” and flew to Sydney, but my brother saw But it’s more than a passing physical me getting on an airport bus, so when I likeness, it’s the maverick in him. got to Australia the police were waiting On a recent visit to Tauranga Geoff for me. bought a 9m Russian fishing boat for 36

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“I was the black sheep of the family, a bit of a rebel without a cause. I had a great family life, but I didn’t like school. I thought I was dumb.”

A couple of years later, having filleted his way through countless fish at a family-owned fish and chip shop, he returned to Australia, this time to Bondi Beach where he got a job on the slipway at the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, rubbing shoulders with the likes of Rupert Murdoch and Alan Bond.

Geoff’s first yacht ‘Columbia’.

Leaving a legacy His experience there, combined with the influence of a woman who he was dating, who was several years his senior, taught him a valuable life lesson.

“It all came down to self esteem. I knew if I couldn’t be a good reader, writer or mathematician, I could still be a well-presented, ready-for-action type of guy.” He returned to New Zealand with a burning desire to take to the water, buying a 9m yacht in partnership with his father.

“I would pull up alongside the wharf, and it made me feel like a worthwhile person,” says Geoff.

As someone whose “no risk no fun” attitude has sometimes seen him sail too close to the line, Geoff says yachting was his ticket out of jail, opening up many opportunities on the right side of the law.

A successful career in acquisitions, mergers and property has seen him own 25 yachts in his lifetime – and counting. He currently has three yachts, plus the six in the trust.

“My father taught me about buying and selling companies. I’ve dealt with people who’ve had bank accounts since the 13th Century,” says Geoff.

“They say 80% of success is turning up – my skill is turning up. I take on ‘rough’ assets and develop them.”

Geoff also has a knack for selling islands, having bought an island when he was 29, which resulted in a 30-year working relationship with international island dealer Vladi.

But for all the glitz and glamour that the worlds of yachting and high finance have brought to his life, he is seeking something beyond the material - a legacy to leave his three children and to inspire positive change in young troubled lives.

“Twenty-eight years ago my mother said to me ‘don’t be remembered for being busy’. You’ve got to take a step back and ask - what are we all here for?

“My parents inspired me to see things differently, and it comes back to the same thing. Money is nice to have, but Julia Proverbs money never fixes the problem.”

ld aces sailing wou

d no idea the pl At 17, Geoff ha

Left: Geoff, centre, sailing in the Bay of Islands in 1974 with four of his brothers, on board ‘Sirroco’.

Below: On the way back from Kawau Island with friends during Geoff’s teenage years.

take him.

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What’s in a name?

Plenty, if you want to stay afloat, according to ancient boat naming traditions.

Naming, or renaming, a boat is like christening a baby, says celebrant and boatie Doug Scott.

“Until a thing has a name, it is nothing. If we are proud of it we will name it,” says Doug, who has performed countless boat naming ceremonies over the past 25 years, from an Optimist sailing dinghy to a super yacht.

According to legend, every vessel’s name is recorded in the Ledger of the Deep, and is personally known to the Greek god of the sea Poseidon or Roman god of the sea Neptune, he says.

Respecting the gods If you are renaming a boat you must “expunge” all reference to the old name, including name plates, logs, life jackets, engine plates and sails, and not bring the new name aboard until it has been formerly given.

“To change the name of a vessel without consulting a god is to invoke his wrath, so in order to change a boat’s name a serious ceremony is used to appease these ancient gods of life, the sea and the winds,” says Doug.

A boat naming ceremony typically involves a welcome and opening prayer (but no religious ministers or flowers as both are too connected to funerals and as such are considered bad luck) and acknowledgment of all involved, including the designers, builders, owners’ family, sailors and passengers.

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Doug Scott.

However, not everyone takes these nautical “I like to add some pomp and ceremony with grand gestures to the various points of the traditions to heart. compass, significant attributes of the David Peet, a former Commodore and vessel and old traditions of the sea,” life member of the Tauranga Yacht says Doug. and Power Boat Club, recently Red ribbons are often used as changed the name of his 13m a tribute to the blood of the launch from the ‘Betty May labour that went into building to ‘Excel’, without seeking it, and if stepping the mast, Neptune or Poseidon’s coins of the year of the build permission. or refit are placed under But he did notify his the mast, being careful not insurance provider, to remove coins that are Coastguard and the marina already there, he adds. office, as well as updating “They are used in the his EPIRB registration and event of a disaster and loss radio licence. of life on board, to show The rest he left in the lap willingness to pay for safe of the gods. passage into the afterlife.

“We did a major makeover Likewise, slits are cut into the and added a flying bridge on floats of a net and coins inserted top of it. The old name didn’t to show willingness to pay for suit the new image,” says Dave. one’s catch.”

“We had lots of drinks celebrating Usually women’s names are the new boat. As long as it’s well chosen, however names ending in ‘a’ are lubricated it’s all good.” considered unlucky. *Under Waikato and Bay of Plenty “Humble names are best as they don’t Marcheta is a boat name that has been in regional council bylaws, all non powerattract attention from the troublesome celebrant Doug Scott’s family for generations. driven vessels longer than 6m, and all gods, plus then you don’t tend to look a power-driven vessels longer than 4m, must plonker if you run aground and need help,” advises Doug. be clearly marked with a minimum of two letters or numbers “I find people use connections to family or places, or strong (not the vessel’s brand, make or model). feelings to come up with a name.”

The characters must be at least 90mm high and legible at a Doug, who lives two minutes walk from the Waipu Boat and distance of no less than 50 metres.

Fishing Club in Northland, has owned 24 boats, and renamed all Smaller vessels that are exempt should be clearly marked of them bar one. He’s even named his blokart. somewhere on or in the vessel, with the owner’s name and contact details, in the event the vessel is lost or stolen.

Doing things right Under Department of Internal Affairs regulations, the same “If you find a ‘Marcheta’ about, it has probably been my rules apply to vessels operating on Lake Taupo. grandfather’s, my father’s, mine or my son’s vessel – from P-Class to 52-footer.”

Sailing superstitions Doug says he loves the connection to history and past rituals Never take bananas on a boat, as they bring bad luck. that have been practised for thousands of years.

The colour green is unlucky, as it is associated with land, and “People I’ve done ceremonies for tend to start by thinking a the risk of running aground. name change is simple and afterwards almost always acknowledge Women on board are bad luck because they distract the crew the sense of history, dignity and value of ‘doing things right’ that and anger the sea, causing treacherous conditions. they feel afterwards,” says Doug.

It’s bad luck to sail on Thursdays (God of Storms, Thor’s day) or Friday (the day Jesus Christ was crucified), the first Monday in April (the day Cain killed Abel), the second Monday in August (the day Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed), and 31 December (the day on which Judas Iscariot hung himself ).

Never whistle on a boat, as it will change the wind and upset the sea.

Egg shells should be broken into tiny pieces, to stop witches using them as boats and stepping aboard.

Red heads bring bad luck to a ship – if you meet one before setting sail, speak first to stop the curse.

Don’t pass the salt pot directly to another crew member.

Words that bring bad luck on board are ‘drowned’, ‘goodbye’ and ‘good luck’. Also things to do with the land, such as church, pigs, foxes, cats and rabbits.

Flat-footed people are unlucky. Julia Proverbs Think carefully before deciding on a new name for your boat. waterline Autumn 2019

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Drop in power boating fatalities New Zealand’s 2018 preventable drowning toll might be the second lowest in 20 years but officials warn there is no room for complacency.

The provisional toll is down from 92 in 2017 to 68 in 2018.

This is the second lowest total on record after 2010 with 64.

The Waikato region had its lowest toll since records began, down 55% on the five year average. Auckland and Bay of Plenty had the most fatalities with 13 each followed by Northland with eight.

Water Safety New Zealand CEO Jonty Mills says while the number is encouraging it has been a summer of rescues and lucky escapes with frontline emergency services reporting record numbers. “One preventable drowning is one too many. We need to see a continual downward trend in the toll over a number of years.”

“The water safety sector is doing a fantastic job keeping people safe in, on and around the water. Frontline services, the likes of Surf Life Saving and Coastguard are largely dependent on volunteers and donations to continue the important work they do,” says Mills.

Notable from the statistics for 2018 is the high number of fatalities in the 65+ group with 18. That’s five more than the five year average. “Eleven of these were immersion incidents, where someone has ended up in the water when they had no intention of doing so. Six were swimming incidents so make sure you have support with you or swim in patrolled areas.”

Immersion incidents are the deadliest non-recreational activity with 28 deaths followed by swimming the deadliest recreational activity with 22 deaths. “10 of the immersion incidents occurred at home either in home pools, baths or ponds which is a reminder to be vigilant about water safety in the home.”

Beaches had the most preventable fatalities with 18 followed by rivers with 13. Eight fatalities at beaches involved swimming, while 42

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six were land based fishing. “Always swim between the flags and whatever the activity follow the water safety code: Be prepared, watch out for yourself and others, be aware of the dangers and know your limits,” says Mills.

A big positive is the major drop in powered boating drowning deaths - an 83% decrease on 2017. 2018’s total of five boating fatalities (powered and nonpowered) is significant when compared with the 19 in 2017 and the historical average of around 18 each year.

Jonty Mills says credit must be given to Maritime NZ, Coastguard NZ and the work of the organisations involved in the Safer Boating forum. “A decade of work encouraging boaties to wear their lifejackets is paying off. It remains the most important thing a boatie can do to stay safe. In 60% of all boating deaths in 2018 a lifejacket wasn’t worn.”

The 2018 15 - 24 age group toll was the lowest since records began. It was half of the 2017 total and almost half the five year average.

“Our major safety marketing campaign The Swim Reaper supported by ACC targets this age group so it is pleasing to see the numbers heading in the right direction. We are currently doing research around what direct influence the campaign is having on behavior change.”

The under-fives toll was 3 - the same as 2015 and 2016 and a 57% decrease on the 2017 toll of 7.

“Sadly however we’ve had three under-five fatalities already so far in 2019. We will continue to reinforce the message around constant active adult supervision of young children at all times.” *Preventable drowning fatalities are those where water safety sector intervention could have had an influence (for example where the victim was boating, swimming, diving) while non-preventable drowning deaths include events such as suicides, homicides and vehicle accidents (where water safety education and activity would not have prevented the death).

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“ihone was j ust

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Free DF2.5S (MRP $1,299) offer available for purchases of DF60 to DF140 outboards. The free DF2.5S is not redeemable for cash or engine/rigging discounts.

Offer valid to 31 March 2019 or while stocks last. Details at www.marine.suzuki.co.nz/offers.

www.marine.suzuki.co.nz

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Winning ways with Tauranga Coastguard There are dozens of good reasons to join Tauranga Coastguard, but this year there’s an extra incentive to do so in the months of February and March.

sometimes in the thousands, but for less than the cost of a tank of gas, you could be a member for a year and be in with a chance to win some great prizes.”

For more information, go to: www. taurangacoastguard.co.nz/Membership/ Join, visit the Tauranga Coastguard Facebook page, call 07 578 5579 or drop in to their premises at Sulphur Point, Tauranga.

Tauranga Coastguard operations manager Dane Robertson.

WLDec17

Simply by signing up to become a new member either online or in person at their Sulphur Point headquarters, you’ll be automatically entered into a draw to win one of two prize packages worth $1000 in total.

Tauranga Coastguard operations manager Dane Robertson says: “It’s easy to sign up online, but in a way it’s nicer for people to come down to Sulphur Point, because they can see our volunteers and get a feel for what it’s all about.

“Some visitors have even ended up asking what they could do to help and become volunteers themselves.

“Jack Veltmans, who works for Hirepool, is one of our volunteers and has managed to get together some great giveaways. If you join in February or March, you could win one of our packages, which include fishing rods,

Black Magic fishing tackle and Hirepool vouchers.”

The former Kaimai School principal, who joined Coastguard at the beginning of December last year, adds: “People don’t often see the value in becoming a member until they’re out on the water and they’ve run out of fuel or their boat won’t start.

“That can be really expensive,

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Royal Billy Point wharf and boat ramp project

Fender Piles

4.0m x 14.0m Proposed Pontoon Ø670 PE Sleeved Piles

Existing Pile

1.2m x 14m Aluminium Gangway

Existing Walkway (67m) retained, with new full-length handrail assembly

Main Inlet

New Concrerte boatramp 12

Timber Sodlier Wall

m

Description

Timber Soldier Wall Extension Band Bank

Floating Boatramp Pontoon

3.6

m

m

.5m

5m

Existing Pile

13

New 2.1m wide Walkway

Boat Shed

C

A

34

m

A

.8m

C

5 x New Piles

15

B

4m

B

10 .7m

m

Date

24/11/2017 30/11/2017 17/01/2019

18m 67m

Rev D E F

Side Channel

22

Over the past few years the boat ramp has deteriorated.

The wharf is used mostly for pedestrian access to the Tairua – Pauanui ferry service that operates from the floating pontoon. The pontoon remains an all-tide facility for shallower draft vessels.

Royal Billy Point is the primary location for trailer boat parking and boat launching at the closest point to the harbour entrance at Pauanui. As part of the project residents have stated that there is a need for improvements to boat queuing, particularly in the summer months where the ramp is well used and boats have to temporarily moor on the beach while waiting for the boat ramp to become free and the vehicle and trailer are manoeuvred to the ramp.

A submission to the Tairua- Pauanui Community Board meeting 9 September 2013 stated that during the Christmas period and long weekends over 200 boats per day use this boat ramp. It is expected that demand for boat launching will increase over time with a number of approved subdivisions in Pauanui.

The Tairua-Pauanui Community Board received the project from a group of Pauanui residents in 2013 and then set this as a priority project. At the end of last year they supported the proposed design and scope of the Royal Billy Point boat ramp and pontoon project.

The Pauanui jetty was built in 1993 and is constructed approximately 300m out into the harbour at Royal Bill Point reserve. At the end of this structure is a floating pontoon. The pontoon structure is 16m long x 3.55m wide. The timber decked pontoon is supported by six precast concrete flotation cells with four guide piles.

After some delays, work on the upgrade to the Royal Billy Point wharf and boat ramp in Pauanui is now expected to start in early May next year.

.4m

development of Pauanui in the 1960s.

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old as it was part of the original comprehensive

The project was delayed earlier this year as the tenders we received exceeded the project budget, however the proposed design for the upgrade of the boat ramp and wharf are finalised and the resource consent has been approved.

The project has now been broken up into three contract stages and is programmed to start early May 2019 and will take approximately five months to complete. · Stage one - Replace the floating wharf structure and aluminium access bridge. · Stage two - Remove three sections of the access walkway and widen and replace further west. · Stage three - Remove the existing boat ramp and timber wall and construct a new wider boat ramp with longer timber wall.

For more about the background on the Royal Billy Point project and updates seewww.tcdc.govt.nz/royalbillypoint

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The Royal Billy Point boat ramp is over 50 years

Existing outdoor shower

Design and scope of the Royal Billy Point boat ramp and pontoon project.

Walkway realigned to outdoor shower Retaining Wall Location Changed Existing Walkway Retained & Minor Label Changes

Approved

AJ AJ AJ

Proposed Layout Option

0180

General Tolerance Client : TCDC 0.

= +/- 1.0mm

0.0 = +/- 0.5mm 0.00= +/- 0.1mm

Scale: 1:500 Drawn by: WYN NATHAN-MAIR

Drawing No: 0180-0000- 0000 Type: GENERAL ARRANGEMENT

© All designs and calculations contained in this plan are the sole and wholly owned intellectual property of Total Marine Services Ltd, New Zealand .

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supported by

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‘Boat sitter’ - available to look after yacht or launch. Can project manage the vessel and/or assist in preparing for sale. Contact Geoff on 027 4338 868.

For Sale - Lasers for sale - Two to choose from. One classic older beach boat, perfect for cruising around the harbour/lake. $1000 ono. Another highly spec’d Laser, former national champs boat. Been in storage for several years. Heaps of gear, several sails and spares. Also a complete Radial rig and sail, never used. Would suit aspiring racer as this boat has plenty potential. $5000 ono.

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For Sale -2007 Mastercraft CSX220 Salt Water Series. Mint condition. Full engine overhaul Mar 2018, new exhaust manifolds. Jan 2019 new alternator, 2 marine batteries with only 3 hrs on the overhauled engine. Garmin GPS, Compass, JL Stereo, sub woofer, AUX cable, 7 speakers, shower on transom, shower in the centre console storage locker, scuba tank holders x 6, rod holders, removable decking carpet (brand new), with full cover. View at U-Sell (Park & Sell Yard) 797 Te Rapa Rd, Hamilton.

For Sale - Volvo MTR 200 HP x 1 $11,500.

130 HP $4,500 or to be run in. May Trade.

Phone 07 843 4392 or 027 499 6543.

Mooring for Rent - The Strand, Tauranga. Prime spot.

Up to 9m. $35 p/w. Ph Scott 027 557 0400.

Wanted - Volvo 200 or 230. Phone 07 843 4392 or 027 499 6543.

Contact Jo 07 557 0506 or jo@thesun.co.nz

waterline Autumn 2019

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waterline Autumn 2019