Waterline September 2017

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The Bay of Plenty & Coromandel’s own watersports news. Phone 07 578 0030

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SEPTEMBER 2017

In love with sailing See page 10

02 WATERLINE

SEPTEMBER 2017

Bay of Plenty and Coromandel’s own boating, fishing, diving, yachting and watersports news.

Phone 07-578 0030 Fax 07-571 1116 No.1 The Strand, Tauranga 3110. PO Box 240, Tauranga 3140 email: brian@thesun.co.nz For advertising, call Jo on 07 557 0506 email jo@thesun.co.nz

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WATERLINE 03

SEPTEMBER 2017

Foiling Nacra foibles rob team Jason and Gemma at Aarhus. Photo: Supplied.

Jason Saunders and Gemma Jones took silver in the first competition with foiling Nacras, but they will always wonder where they might have finished if the last three races were sailed.

The medal races at the sailing world championships test event in Aarhus – a warmup for next year’s combined world championships - were cancelled after the new foiling Nacra 17s were recalled for safety reasons to replace the bearings on the daggerboards.

The world’s top Nacra sailors took possession of the first batch of the new foiling catamarans that will be used at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics only shortly before the Aarhus event which started late July, and it was uncertain if they could be refitted in time for the Nacra World Champs in France in September as Waterline goes to print.

Jason and Gemma sailed together at Aarhus for the first time since finishing fourth at last year’s Rio Olympics. The won silver at the test event but were disappointed to miss out on the chance to finish one better.

“We thought we had improved a lot during the week and really wanted to be able to

push for the gold in the three medal races,” says Jason in July. “But we don’t want to take away from a good week. We sailed pretty well and were happy with our result.

“We didn’t have any expectations because we hadn’t sailed together [for a year] and it usually takes a while to get that chemistry back but we managed to come out firing on the first day.”

The pair sailed consistently, collecting seven top-four finishes in the 10 races. They sailed in a relatively small fleet of only 14 boats, largely because many combinations are still waiting for delivery of a new foiling Nacra.

Two sets of foils on other boats broke during the test event, prompting Nacra Sailing to issue a recall notice.

“Hopefully it’s just a small fix,” says Jason.

“Everyone wants to get back sailing because we are learning a lot about these new boats.

We just want to put this behind us and get going as quickly as we can.

“It’s the same for everyone because we are not allowed to sail at this point until they have resolved the issue. In terms of preparation, it’s not ideal but no one is sailing so we’re not losing out. There are still things we can be doing to work on the boat and there’s plenty of footage to look over.”

Some of that will show Gemma and Jason

capsizing in a couple of races as they got to grips with the new boats and sailing together again. Jason recently finished third in the Tour de France Voile, a three week race around France, and Gemma was 11th with Aon Fast Track member Micah Wilkinson at the European championships.

“We had a couple of capsizes which you expect when coming back together again but I think we improved a lot,” says Jason. “We found out these boats really suit us. The new foiling boats are definitely what we enjoy sailing.

“While we have not been sailing together, we have learned a lot from sailing other boats and put that together to help us. We are really happy with our time off and can give these worlds a good shot. I really hope they go ahead.

“If we sail well, we think we are definitely in with a shot of a podium, and that’s always the goal at the worlds. We definitely have the tools to go out there and put in a really good result. We are really happy with our speed, which is the most important thing in these early days. With a bit more time together, hopefully we can work on our boat handling and make sure we avoid those capsizes and costly errors.”

Michael Brown

04 WATERLINE

SEPTEMBER 2017

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WATERLINE 05

SEPTEMBER 2017

Making broomsticks out of optis Quaffles, tillers, snitches and pintles; string them together like that and it almost makes sense - and so does sailing Quidditch – the invention of Tauranga sailing coach Kirsten Moratz to make winter sailing more fun.

Working on the theory that people learn quicker when focussing on something else, the TYPBC sailing coaches have been working on creating new sailing games to keep young sailors engaged in their learning.

“It started off with a simple game of Sailing Soccer, which then evolved into the first ever game of Sailing Quidditch that we played at the end of last term with 17 sailors participating,” says Kirsten.

Sailing Quidditch players use Optimist sailing dinghies instead of broom sticks. The sailing soccer ‘fluence is in the passing rules – the ball must be passed three times, no leaping into the water, penalty 360s for contact with another boat, etc.

Based upon the Quidditch as played in JK Rowling’s Harry Potter books, there are two teams of seven people; three Chasers, two Beaters, one Keeper, and one Seeker: And four ‘balls’; a Quaffle, two Bludgers, and a Golden Snitch.

“Our bludgers are waterguns (waterpistols) so we have a couple of kids on each team who have waterguns, and if you get squirted by the watergun then you have to do a 360,” says Kirsten.

The quaffle is borrowed from sailing soccer.

“The chasers play sailing soccer against each other so they have to compete a certain number of passes, and they score by sailing the ball through the net –through the goal posts,” says Kirsten.

“They hold the ball in their boat and they have to pass at least three times before they score. And when they pass they have to be at least a full boat length away, so other players

can intercept. The ball is fair game whenever it is in the water or in the air. It is very elaborately thought out.”

The Golden Snitch is a buoy towed behind one of the coaches outboard powered inflatables.

“So the coach in the coach boat will go really, really fast then slow down a bit,” says Kirsten. “Every time the seeker catches up with the buoy and taps the buoy they get ten points. So it becomes really, really, difficult to catch it.

The first game was pretty hectic, but it was really good. The chasers every time they scored it was one point so we ended up with a final score of 42-41.

The coaches also sorted the young sailors into the four Hogwarts houses based on their personalities, says Kirsten.

“It was really sweet. The next time we do it I want to do it in better weather. It was a little grey outside and it was super choppy, so it was really hectic.

“We played with a really big skill range. I want to play it sometime this term, hopefully in nicer weather.

Also coming up this term is a perfected sailing version of Mario Kart Balloon Battle, among other games.

Andrew Campbell

Bringing the Auld Mug through the club house door There weren’t many people on hand to see Peter Burling carry the Auld Mug, the America’s Cup in through the Tauranga Yacht and Power Boat Club door, past the shelves of physically lesser silverware – they were all waiting for him inside.

on sheets for sail control.

Ricky Bray, a former Tauranga boat builder with Southern Ocean, and structural engineer Andy Kensington another sailor from Tauranga, and Emirates Team NZ board member Greg Horton wrapped up the Tauranga Boys’ College old boys section.

Alix de Lamotte is a master of mechanical engineering It’s an experience given to few yachtsmen, and the club and has a master degree in naval architecture and who turned out in strength to welcome Peter. Once through among other duties was weighmaster for the boat. They the door he was greeted by standing, applauding club were also accompanied by cup custodian Norman Newton. members and guests as he carried the America’s Cup up to It was a conversation for club members covering the the front of the club, plonked the 15kg piece of Victoriana ins and outs of the campaign, both on and off the water; silverware on the table and prepared to talk sailing with with Greg Horton providing the board room perspecsailors. tive on navigating through a competition where the rules An engineering student himself, Peter’s team mates for and interpretations of the rules changed at times without the Tauranga visit included Vito Vattuone the Emirates warning.

Peter Burling meets a Team NZ Hydraulics engineer, the guy who made the Peter Burling says the team’s approach was first to make young Tauranga fan. sure the boat was going as quick as they could make it go – cyclor-power possible, making the Emirates Team NZ Photo: Kyra Duffy. catamaran the only boat in the competition not relying and then to work out how to sail it.

They knew they were in the competition with the right boat in the first week in Bermuda, says Peter.

The foils were Andy Kensington’s arena. At $400,000 each they couldn’t afford to break them, but they did, one on day two, and another on day 5.

He attributes the speed of the Emirates Team NZ boat to the countless hours spent driving virtual foils around on the computer.

The foils known as boards, were the most highly loaded component on the boat. They had two sets, the stable but easy to sail boards, and the top end boards.

“Probably the most loose board out there,” says Andy.

Peter Burling, Ricky Bray, Andy Kensington, Alix de Lamotte, Greg Horton and Vito Vattuone relaxing at the yacht club function. They did most of the Louis Vuitton sailing on the second set. They broke Andrew Campbell a board on day two and another on day five.

Photo: Andrew Campbell.

SEPTEMBER 2017

06 WATERLINE

A weapon when you want it…

Moderation when you need it!

The latest Waverunners from Yamaha are further proof that personal watercraft are in a constantly evolving market, and Waterline took to the harbour this month to bring you the stunning new concepts that are changing the face of ski riding.

The latest innovations, along with performance, literally take your breath away.

Makzgear, the Yamaha ski and bike shop on Dive Crescent, lined up one of the latest Waverunners for a test drive this month and here at Waterline, we couldn’t wait to get a leg over.

The VX Deluxe fits nicely into the all-rounder niche, a great family sized play ski but also adept as a serious workhorse, for fishos and freedivers.

It features a high output, one litre naturally-aspirated 1050cc, three-cylinder engine, cranking out 125hp.

As an “occasional” jetski rider, I know just enough to be dangerous, but instinct and a few years around boats tells me this Waverunner with its latest clever innovations could be the safest and easiest to use ever.

The “Ride” system, pitched as “intelligent reverse with traction control” basically means the backing up function is measured and exact, without throwing the rider over the bars. Revs are regulated, the reversing is sure footed and reassuringly safe, all at the throw of a second throttle. In the process it disengages the main throttle (on the opposite handlebar) so there’s no chance of unintentional aerobatics and embarrassing consequences on youtube or facebook.

Reverse also features a new designed bucket linked to intuitive deceleration electronics, with the bucket directing more water sideways and not downwards, so shallow water debris is less likely to be sucked through the pump.

The “no wake” function will please the harbourmaster; at the push of a button the Waverunner goes into a five knot, genteel pace with no wake, so you can amble out the fairways, beaches and mooring areas under a sort of mobility scooter-paced cruise control and all you have to is steer… no more throttle anxiety in the slow zones.

There’s good news for learners and the timid. “L Mode” is an easy,

push button selection that takes the sting out of the tail. A sort of learner level, this nanny mode limits revs and automatically turns a potent machine into a more docile cruiser for safe doddling. Great for kids and novices who don’t need all the horses unleashed at the squeeze of the trigger. Because believe me, when you unleash, it’s hi-ho silver and away.

All this is housed in the latest nano-cell technology hull which is lighter and stronger than ever, resulting in stunning power-to-weight ratio which gives all the new Waverunners outstanding performance, when you want it – but moderation when you need it.

Clever electronics, four stroke efficiencies and the lighter weight also means exceptional fuel economy. Gone are the days of noisy, oil and gas-guzzling smokers – the new generation skis are smooth, quiet and economical , with outstanding range.

Maintenance is easy, with a simple and effective flushing system, there’s a heap of storage and the electronic dash is simple and clear.

As a three seater, this craft suits either playtime with biscuits and boards, or a workhorse for fishing and reaching the outer reefs and islands for diving. There’s a drop down boarding ladder on the stern to help you back aboard, whether its with a feed from the bountiful ocean or a water toy. A nifty remote controls allow the owner to disable the Waverunner on the beach, no matter where the kill cord is left.

It’s all packaged up with a three year warranty in a stable yet “flickable” performance ski that is an ideal family all rounder. Plus with the clever control features, you know there’s never been a safer and more controllable personal watercraft.

We picked a perfect winter’s day for a blast on Tauranga harbour, flying across the glassy waters for a play mid harbour and a quick photo session. The Waverunner was the most perfectly behaved PWC I’ve experienced, very stable and predictable, no porpoising or surging at any speed and incredibly controllable. Ben, the jet expert in the family and the owner of an earlier model, really showed how it should be done and couldn’t fault the easy handling. The transition from standing start to flat out was smooth and impressive.

WATERLINE 07

SEPTEMBER 2017

The unit pump with the new ride system.

Serge is the new owner French but almost Kiwi.

We simply loved the Ride reversing system, it was flawless and measured, intuitive to use and one of those features that, once you’ve tried it, wonder how you managed without it!

The spring loaded boarding ladder on the stern made boarding easy and safe, the bar folding back into position neatly.

Ben mastered the dashboard controls in no time, scrolling through all the display options which were clear and bold.

We headed back to the ramp while he took us through the full range of pilot features, from Cruise Assist, L Mode and the handy No Wake function as we

reached the Waikareao five knot zone.

The Waverunner VX Deluxe is $16,999 plus a new trailer for $2000.

The rest of the range is well worth checking out, including the slightly longer and gruntier 1.8L FX which is on the showroom floor with a fishing rig on the stern, screaming “take me to Penguin Shoals”. It is the perfect long range fishing weapon.

There’s a craft for every style and they all are packed with the latest features to make riding easier, safer, more economical, controlled and fun.

Get along to Makzgear, check them out and get your leg over!

Brian Rogers

42 Dive Cres, Tauranga | 07 571 1161

08 WATERLINE

SEPTEMBER 2017

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WATERLINE 09

SEPTEMBER 2017

Boat designers up for award

The Purekraft centre console boat is a finalist for a design award. Photo: Supplied.

Mount Maunganui boat design company Hall Marine Design is a finalist in the consumer category of the 2017 Best Design Awards for its Purekraft 550 centre console model.

“These awards are held by the Designers Institute of New Zealand, so it really cool to be recognised for our hard work,” Says CEO Jarrod Hall.

The marine design consultancy is also attracting international attention, and their Purekraft kitset range of boats was recently re-branded by the regional branding agency Woods as the Ikea of boats.

They offer kitsets, hull/decks only or completed vessels.

The kitsets are CNC cut and sent flatpacked to save on shipping costs. A comprehensive instruction manual is provided. It’s a boat acquisition method that saves customers thousands of dollars.

Jarrod started building the kitset boats because of customer demand, but now demand is swinging the other way and people are wanting to buy the finished product.

“We did the May boat show and got lots of really good feedback, lots of orders,” says Jarrod. “And now we are looking forward to the Auckland On Water Boat Show from September 28 to Oct 1.

“We actually went to the May boat show to sell kitsets, which we sold plenty of, and our design services. But we have got people wanting turnkey packages. We have established a

relationship with a company that’s manufacturing them and we currently have a new design that’s in The Purekraft design team: Blaise Pillot, Kieren production and will be released at Thomas, Nate Bougen and Jarrod Hall. the Auckland Show.” a lot because Hall Marine’s core business is Hall Marine Design brings design custom design work. led thinking to the marine industry, says “We primarily design boats,” says Jarrod.

Jarrod. There are no limits or restriction, but “Everything we design is router cut, it’s an they use a proven process. existing technology we use for day to day “The technical aspect of hull design is production, but we also supply these kitsets market leading, using specialised software to especially for DIY consumers. simulate hull performance before we go to “It’s all MIG welded. Some customers might manufacture.

TIG hand rails or cleats, but TIG would be “Detailed weight studies are calculated in too slow for the whole boat”, says Jarrod. order to understand and ensure the boat is “The really good MIG machines are quite going to ride and rest correctly. expensive, but we have companies that we are “Combine this with design led exploration in contact with that lease them to our customof the boat above the water and you get an ers, so we can help with that as well.” unbeatable product that is unmatched by Welding time depends on the model. The anything else on the market.” centre console model is about 110-120 hours Boats are often designed for a specific activity where the Purekraft approach is to design a to do the aluminium work.

“Some customers get the aluminium work boat for everything from fishing, to entertaindone professionally and do the fit out theming with friends. selves. Now we have manufacturing capacity, The 550 centre console includes a forward or rearward facing back rest, that folds away to it’s really easy for us to keep that as efficient and effective as possible.” make way for a cockpit table that can be used The underfloor structure interlocks together for entertaining and a cooler bin for food and so it only goes in one location, which is only drinks. There’s also dive bottle storage and a the start when improving efficiency. concealed pull out ladder.

“Our processes are well dialled in because “Through designing a dynamic space that that’s what we specialise in. We have a really can be arranged to suit various activities this good handle on what’s doable and what’s not, vessel challenges what is possible in a small but we like to push the boundaries, which is vessel,” says Jarrod. how PureKraft was born.”

The kitsets have been available for about Andrew Campbell four or five years, but they weren’t promoted

10 WATERLINE

SEPTEMBER 2017

CLUB NEWS

Following a passion for sailing

TYPBC Women on Water

COVER STORY

Reina Del la Varis, 23, from Tauranga is pretty new to WOW but her passion for sailing has seen her extend her sailing out from WOW to Wednesday Keeler night racing winter racing with the Otway III crew. She is also doing her bit and joined the WOW and Keeler committees.

Reina’s life changed when as a child she saw Titanic for the first time, and fell in love with the ocean, ships, sharks, boats, you name it.

“To this day, I still believe that my love for the sea wouldn’t be what it is without that moment in my life,” says Reina.

“I joined the Royal New Zealand Navy after I left school because of my love for ships and desire to go to sea. This didn’t turn out to be the career I wanted so I left after one year.

However during my time in the Navy I had my first attempt at sailing crowns, which I didn’t enjoy at all. Then we did a weekend sail on a Chico yacht out around Waiheke Island which was neat but I still wasn’t convinced.

“In October 2013 (still in the Navy), I was lucky enough to sail the Spirit of New Zealand from Wellington to Sydney for the Royal Australian Navy’s 100th Anniversary International Fleet Review. I loved being at sea and helming through the middle of the night on watch, harnessed to the ship so I didn’t slide from one side to the other in the swell, it was awesome.

“Unfortunately, after I left the Navy I never made much of an effort to get out on the water until I received an email from the Spirit of Adventure Trust about the upcoming world voyage of the Australian tall ship STS Young Endeavour.

“There were six spaces for Kiwis across two of the voyages, taking in the 100th Anniversary of ANZAC Day at Gallipoli. Thankfully I met all the criteria that were outlined and applied by letter as soon as possible, for the longer voyage of course. 50 days at sea; Canakkale, Turkey to Southampton, United Kingdom.

“I was selected and in April 2015, I began my life changing trip. We sailed from Canakkale, up to Istanbul, then to Volos, Greece – through the Corinth Canal – Valetta, Malta – Gibraltar, UK (where I then travelled to Cadiz and Seville in Spain for the weekend) – Portimao, Portugal – Morgat (Bay of Biscay),

France – Seaview (Isle of Wight), UK – then into Southampton in June where I continued my travels to London and Brighton, then to Islay and Inverness in Scotland, and to Belfast in Northern Ireland before coming home.

“I completely and totally fell in love with sailing and the sea on that trip, but it wouldn’t have been the same without the rest of the crew, they were absolutely wonderful.

Back in Tauranga Reina found out about Women on Water, but only managed to catch the last race of the season. In October 2016 she went onto the TYPBC website and emailed the keeler committee seeking sailing.

Her email was passed on to the skippers and Peter Dallimore offered her crewing on General Jackson on Wednesday nights.

Her favourite job is on the foredeck.

“So many bruises, but so much fun.”

This year she’s done some short-handed races on General Jackson as well as the Whitianga race and after the Summer Series and WOW season ended, Reina took part in the NZ Women’s National Keelboat Championships which were on the MRX yachts up at the RNZYS. “I sailed Steinlager 2 back to Auckland after the Auckland – Tauranga

Reina Del la Varis at the helm of Steinlager

race this year and I go to the Friday afternoon rum races at the RNZYS when I am up there.

I was also part of the volunteer crew on the Spirit of New Zealand to welcome Tara back to Auckland and I helped Gary Smith on the patrol boat for the Elliot 5.9 regatta earlier this year where I started to learn how to lay marks and set courses,” says Reina.

“Later this year, I am sailing on the Spirit of

New Zealand for its first ever trip to the Chatham Islands which I am really looking forward to.”

Over the summer Reina’s hoping to crew in the Auckland – Tauranga race. And she has her eye on PACRIM next year, either as crew or helping out in one way or another.

“I am also quite keen on one day being part of the Volvo Ocean Race, and maybe even the America’s Cup. I’m planning to do the ‘Learn to Sail’ course in September with a friend so that I can get into sailing smaller boats too,” says Reina. “I have one thing on my bucket list and that is to sail in the Bering Sea.” Sophie Headley

WATERLINE 11

SEPTEMBER 2017

CLUB NEWS

Winter sailing and sailing games Coming from Canada, I just could not grasp the concept of winter sailing. When I picture winter sailing, it involves first shovelling snow and then breaking ice, and not being able to hold a rope because your hands are frozen shut.

Winter in Canada normally means -20C and several feet of snow for months on end. Where I come from, there are two good months of sailing weather, and then maybe a couple months on either side of that if you’re really hardcore and don’t mind layering up to the extreme. So when I was told this past summer that it rarely goes below zero and most of the winter is between 10-15 degrees, I thought well why not sail right through the winter. It seemed like a no-brainer to me. Here was a golden opportunity to get more kids out on the water all year round, and as the Learn to Sail Coach of the Tauranga Yacht and Power Boat Club, it was an opportunity that I definitely wanted to seize. And thus began the planning for a winter sailing programme.

I had little hope that many people would want to sail through the winter, because even though I find it tropical for a winter season,

The winter sailing programme is proving popular.

it still is fairly chilly for sailing. I expected to maybe get six kids if I was lucky. Instead, somehow we managed to scramble together 15 kids for our Term Two programme who came out to sail Optis every Saturday. Then the winter holidays rolled around, and again we had a larger turnout than anticipated with 10 kids over the week. Even now, as Term Three starts and it continues to get chillier, we have 13 kids sailing every week with three of them just having moved up to our race program. It really is an amazing group of kids, and I have thoroughly enjoyed coaching them with the help of our team of Assistant Coaches. The sailors’ dedication to the sport is truly admirable, and it really shows in their improvement over the winter season.

The winter terms have been focused on continuing to improve sailing ability and race tactics, but also on keeping sailing fun. We have been working on creating new sailing games to keep kids engaged in their learning.

It started off with a simple game of Sailing Soccer, which then evolved into the first ever game of Sailing Quidditch that we played at the end of last term with 17 sailors participating. Coming up this term we plan to create and perfect a sailing version of Mario Kart Balloon Battle, among other games. Our coaching team has used this winter to get our creative juices flowing resulting in an innovative program.

Our college 420 teams have also been notable in their participation in the rise of winter sailing. Aquinas College sailing team has been training in teams racing 420s every second week this winter, with most of them also competing in Sunday dinghy races

every other second week. We have also seen Tauranga Girls out training, as well as the very occasional sighting of the Otumoetai team. In addition to teams race training, several of our own 420 sailors have taken it upon themselves to learn fleet racing in 420s with trapeze and spinnaker, and race in the Sunday races. It really is incredible to see so many people out sailing and continuing to learn new skills and try different boats throughout this winter season. Everyone has been training so hard and having so much fun while they are at it, and it is really showing in the results they are achieving.

Hopefully we can keep this winter program going in the years to come, and continue to see it grow as our older sailors become coaches and new sailors come through. We are starting to look forward to summer, when we can start up after school trainings again and get back to full swing.

Our next program starting is our Spring Holiday Program which we will be running both the weeks of Oct 2-6 and Oct 9-13.

No prior experience is necessary, we will be offering Level 1, 2, 3, and Green Fleet for the holidays. Please check out our website at http://www.yacht.org.nz/sailingschool for more details, contact our Learn to Sail Coach Kirsten at LTS.coach@yacht.org.nz or call at 021 216 7522. You can check us out on Instagram @tauranga.coach for some sweet pictures of our kids out on the water.

We also offer Adult Learn to Sail. Our next course for adults starts on September 17, please contact Kirsten for more details on how to register. Check out our Adult Learn to Sail facebook page called ‘TYPBC Adult Coaching’ as well for Kirsten Moratz more information.

12 WATERLINE

SEPTEMBER 2017

CLUB NEWS

White Island race revived in new series

The White Island Race has been revived as part of a new Blue Water Point Score Series being introduced this season by the Tauranga Yacht and Power Boat Club’s fixed keelers committee.

The five race series, called “The Blue Water Point Score Series”, takes in five long distance races, with three races being overnighters, this season. Shorthanded and fully crewed Divisions also being catered for.

“We are re-introducing the Around White Island Race, and including the Auckland to Tauranga Race, early next year, into the Series,” says Carl Smith.

“There has been talk by a few of the old die hards, that if they need a Cat 3 Certificate for just one race of the season, (Akl/ Trg), why not bring a few more races into the equation, and make it worth their while, in getting the Cat 3 Certificate.”

So over the last few meetings, held at the TYPBC, and some talks in

Winter Camp

By Camryn Young

On the weekend of 29 and 30 July, the Tauranga Young Mariners went to Pirongia Forest Lodge for their Winter Camp. This is Camryn’s story of the weekend: As we got out of the car at the Lodge and we were all absolutely stunned by the incredible view over the Waikato. The weather was fantastic and we could not have ordered it so good.

We met Kate, who is the Lodge warden and our instructor for the weekend. Once we had gone through all the safety procedures, my group began with archery. This was great fun and there were even left handed bows for several of us. Archery was a new experience for a lot of the girls and it turned into a game of hide and seek when the odd arrow would land horizontally in the grass. We graduated from the target to popping balloons. Then we moved on to a team building exercise of “The Ground is Lava”. This involved us moving our team from one platform to another by

between, the TYPBC, is introducing this new series. With some good sponsors coming on board, this should make for a very interesting series.

With a Perpetual Trophy as well as some good prizes thrown in, it will be good to see how many different clubs enter, and compete for this, Prestigious Trophy.

Who will have their boat name, engraved on the trophy first?

Will it be Will Horne, sailing “Truxton”, Carl Smith, sailing “Formula One”, Roger Rushton sailing “Frenzy” or maybe the Rear Commodore, Andy Knowles, sailing “Time Warp”.

The list of races and dates, are below, with the NOR coming soon.

Come and enjoy the wonderful coastline and islands around us.

White Island Race, Sat December 16.

Whitianga Race Sat January 27.

Akl-Tga Race, Waitangi Weekend.

Gold Cup with Karewa Mayor and Motiti as marks, Saturday March 3.

Tauranga-Cuvier-Mercs race, Fri March 30.

Carl Smith

using only wooden planks and stools. This was far more challenging than we first thought and we had to restart several times when one of us fell off. But we got there in the end!

Following our afternoon tea break, my group went to the climbing wall. We were harnessed and helmeted and split into two smaller groups. We had to belay one of our team members as they climbed up the wall.

We all had a turn at going up. We then got to abseil back down again and try the second wall which was far more challenging.

Once we were back on firm ground we

Young Mariners at Pirongia camp.

headed off to the Confidence Course. This was all about pushing our boundaries and encouraging each other to the finish line. The hardest part of this was when we had to walk across two wires holding on to each other for balance. We also had lots of laughs when we had to thread each other through the rope cobweb.

As we watched the beautiful sunset over the Waikato Valley we ventured out to find some firewood for our camp fire. Once we had eaten a beautiful roast dinner and sticky date pudding made by our amazing camp mother Jillian, we dressed up warmly and went out to the camp fire. We told stories and toasted marshmallows to the sound of the native birds settling down for the night.

The next morning we had a leisurely start and a bush walk after breakfast. We saw beautiful streams and even a Kereru. Then we packed up camp and headed down to Te Awamutu for a hydro slide and swim at the Leisure Centre. By now we were all worn out and ready for the drive home.

WATERLINE 13

SEPTEMBER 2017

CLUB NEWS

Veerle’s first big international Tauranga windsurfer Veerle ten Have competed in two big fleet regattas in June and July - the RS:X Youth Worlds at Lake Garda, Italy and the BIC Tecno293 Plus Worlds in Quiberon, France.

Tauranga Yacht & Power Boat Club

the wind picking up over 33knots, she proved she can handle the strong winds.

Unfortunately, with not having trained enough in these winds, she overlayed too much as she got more into a survival mode rather than focussing on tactics. Her consolation was that Bruce admitted that even he would have been scared The event started with no wind. On downwind. the second day, the Race Committee During the event, she squeezed in one whole race in 4-5 had some really strong knots, desperate to get everybody on starts which was pleasing the water. Overall the weather was although there is still lots very unstable varying from this 4-5 to learn and to get more knots to above 30 knots on the third experienced. Further she day of racing. In total 12 races were was twice a bit unlucky by planned to qualify for finals but less picking up weed around races were done due to weather. Veerle her fin which influenced sailed in total eight races. her speed dramatically and Of the 40 strong fleet some of the in the last race she had a board sailors had already competed nasty collision at the start, in the adult class, it proved to be a Veerle ten Have, learning which meant she had to competitive strong fleet. how she rates. Photo: Supplied. work her way forward The big question for Veerle was from being last. A disapwhere she would be standing internationally. pointing 28th was the result. With dropping She was very keen to see how competitive she was and to find out about her strong and weak the 28th, Veerle finished overall 19th out of points to be able to work on when back home. 40 women.

Then Veerle went then to St. Pierre – Already in the first races Veerle performed well by finishing a respectable 16th and 10th. With Quiberon in Brittany for the Techno293 Plus

Worlds. The gear used during this event, a Techno board with an 8.5 sail, is the same as going to be used during the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Argentina and was therefore a very valuable experience. This event started slow as well with only four races done in the first three days. The wind conditions changed all the time. Mainly light winds with gusts up to 28 knots and big shifts. Interesting was that instead of the well-known windward/ leeward course, new courses were introduced: a box course and a ‘M’/slalom course.

Veerle mentioned that she really had to get used to the Techno board with the 8.5 sail.

Not easy to make the change from RS:X to a smaller Techno board which is less stable. On top of that the technique is quite different and Veerle was in this short time not always able to find a way to change it for the better.

In total the Youth Women sailed 11 races over five days. Veerle’s best results were a 12th and a 13th. Overall Veerle finished as 28th out of 50.

And then after seven weeks of windsurfing in summer conditions it was time to say goodbye to all the new friends and to go back to New Zealand. Veerle had an amazing and extremely valuable time in Europe and she took definitely enough tools to work with back home to perform even better at the next event.

Doing it for the girls

Racing with OAR’s

By Kat Chantler

We have an awesome bunch of TYM supporters in our community.

The dads have been busy beavering away on repairing an additional cutter for our unit, as we have so many mariners we need an extra boat to get them all out on the water. Some of the intermediate & senior mariners have also been helping out at the shed with the sanding and painting of the cutter.

We are currently seeking funding for sails, oars and fittings but the time and effort you dads have all supplied is priceless and very much appreciated. You guys rock! The job is

not yet done but what you guys have achieved is fantastic.

Dragon Community Trust have helped us out once again by covering the costs associated with leasing our facilities and the insurance on our boats and equipment at Sulphur Point.

Blue Sky Community Trust and The Southern Trust have allowed us to purchase another 5 kayaks, which combined with the two cutters, means we can get all of our girls out rowing and paddling on the days where there is not enough wind for sailing.

Grassroots Trust have covered us for a new set of Sunburst sails to kit out our boat ‘Play’.

Units like our run on the generosity of volunteers, local businesses and funders. We wish to thank you all for giving the TYM girls the opportunity to challenge themselves, work on their leadership skill and have a great time on and off the water.

Winter maintenance being undertaken by Young Mariners ready for another summer.

Pauline ten Have

By Charlotte Harrison

Once a fortnight on a Sunday, my dad, sister and I travel to Auckland to sail in the Pakuranga Winter Series with Ohui-a-Rangi Young Mariners (OARS).

This is a great opportunity for both us and OARS to improve our sailing Lauren from OARS skills and make new (left) and Tauranga friends.

Young Mariner On June 18, we Charlotte Harrison. watched the America’s Cup and then travelled to the OARS boat shed. We all towed our boats to Pakuranga Yacht Club. Crews were sorted and boats were rigged. It was decided that we would sail a triangle course, two laps per race.

At the end of the first race, the wind picked up to 15 knots, and my dad and sister bailed and headed to shore. Lisa (my sailing partner) and I continued racing. We didn’t win anything, but we had an awesome time and I’m looking forward to the next time I can come up and race with my mariner friends.

14 WATERLINE

SEPTEMBER 2017

CLUB NEWS

Campaign pays dividends for BoPSAT BoPSAT chairman Stuart Pedersen’s political campaign for this year’s general election paid early dividends in fundraising for the Trust, with two valuable donations in August.

Steve now lives near Albany and has an eleven year old daughter who is sailing. With Steve approaching his 50th birthday and feeling a bit sentimental, he quickly decided to buy Quiz from BoPSAT – sight A profile piece in the paper for the Tauranga ACT party candidate led unseen.

On Sunday August 27, Stuart, Steve, Greg and Lorna all met at to a phone call from Sally Morrison in the Mount. Sally co-ordinates Kulim Park – the windy day Sally’s Angels, a group of successful women who donate regularly to when the Auld Mug came to local causes. In the profile which talked about Stuart, the spontown. Steve was quite emosored schools sailing programme was described, along with a tional when he got his precious call for more sponsors. boat back, remarking on how “The upshot of the correspondence that followed familiar the deck layout was was a $2000 donation which will more after all those years, and what than cover another school putting six good condition she was in. students through a full term learn Greg was impressed with to sail/life skills programme the boat and particularly the with BoPSAT in spring,” foil shape which had helped says Stuart.

Steve to victory 34 years ago.

The second response Lorna was thrilled to see Quiz to the same story is from reunited and coming back into Lorna Neame, of Matua, service, and to have whose son Andrew was a helped BoPSAT in keen P Class sailor in the the process. And 1980s. The Neame family Stuart was delighted had P75 ‘Quiz’ they bought to get a further cash from a youngster called boost from Steve for Steve Cotton after he won the sailing prothe Tauranga Cup in her in gramme.

1983.

Greg and Lorna Since her son stopped sailspend some time ing in 1989, Lorna has been going through her P75 Quiz, today. storing Quiz in her garage, photo album from and decided it was finally time to let her go. the time, studying On reading the story of BoPSAT’s Sponsor1980s P Class boats a-Sailor programme, which picks up and sailors, as Steve promising kids from the sponsored schools Lorna’s photo of Steve Cotton and Stuart tied Quiz programme and supports their sailing right Tauranga Cup winner 1983. down for the trip through high school, Lorna also contacted north. With a rig Stuart, offering to donate the boat. update, P75 should again be gracing race courses at Stuart and treasurer Phil West visited Manly and elsewhere in future years.

Lorna and collected Quiz, and Stuart called BoPSAT is always looking for donors and sponsors, TYPBC P Class enthusiast Greg Scott to and Stuart can be contacted via www.bopsat.org.nz, discuss how the trust might use Quiz, as this email or on 574 1169.

Lorna Neame and TYPBC P Class the sponsor-a-Sailor programme currently Stuart Pedersen Photos: Stuart Pedersen. enthusiast Greg Scott. focuses on Optimist and 420.

Greg in turn made some calls and ultimately, with the help of social media, got in touch with Steve Cotton.

Winter trailer maintenance reminder Greetings fellow trailer yachtsmen.

The Met Service jury is out on the weather season forecast, so preparation for strong winds is the best option. Before the season starts it is timely to get your boat trailer serviced and WOF. Equipment checking now, beats the agony of a potential failure on the water.

The trailer yacht squadron at TYPBC has a wealth of experience, should new sailors require information or assistance with sailing or boat maintenance. The 2017/2018 sailing programme can be found on the TYPBC website. Cruising or racing, I wish you happy and safe sailing.

Stuart Pedersen, Steve Cotton and Lorna at Kulim Park.

Graham Vincent, TYBC Trailer Yacht chairman.

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SEPTEMBER 2017

Easier online jetski registration tool Online tools for registering personal water craft (jet skis) are being used in the Bay of Plenty and Waikato regions.

In the Bay of Plenty jetski registration was introduced on July 1 with other changes as part of the Navigation safety Bylaw review.

Registration enables authorities to locate the owners/users of machines seen breaking bylaws on our water and also help authorities identify stolen jet skis.

Registration is a one off payment valid for the lifetime of the machine.

Registering a jet ski is by an online system at both councils. In the Bay of Plenty jetskis can be registered and paid for online at https://at.govt.nz/harbourmaster. All you need is your hull serial number, make and model of the jetski and a credit card.

The Waikato/Coromandel service will be available at www.waikatoregion.govt.nz/jetskis and the maritime services team is available to answer questions on 0800 800 401.

“With jet ski use in the Waikato increasing in recent years, we want to make it easier for people to get their skis registered in a way that saves both them and the council time,” says

launched

Waikato Regional Council’s maritime services team leader Richard Barnett.

The Waikato is one of a number of North Island areas that require jet-ski registration.

Auckland, Northland and Bay of Plenty also

require registration. As long as a jet ski is registered with one of these authorities it will be able to operate in all four regions.

“Our region has a variety of waterways and coastal areas which experience a significant increase in traffic over the peak spring and summer period,” said Richard.

“Registration helps us understand how many jet skis are operating on our waterways and what resources we need to deploy to help keep users safe.”

Another advantage of getting a registration number is that it helps to identify jet skis if they’re stolen.

When people complete their online registration, they can signwrite the number on their jet ski themselves or receive a printed label from the council.

Registration numbers must be clearly displayed above the water line on both sides of the craft at all times, each number has to have a minimum height of 90 millimetres and numbers must be legible from at least 50 metres away.

Within 30 days of selling or disposing of a jet ski, people need to either transfer ownership or deregister it. Transfer and deregistration services are also be available online.

Stephen Ward

16 WATERLINE

Tauranga, August 17, 2017 – Waihi Beach boaties are being reminded preparation is the key to a successful and safe run on the water this 201718 summer season.

With warmer temperatures and the boating season fast approaching, Waihi Beach Coastguard has a simple summer-safety checklist they encourage boaties to tick off before launching on the water.

SEPTEMBER 2017

Preparation i

Waihi Beach Coastguard spokesperson Jim Pooley says Labour Weekend often marks the start of the summer season, with many people getting out on the water to take advantage of the extra day off work and longer hours of daylight.

“As we head into summer and Labour Weekend, this is the opportune time to start thinking about summer safety equipment to ensure everyone is safe on the water,” says Jim. “A boat requires maintenance throughout the year, but if you have neglected your vessel

over winter it needs to be checked thoroughly before heading out on the water.”

There are five points on Waihi Beach Coastguard’s summer-safety checklist; • Check the expiry dates on flares.

• Check the expiry dates on Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRB).

• Ensure lifejackets are in good nick and the stitching is secure.

• Ensure inflatable lifejackets are in good nick and cylinders should be checked.

• The boat has a functioning VHF Radio.

Racing Sails Cruising Sails Covers & Canvas Service & Repair

SEPTEMBER 2017

n is the key

WATERLINE 17

The upcoming season will be the second in which Waihi Beach Coastguard will have ‘AVOCO Rescue’, a 5.8m Naiad-designed RHIB (rigid hull inflatable boat) powered by twin 115hp Yamaha outboards on the water. Photo: Jamie Troughton Dscribe Media.

Jim also reminds boaties that: • EPIRBs also have a test function which most people aren’t aware of; • Lifejackets should be aired out as more often than not they have been left up the front of the boat during winter and could be damp and mouldy, and; • A test call to coastguard is done on the VHF radio to make sure it is working and you have reception.

Skippers are recommended to have boat engines serviced at least once a year. Batteries, fuel lines, oil, propellers, water pumps and other hardware should be more frequently checked.

The Waihi Beach community swells from

2700 permanent residents to an estimated 25,000-30,000 each summer - which is why Coastguard and its volunteers are advocating safe and enjoyable boating during the 2017-18 summer season.

“There are many simple things boaties can do in preparation for summer and we urge them to take the time to do so. Putting aside this time now means a stress-free summer for both the public and those volunteers who give up their time keeping the public safe on the water,” says Jim. The upcoming season will be the second in which Waihi Beach Coastguard has the benefit of its expanded fleet with the addition

of ‘AVOCO Rescue’, a 5.8m Naiad-designed RHIB (rigid hull inflatable boat) powered by twin 115hp Yamaha outboards.

Sponsored by AVOCO, New Zealand’s largest avocado export group, the vessel replaces ‘Search Two’ and is part of AVOCO’s ongoing partnership, pledging an annual sponsorship contribution of $20,000 for three years.

This addition means Coastguard now has the capability to cover two completely different areas, with Gallagher Rescue overseeing the Bowentown Bar, one of the most notorious in New Zealand, and AVOCO Rescue protecting the channels and shallow areas of the Northern Tauranga Harbour.

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SEPTEMBER 2017

Lifejacket message in conviction The Waitara bar on a better day. Photo: Google.

A skipper whose passenger drowned in a bar crossing accident has been convicted of manslaughter for not ensuring his friend was wearing a lifejacket.

as ire ylinder SERVICES

Teiron Jones, 60 of Waitara, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Hamilton man Mr Erka Xu, 52, on the Waitara Bar on July 30, 2015. He was convicted and discharged.

On the day of the accident, the two men had gone on a fishing trip in a four metre inflatable boat and as they were approaching the bar at the mouth of the Waitara River on their return, the boat turned side-on to waves and flipped about 200 metres off the coast, throwing both men into the water. A second wave hit the upturned boat and righted it.

Mr Jones managed to get back on board the boat, after local surfer Dave Haskell grabbed his wetsuit and paddled out to help the men when he saw the boat capsize.

Dave climbed aboard the boat and pulled Jones to safety before heading over to where Erka Xu was floating face down and unconscious in the water. Paramedics spent 30 minutes trying to resuscitate Mr Xu but were unable to save him.

A second attempt to cross the bar was successful, and they docked the boat at the Waitara launch area.

Medical assistance was given to Mr Xu but he was pronounced dead. He was married with a young daughter.

Police charged Jones with manslaughter because of a failure to follow a number of safety practices.

It is believed to be the first

manslaughter conviction of a recreational boatie in breach of Maritime Rules., says Maritime NZ director Keith Manch.

“If you are the skipper you are legally responsible for the safety of the boat and all on board. You can be prosecuted for breaching safety rules,” says Keith. “A boaties’ lifejacket is your single most important piece of safety equipment. About two-thirds of recreational boating fatalities would be prevented if boaties were wearing a lifejacket.”

The manslaughter conviction sends a strong and tragic reminder to recreational boaties to follow all basic safety practices when out on the water - in particular wearing a lifejacket.

Jones was convicted in the New Plymouth District Court and sentenced to pay $5,000 reparation to the victim’s family.

Maritime Rules make it mandatory for the skipper of a recreational boat to ensure everyone on board is wearing a lifejacket at times of heightened risk. Crossing a bar is usually tricky and can be dangerous, and is often a time of heightened risk.

Neither man was wearing a lifejacket during the trip, nor were there any on the boat. Nor was there an emergency kill switch for the boat’s engine on board. Jones also failed to take into account previous instructions from local boat skippers.

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SEPTEMBER 2017

Conditions perfect for Bluefin fishing Hundreds of boats full of keen fishermen gathered in Waihau Bay to join in the successful Bluefin fishing during 2017’s migration in July.

as ever before,’ was a comment in the mailout.

Fisherman and successful tuna catcher Graham Beaufill was impressed by the number of people who were seen fishing for the tuna.

“There must have been 100 boats out there during its peak. No one wanted to miss out,” says Graham. This fisherman claimed a 100.3kg Bluefin Tuna.

Social media and community has been a big part of the success of this year’s fishing, with many posting on public forums about how and where others can join in on their accomplishments. Members of the community have noted that the comradery and willingness to share has played part in so many people being able to catch fish this year.

As well as the fishermen and commercial boats sharing information, businesses specialised in fishing equipment were quick to jump aboard, posting updates about the tuna migration and fishing on social media. This wasn’t just excellent for getting more people on board, but it ramped up sales in fishing gear for New Zealand brands.

With all the noise on Facebook, news of the successful fishing reached far, luring in enthusiastic fishermen from all over the North Island. Big boats from Auckland, the Coromandel and Wellington were noted getting involved during the peak days.

Wednesday, July 16 was reported to have been one of the biggest days this year, with an estimated 100 boats at sea wanting to get involved and perhaps land a fish. Many fishermen happily took days off work to have a go.

For now, the Bluefin Tuna have passed through the Bay of Plenty region, but they will be back next year, hopefully with similarly excellent conditions and success. Bo Beaufill

Every year, Bluefin tuna migrate past the East Coast, passing through the Bay of Plenty.

However, they often travel too far off shore for recreational fishers to have a go at them.

This year, thanks to the correct bait fish and temperature closer to the shore, they were drawn well within range of the average game fisherman, something that happens rarely in the area due to the natural conditions.

The tuna were first seen in such large quantities in Hicks Bay, noticed predominantly by commercial boats who were willing to share the coordinates of the action on social media platforms, such as Bay of Plenty fishing groups on Facebook. This caught the attention of the Bay of Plenty locals, who quickly dived in to get a piece of the action. As the Bluefin Tuna made their way along their route, fishermen followed and news of the size of the action spread.

The Bluefin Tuna this year have been nothing short of impressive in size, with many catches surpassing 100kg. Members of Facebook Bay of Plenty fishing groups can scroll through the feed to find many pictures of catches and weigh-ins displaying the sizes.

In a recent mass email to Tauranga Sport Fishing Club members, it was noted that many club records on Bluefin Tuna fishing were broken, some by very large scales. They also mentioned the large amount of tagged fish they saw, and the quantity of boats fishing. ‘I don’t think we have ever had so many boats actively game fishing over these months

Function venue with a view The Yacht Club, the function arm of Tauranga Yacht & Power Boat Club, is located at the very end of Sulphur Point with a unique outlook across the Tauranga Harbour toward Mauao and the harbour entrance.

One of the most successful and renowned yacht clubs in New Zealand if not the world and the home club of America’s Cup helmsman Peter Burling, The Yacht Club is the perfect venue for your next function.

The Yacht Club can cater for weddings, celebrations, work functions, training, product launches, conferences, dinners and funerals for groups of between 30 and 300 people.

Featuring a north facing outlook with views to

Daytime and nightime views are both stunning.

die for, unlimited free parking, tables, chairs, tablecloths, set up and break down included in hire costs The Yacht Club also features a bar and it’s supreme in-house catering and Chef.

Immerse yourself in the historic memorabilia in the entrance foyer of this famous Yacht

Club before moving through to the front of the venue where you will mesmerised by the stunning harbour vistas greeting you. Step onto the expansive decking to breathe in the wonderful aroma of the fresh sea air. Watch the ever-changing seascape, with yachts, pleasure and fishing boats and if you’re lucky a cruise ships might set sail as you dwell, drink in hand, on the prow deck.

Step back inside for your event where you will enjoy the comfortable seating, delightful food and ambience of the club but never quite be able to stop your eyes from wandering to again take in that spectacular outlook.

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SEPTEMBER 2017

WATERLINE 21

SEPTEMBER 2017

The picture An outstanding winter tells the story Gannet work up.

What an outstanding winter we have been experiencing.

Freezing cold frosts, a spot of rain and a bit of wind chucked in for good measure.

The Whaly boats website photo that sold Mark.

A photo on the Whaly boats website sold Mark Duytshoff on the brand. It was the high prow compared to inflatables, and the child seated inside the gunwale. He imported a container load from Holland where they are made, he’s now the New Zealand agent and hasn’t looked back.

Made of Polyethylene like most recreational kayaks, Whaly boats are virtually unsinkable and will take all the abuse you can throw at them.

There are videos on You Tube of Whaly boat owners hitting them with a sledgehammer, and an axe.

Mark was tired of his inflatable tenders deflating.

“I’ve always had inflatables myself, I just got sick to death of having to inflate them every few days just to keep them tight,” says Mark.

He had bought a replacement inflatable for the old one that died, and after only a couple of days he was pumping it up again.

He knew there would be something better so he searched the internet, found the Whaly boats website, and the home page photo sold him. He bought the 270 model in the photo. The tenders proved popular originally, but then the fishers and divers discovered them.

“You can throw your spear gun in, your weight belts, no problem,” says Mark. “And they are easy to get in and out of.

“Whalys are also renowned for their larger internal volume compared to an inflatable of the same length. That’s because the seat is made from a cutaway of the pontoons.

This seat design also gives added security for children.”

“In essence” says Mark, “They have got all the advantages of an inflatable without the worry and maintenance,” Andrew Campbell

Port of Tauranga harbour conditions website reports a water temperature of 14.7 at the time of writing, as bad as that may seem, it’s on the improve. To be fair I am not really sure that winter really knows it’s here this year. It could be the fish are not sure of the fact either. Social media reports and our own excursions have confirmed the fish really are right where they should be.

The kingfish coming out of the harbour over the last few weeks, whilst not trophies, are all respectable fish. The bait along the Matakana and Papamoa coast are all in very close and are being hounded by Snapper and kahawai and some very respectable kingfish. We have experienced Gannet work ups in very close, 3 Five year old Rikaiah Te Wheoro to 5 metres of water with fish hard with his first kingfish catch. on the chew under them making well-placed soft baits and small micro jigs the go-to method.

The highlight inshore has to be the kingfish. Fish have been landed up to 22.5kg over the last few months from as shallow as 2m of water along the coast. These have been taken on live baits and a couple of, shall we call them “accidental ones” on very small Hex Wobblers that were intended for securing live baits. This has resulted in some very flash boat driving as you will appreciate we are on very light gear for the live baits and fight times getting close to 2 hours have not been uncommon. Undoubtedly though the highlight of the last few months off our coast has to be the run of Southern Blue Fin Tuna, that is still going!

The fish have always run through the Bay of Plenty, this year the fish came very close to the coast around Cape Runaway making these world class game fish very accessible to small boats anglers.

Frenzied fishers have travelled from far and wide to chase them.

Some spectacular queues at the Waihau Bay boat ramp, some spectacular catches and some spectacular bust offs but from the looks of the weigh-ins, the fishers held their own against these awesome fish.

There is something about watching a fish with shoulders like a 44 gallon drum charge out of the water to smash a lure at the back of the boat and then proceed to dump half a 50w reel on its first run and have a good crack at the same on the second was just awesome! Long may that continue. An interesting side note on these tuna we have seen locally; some fishing programs I follow online from the States are reporting very similar experience with yellow fin tuna off the coast of Southern California. It appears the La Nina versus El Nino weather pattern change has really influenced the amount of fish and the size of them and also pushing them in very close to the coast. If opposite sides of the Pacific Ocean can be affected in this way at the same time there must be something in it.

Pray to the weather gods that the spring equinox is a short sharp one when it comes and get out there every chance you can. Tight Lines.

Phil Phish

22 WATERLINE

SEPTEMBER 2017

Hoping for bigger legends this Labour Weekend Mount Maunganui Yacht Club’s Legends Regatta is on again this Labour weekend and the club is planning to expand the numbers and find a naming sponsor for the event.

“Last year we attracted 30 boats, generally from both MMYC and TYPBC who raced from Tauranga to Mercury Island and back,” says committee member Bill van der Vlerk.

“This year we are hoping for 40 plus boats, including launches who are welcome also.”

The Legends Regatta spans four days over Labour weekend each year. The Regatta begins on Friday before Labour Weekend, with the yachts leaving their various ports, at

their own nominated times.

In the past yachts from Mount Maunganui, Tauranga, Whangamata, Mercury Bay and Ponsonby have taken part.

Great Mercury Island, off the east coast of Coromandel Peninsula is central to Whangarei, Auckland and Mount Maunganui. The lack of ‘mainland’ amenities such as grocery shops, marine chandleries and washing facilities, challenges the participants to prepare in advance for the weekend and weather conditions that could develop.

“The location of this event allows an opportunity for those sailors with less experience in coastal cruising, to participate alongside seasoned mariners, with the knowledge that they are in close proximity,”’

says Bill. “There is no time limit on boats arrival and participants tend to leave in small groups on the Friday morning.”

All Skippers are required to attend the briefing prior to departure and the safety standards around Category 4 races must be adhered to.

Skippers are also required to radio and text their start times and number of people on board and the regatta co-coordinators are in constant contact with all boats during the entire weekend.

All of the regatta’s formal procedures serve to instil in skippers the necessity for safe sailing practice and highlight their responsibility as skippers for the safety of their crew.

Flying a political fish The New Zealand Sport Fishing Council, LegaSea, and its supporters have produced a recreational fishing manifesto intended to protect public access to fisheries.

Legasea spokesman Scott Macindoe says the policies are required to restore New Zealand’s inshore fisheries to abundant levels and return the marine environment to a more productive ecosystem.

“New Zealand needs a full review of our current fisheries management system to better provide for both reasonable public access to marine fisheries, and the ability to conserve

marine resources for future generations,” says Scott.

“Public confidence in the way our fisheries are being managed is plummeting. The ongoing reports of wasteful practices, widespread dumping, and high grading all point to a system with poor oversight and a ministry captured by the very people it is charged with administering.”

The policies are: 1. Establish a Royal Commission of Inquiry into fisheries management and the Quota Management System.

2. Amend the Fisheries Act 1996 to include an Allocation Principle.

3. Remove industrial fishing methods such as trawling, seining and dredging from the inshore zone.

4. Establish a separate, well-resourced Ministry of Fisheries.

5. Amend section 13 of the Fisheries Act 1996 to replace the minimum stock target with a minimum biomass target that is 50 per cent of the unfished stock size.

The full manifesto is on the Legasea website www.legasea.co.nz/manifesto

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SEPTEMBER 2017

Home launch for Waihi proa The foam sandwich proa built with the help of Derek Kelsall near Waihi has been launched in Saipan with all due ceremony.

The project is hoped to spark the creation of more of the traditional boats which were an eye opener for the first Europeans who saw them back in the eighteenth century.

When ships like the Endeavour had a cruising speed of about four knots, and a maximum of eight knots, the islander double hulled canoes were astonishingly fast by comparison.

A recorded speed of a Gilbertese flying proa touching 17 knots, and a Carolines outrigger boat averaging 12.5 knots over the 1200 nautical mile voyage from Guam to Manilla are still considered exceptional speeds.

“It’s certainly not the only foam sandwich proa, but it’s certainly the only kind to an ancient design,” says Derek.

Using the original Sir George Anson expedition drawing from 1742 and new technology, the proa is a reconstruction of a traditional Chamorro canoe.

“There are modern proas. I did three or four 25 years ago. They were quite popular for a little while as a way of getting quite a long boat for the least amount of money.

“To some extent that still applies, but this is still the only example of foam sandwich combined with the old traditional bamboo, and whatever cloth you have got around for the sails.

“It was a very interesting project for me, combining the old and the new and getting the best out of both in many ways.”

The Waihi built proa in Saipan. Photo: You Tube The project is being steered by Peter Perez in an effort to revive the sailing traditions of Saipan and Guam. The 500 sails project is inspired by the record of the arrival of the sailing ship San Pedro in Guam in 1575, where it was greeted by 500 outrigger canoes.

The project is to recreate a fleet of 500 canoes for the people of the Marianas.

“Ten years later and we finally have one,” says Peter on the launch video. “Dancers escorted it down, I watched when the bow hit the water. We didn’t know how it was going to behave. We got on this thing, it was solid and it sailed like a dream, it was so easy.

“Shunting, we were worried about that, it was like eight seconds and we were going the other way. It was beautiful.”

Proas are sailed by changing the hull direction, instead of tacking. Andrew Campbell

SEPTEMBER 2017

24 WATERLINE

Is your hull clean?

Don’t let marine pests spoil your summer. They’re bad for business, fun and fishing.

• Keep your boat bottom clean no more than light hull slime, all the time • Check your hull, keel, nooks and crannies before you cruise • Haul out to clean heavy hull fouling

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Stop the spread of marine pests: Pe st infe sted hull

Please report any marine pests or heavily fouled boats you see in Bay of Plenty waters.

Call Bay of Plenty Regional Council, phone 0800 STOP PESTS (0800 786 773) or email STOP.PESTS@boprc.govt.nz

Find out more, visit www.boprc.govt.nz/marinepests

o rb a aH ng a r au lifted from T

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SEPTEMBER 2017

The Anaweka waka : Clues to our origins

The interior of the Anaweka waka fragment.

The Turtle carving on the ancient canoe fragment.

For any kiwi, travelling on the big OE, a point of difference that hits us all, is the extensive history evident in the ruins, and structures which adorn Europe and the British Isles.

Indeed, we are known as “the youngest country in the world”. Any conventional tour of our South Pacific outpost seems to reveal little of interest over 200 years old. There are a handful of colonial mission houses still standing, and seemingly, not a lot else. But for the more inquisitive there are multiple terraced Pa sites to explore, mostly dating back to the 1500’s, a time when it became more of a necessity to defend territory due to increased competition for resources.

So where did our forebears come from, and when? Is our country that young? Well, yes and no. In a relative sense we are young, but it would appear that New Zealand was discovered by humans perhaps earlier than the present scientific estimate of 1280AD. Carbon-dating, and scientific analysis by academics have yet to date settlement of our shores before this date, so far. The earliest carbon-dating results relate to archaeological digs on the Wairau Bar on the NE corner of the South Island. In fact, some bone analysis has shown that a number of people here were originally raised on a Pacific Island diet.

However, in 2011 a family group noticed a shaped timber structure protruding from a sand dune 300m north of Anakewa estuary, on the upper West coast of the South Island.

They went on to extract a 6m timber portion of an ocean-going Waka shaped from matai timber, which dates back as early as 1226AD. There are a number of significant aspects to this find: 1. There has been no earlier artefact found in NZ. 2. It has been analysed as being part of an ocean-capable vessel of probably 16m long.

3. It shows intricate construction involving ribs and stringers identical to the only

other known find, from Huahine in the Society Islands.

4. The hull features a carving of a turtle.

These are a tropical species, and the carving is identical to similar historic depictions found in ancient Huahine (Society Islands) carvings.

5. Interestingly, some parts of the top of the South Island share the same place names as parts of Huahine.

In these respects, this find raises more questions than answers. Let’s trace our way back into what we can glean from verbal, and genetic history... There has always been a consistent story of seven voyaging waka making it to NZ, after Kupe’s initial foray a century or so earlier on. These Waka were said to arrive over a period of about a century, and weather modelling has shown favourable prevailing beam reaching winds between the Eastern Pacific and Aotearoa during this period in history.

Genetic analysis has shown that all presentday Maori are derived from 56 female settlers.

The same analysis shows a total of 140 first settlers. That leaves about 90 males. Some of these would have been children, so perhaps there were around 70 able-bodied males.

Spread amongst 7 waka, that’s 10 able-bodied males per waka. Given that the landfalls would have been in different parts of NZ, then we can conclude that manpower available to build 16m vessels was spread quite thin.

And not all of those males would have been competent boat builders. Quite apart from the fact that food gathering and providing shelter would have been a higher priority. Not only these factors...Ocean going waka were a tribes’ most significant asset. So any Pacific voyaging canoe would have been kept and maintained as well as possible. So you wouldn’t build one, if you already had one because it was a massive task. So a number of things stand out here.

1. Manpower. These projects involved massive man-hours. Probably 14000.

Given the inclement weather of the South Island, probably every second day wasn’t a suitable work day.

2. This indicates that to build an oceangoing vessel took many, many years.

3. Choice of timber...Matai is quite a good timber choice for the South Island, and this choice would relate to many years of familiarisation with NZ timber, more especially when cut down and seasoned.

This process takes many years, and you wouldn’t commence construction of an enormous catamaran with timber you weren’t completely familiar with.

4. Motivation. Why go to the trouble of building this? Firstly, because the vessels you arrived in were no longer ocean capable because they had deteriorated through age, secondly because you had a strong desire to cross an ocean again.

This points to an earlier settlement of New Zealand than the carbon-dating discoveries so far. It’s also interesting that this artefact was found on the weather-beaten North-west coast of the South Island. Most mariners don’t linger in these waters longer than they have to. But Maori took a particular interest in this region because of the greenstone availability just south of Anaweka. And it was easier to voyage to this area by sea, than do an overland trek due to the massively rugged terrain.

Because the greenstone was in a particularly remote area, we can conclude that it may have been decades before it was discovered.

Decades after initial human settlement most probably.

Europe may have its castles, and ruins dating back many centuries, but it is apparent that Polynesians populated the entire Pacific, before Europeans designed vessels even capable of such extensive voyaging. Even the humble kumara has its origins in South America. Clearly the Polynesians even made it that far.

One day, the windswept dunes of the West coast will expose some remnants of a fire-pit, or similar, which will carbon-date our prehistory back yet another century, or more. Not bad for a bunch of islanders with stone tools and boats held together with lashings.

Geoff Colllins

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SEPTEMBER 2017

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Wanted WANTED Volvo 200HP or 230HP and Perkins Phone 07 843 4392 or 027 620 9712.

Trades and Services BATTERIES Battery Direct Nz www.batterydirect.co.nz sales@batterydirect. co.nz Phone 0800 267 468 BOAT MAINTENANCE Matamata Motor Trimmers & Upholstery Boat clear, canvas work, upholstery Ph: 07 571 4421 CNR Mirrielees & Cross Roads, Tauranga FINANCE AFB Accept Finance Brokers Ph: 07 574 0002 or 027 443 5524 7 Days

VIEW WATERLINE ONLINE

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SEPTEMBER 2017

Marine Insurance

There can be hooks…. so it makes sense to use a professional INSURANCE BROKER who knows the ropes.

Sailmaker bring latest sails technology to Tauranga Sam Burton in the loft.

Tauranga’s new sailmaker is bringing the advantages of big city industry contacts to what was a one-man band. It puts him in the unique position of being an independent business, but able to bring to Tauranga the same technology that is available in the big city.

Doyle Sails has secured their place as one of the world’s leading sailmakers by producing high quality innovative sails.

Doyle Sails also owns the Stratis membrane technology that is manufactured in-house and distributed throughout the world.

Stratis is used for higher durability performance racing sails, through to cruising yachts that simply want lighter sails that are easier to handle.

The Stratis plant has two production beds, with multiple fibre laying machines and laminators on each production bed, allowing a full range of sails to be produced, from the smallest dinghies to the largest superyachts.

How did you get that eye patch?

A sailor and a pirate are in a bar recounting their adventures at sea. Seeing the pirate’s peg-leg, hook, and eye patch the sailor asks: “So, how did you end up with the peg-leg?”

The pirate replies: “We were caught in a huge storm and a giant wave swept me overboard. Just as me crew were pullin’ me out a school of sharks appeared and one of ’em bit me leg off.”

“Blimey!” said the sailor . “And how’d you get the hook?”

“Arrrr…”, mused the old salt, “I got into a fight over a woman in a bar, and me hand got chopped off.”

“Blimey!” remarked the sailor. “And how about the eye patch?”

“Oh that,” said the pirate, looking embarrassed. A seagull droppin’ fell into me eye.”

“You lost your eye to a seagull dropping?” the questioner asked incredulously.

“Well…” said the old sea dog, “it was me first day with the hook.”

Why not contact our Marine Man, KEIRAN VLIETSTRA, Mobile: 0274 960227 because he knows about boats.

Now part of BrokerWeb Risk Services at 195 Devonport Road, Tauranga BR-j8540

Doyle Burton sails was established by Tauranga native, Sam Burton. Sam began his sail making apprenticeship in 2001 with Doyle Sails’ largest sail production facility in Auckland. Through his extensive international work experience with other Doyle lofts, Sam has gained the knowledge and expertise to cater to all of your sail making needs.

Phone (07) 577 0007 Insurance Brokers Bay of Plenty

insurebayofplenty@bwrs.co.nz

28 WATERLINE

SEPTEMBER 2017

SEPTEMBER 2017

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Awanui at the dedication.

Awanui joins the Regional Council fleet The reason for the recent arrival of the regional council’s multi role workboat Awanui in Tauranga can be laid squarely at the feet of the Great Mobil Oil Spill of Anzac weekend 2015.

An estimated 1500 litres of heavy fuel oil spilled into the harbour under the Mount Maunganui wharf and carried by an incoming tide and gale force northerlies, was blown up the harbour as far as Maungatapu.

“There isn’t anything different we could have done on the day that spill happened, because the weather was atrocious,” says regional harbourmaster Peter Buell. “But we looked at it and said, ‘But what if the spill had happened on another day? Are we as well equipped as we think we should be? And the answer was we thought we could do better.

“So that was the starting point for what we looked at here. But when you look at a vessel like this you don’t want it to be just for oil spills, because that’s a lot of money for something that would never get used or very rarely used.

“By adding the navigation aid function to it, it becomes a vessel we will be able use an awful lot. She becomes very capable for us and has a multi-role function.”

Awanui looks like a landing craft. It has bow doors, a Palfinger crane on starboard, and a spud on the portside. A spud is a long pole that is used to keep the craft in one place, with more precision that is offered by an anchor.

Powered by twin Suzuki 250hp outboards it

has a top speed of 30 knots light, says Peter. Awanui made the delivery voyage from Auckland in seven and a half hours.

Also part of the equipment is the oil skimmer that can be deployed and recovered by the crane, either over the side or through the opened bow ramp.

Awanui has two primary roles; oil spill response and navigation aid maintenance.

“All of the navigation aids in the smaller channels, once you get out of the main shipping channel, we will start doing all the maintenance on them,” says Peter.

“The bow door is partially for the skimmer but the other thing is we carry quite a payload, we can carry up to seven tonnes.

“We can carry a ute if needed. If we need to support the civil defence people or someone else to get somewhere then we are quite capable of doing that.”

Awanui was built by McMullen and Wing in Auckland and is similar to one built for Auckland a few years ago.

“We were able to go to school quite a bit in terms of the Auckland barge, and learn from them from them having used it for a couple of years – what they would have done differently. So we were able to learn from that and make some improvements on it.”

Awanui can do 30 knots when she’s light, or 20 knots with a ute on board. She draws about 300mm to 500mm towards the engines at the stern.

Awanui cost just under $600,000, but with auxiliary equipment like the skimmer the total cost is $624,000.

At the dedication regional council staff said the craft is named for two reasons, after the harbour – and former regional councillor the late Te Awanui Black.

Andrew Campbell

Reon Tuanau begins the karakia.

Photos: Andrew Campbell.

SEPTEMBER 2017

30 WATERLINE

Owens’ first star boat

Sirius is an Owen Woolley-built vessel in 1956 and was the first boat Owen built after he completed his apprenticeship.

Construction is kauri carvel plank with dimensions of 32’ x 10’4” x 2’9” and powered with a 90hp Ford diesel 4 cylinder.

Sirius also has a small mainsail and jib with Oregon spars, a walk through transom, cockpit covers, sun shade and side opening door.

The vessel is equipped with electric toilet, fridge, freezer plus a two burner oven and accommodation for four people.

A lovely traditional vessel well maintained by the current owner for 18 years. Sirius is on the market for $69,000.

Contact Brian Worthington Gulf Group Marine Brokers Tauranga.

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SEPTEMBER 2017

AV BE AI RT LA H BL E

AV BE AI RT LA H BL E

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