Waterline - December 2019

SU M M E R 2 0 1 9/2020

Photo: Sharon Wright

B OAT | F I S H | WAT ER SP OR T N Z

Smooth moves

Rare whales

Waka Ama

Boat test waterline Summer 2019

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waterline Summer 2019

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 watersports enthusiasts.

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A slice of history

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Disco’s smooth moves

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Power put to the test 9

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Rare whales

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So you want to catch a kingfish?

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Taupo Waka Ama

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Catfish threat

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Boat test - Stabicraft Supercab 1850 X1 22

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Coastguard Awards

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A cruisy cat

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Legends Regatta

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For advertising and to share your stories please contact: Kathy Sellars on 07 928 3053 kathy@sunmedia.co.nz

www.waterline.co.nz waterlinenz Editor: Brian Rogers Advertising: Kathy Sellars and Jo Delicata Graphic Design: SunMedia Ltd Photography: Daniel Hines

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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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A slice of history

Photo: Sharon Wright

COVER STORY

Under full sail, the HMB Endeavour is a sight to behold. It’s the exact image Maori would have seen when they first laid eyes upon Captain James Cook and his European crew 250 years ago.

To mark this significant historical milestone, the Australianbuilt HMB Endeavour has recently sailed around New Zealand’s coastline as part of a flotilla of vessels which represent our multicultural voyaging history.

The HMB Endeavour was joined in October by two waka hourua (double-hulled canoes), a va’a tipaerua from Tahiti, the R. Tucker Thompson (a traditional gaff-rigged schooner) and the Spirit of New Zealand (a three-masted barquentine youth training ship) as they sailed from Gisborne up to the Bay of Islands, then down the west coast to reach Wellington, Marlborough Sounds and Lyttleton by December.

The HMB Endeavour is one of the world’s most accurate maritime replica vessels and weighs almost 400 tonnes. Her 27 sails cover 10,000 square feet in total (930 m2) and she turns heads wherever she goes. Under engine, she travels an average speed of 5 knots and can muster 2.5 knots under sail.

The HMB Endeavour replica represents the original HMS Endeavour, as well as the Royal Society’s commitment in 1760s to explore the world and understand navigational capability.

Construction of the replica began in 1988 in Western Australia and the ship was launched five years later. Since then, she has sailed more than 170,000 nautical miles twice around the world, visited 29 countries and many Pacific islands, and opened as a museum in 116 ports.

HMB Endeavour is maintained using traditional practices and skills to ensure her seaworthiness and authenticity as an 18th Century working vessel. On board it’s easy to imagine what life 4

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would have been like during Captain Cook’s 1768-1971 world voyage. The ship features 30kms of rigging and 750 wooden blocks or pulleys, and the main mast stretches a whopping 39m into the air.

In the galley below is an enormous iron stove – known as a firehearth – and The Great Cabin where Cook worked and dined alongside renowned botanist Joseph Banks has been faithfully recreated.

The ship’s traditional iron fittings, including lanterns and the large firehearth, were all handmade in a blacksmith shop. Modern polyester was chosen for the running rigging (which moves and works the yards and sails) and traditional manila for the standing rigging (which holds the masts in place). The manila rope was handmade on a 140 year-old ropewalk to the exact specifications of the original rope.

The main differences between the legendary HMS Endeavour and her newer counterpart lies in the timbers used in construction. Elm, oak and spruce would have been used in the 18th Century but they are now difficult to find and very expensive to buy. Instead, the replica is built of jarrah, a West Australian hardwood. The masts and spars are made from oldgrowth oregon (douglas fir) which were specially imported from the USA. Her sails are made of Duradon, a synthetic canvas that looks and handles like the original flax canvas but lasts longer and resists rot.

When the original Endeavour left England on 26 August 1768, 94 people were aboard, including her captain, Lieutenant James Cook.

The Royal Society of London had petitioned King George III for a ship to send to the South Seas so astronomers could view the transit of the planet Venus across the sun, due to take place on 3 June 1769. This was a major international event with over 150 observers around the world scheduled to take part. The results

sails past our shores

HMB Endeavour under full sail.

Photo: Sharon Wright

would then be compiled to calculate the distance of the earth from the sun.

Life on board was rough and dangerous, with very little privacy. However, the crew ate a hot meal every day with meat four times a week, a pound of bread and a gallon of beer a day. This was supplemented with dried fish, pease pudding, oatmeal, butter or oil, cheese, fresh fish and vegetables when possible.

Remarkably, no-one died of scurvy, which was the biggest killer during long sea voyages.

After successfully witnessing the transit of Venus in Tahiti, Cook turned south and arrived in New Zealand in October 1769. The first Maori to see the ship were in Poverty Bay – they initially thought the Endeavour was a floating island or an ancestral bird from Hawaiki.

A Tahitian priest and navigator called Tupaia had joined Cook on his journey south, and acted as an interpreter between Maori and the European crew.

Wherever they went, Tupaia made a great impression on Maori and the Endeavour was remembered above all as Tupaia’s waka (canoe) from Tahiti.

The original ship was later renamed Lord Sandwich and used by the British Board of Transport to carry troops to North America during the American War of Independence. In August 1778 the ship was scuttled in Newport Harbour, Rhode Island, along with 12 other vessels to blockade the port against an invading French fleet.

A decision to build a replica in the 1980s came from passionate maritime historian Bruce Stannard.

He enlisted financial support from Western Australian businessman Alan Bond (who had previously headed Australia II’s successful America’s Cup campaign in 1983). The HMB Endeavour was subsequently built and offered as a gift to Australia for the country’s 1988 Bicentenary celebrations.

Today, the ship is managed by the Australian National Maritime Museum and continues to sail around the world, educating and inspiring us all by providing a glimpse into our maritime and voyaging past.

Jo-Marie Baker

R. Tucker Thompson (above left), Fa’afaite (above right) and Spirit of New Zealand (below), who joined the HMB Endeavour as they sailed from Gisborne.

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‘Disco’ creates He has been an America’s Cup sail maker, Team Vodafone Sailing boat captain, a Coastal Classic veteran and has broken a bunch of ocean racing records – but Stu ‘Disco’ MacKinven is stoked to be back in Tauranga.

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After almost two decades based in Auckland and sailing professionally all over the world, Stu has moved back to the Bay and is now a crew member on one of the fastest boats in the Southern Hemisphere – the Beau Geste, a MOD70 trimaran which is currently on the hard stand at Tauranga’s Vessel Works.

“My wife and I call Tauranga the Gold Coast of New Zealand.

Now that we’re back, we thought we’d use the yard here to lift this boat out and do some maintenance and modifications. It’s getting harder and harder in Auckland for boats like this to find space.”

Over the next month, Beau Geste will be fitted with new T-rudders and new outer hull foils. She is owned by Karl Kwok and is one of only seven in existence. Weighing just 7 tonne, she’s surprisingly light for a 70ft long boat.

“She’s fast and it’s pretty intense at times,” Stu says. “We’ve done 40-odd knots but you quite regularly go over 30 knots. They’re quite hard to manoeuvre. Once you’ve got them in a straight line they’re quite fun but getting them around a short course can be difficult.”

Hit the roof

When at sea, the crew take three hour watches on deck and have two hours lying in small bunks in the hull of the vessel. Stu often has to strap himself in so as not to hit the roof, given the speed and volatility of the boat. “It’s not easy. You don’t really go offshore on these boats thinking you’ll get a good sleep. Often you get woken up early if the wind gets up because you have to change sails, you can’t just wait.” A 3-5 knot increase in breeze can require a big change in sail setup.

For someone who’s achieved so much, Stu has managed to keep a relatively low profile.

He grew up in Papamoa and learnt to sail P-class while he was at Mount Maunganui Intermediate. His dad was a keen fisherman and bought a Raven 26 yacht when Stu was 14. “We used to sail that around a lot. Me and my mates would sail around the harbour. Dad eventually bought a Pacific 38 and we used to go up and down the coast in that. Dad’s mate Ferg, a local Tauranga ocean and race boat sailor, gave me a lot of support in those early years.”

Stu was involved in plenty of school regattas and races around Motiti and Mayor Island. He also sailed many boats out of the Mount Yacht Club and the Tauranga Yacht and Power Boat Club during his teens.

He lined up on the start line of his first Coastal Classic in 1996

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plenty of ‘smooth

moves’

Stu MacKinven in action on the bow.

when he was just 16 years-old. The owner of a Farrier 32 trimaran handed Stu the helm for the 120 mile race from Auckland to Russell. “Back then there used to be well over 200 boats on the start line and I was on the stick. It was pretty intimidating back in the day,” he admits.

Overall, that initial experience must have been a positive one – this year he’ll line up on the Coastal Classic’s start line for the 21st time.

Impressive career

As well as racing, he is also a professional sail maker and his impressive career has taken him all over the world.

He was part of Oracle’s 2007 America’s Cup campaign in Valencia, Spain, and spent two years sailing the MedCup circuit with Artemis Racing. He also competed in the 2009 Louis Vuitton Pacific Series (“back when Oracle and Team New Zealand were friends”) before embarking on a nine year stint racing an ORMA 60 trimaran for Team Vodafone Sailing – the last seven of those as boat captain. “In 2016 we took the GC32 to Australia and while we struggled in the big breeze and testing conditions at Airlie, we came away from Hammo the following week in perfect foiling conditions with the Australian National Multihull title.

“We did 25,000 miles on the ORMA 60,” Stu recalls. “We set a tonne of records including the Coastal Classic which we broke three or four times. We did a lot of sailing – Auckland to Fiji, Auckland to Nouméa, Sydney to Southport, Airlie Beach Race Week... It was a pretty choice boat to sail on, and very similar to the Beau Geste.”

Stu says he enjoys the speed of multihulls and pushing both the boat and the crew. The teamwork and camaraderie involved is another big drawcard.

“There’s a lot of moving parts on these boats and everyone’s got a job to do. It’s pretty satisfying when you pull off a good manoeuvre or set a good time. ‘Smooth moves’ we like to call it.”

Everyone in the sailing community knows Stu by his nickname – ‘Disco’. “A good mate who is a German boat builder called me that after a big night out in Spain. I don’t remember much to be honest

but the name has stuck.”

Asia is one part of the world Stu hasn’t seen much of yet, and maybe he’ll get the chance while part of the Beau Geste crew to race in the region.

You’re in the groove

While he admits he’s had a dream run in terms of his career, ocean racing is not always as glamourous as it sounds.

“Some days you don’t think so when it’s rough and you’re vomiting your guts out. Multihulls get everyone. It’s a very violent motion on these boats, they’re so bouncy. We had two crew on here who have done the Volvo Ocean Race and had never been sick – well they were sick on this boat!

“But once these things are going and you’re in the groove, they’re a lot of fun. It’s a bit scary at times but it’s worth it.”

Stu and his wife moved back to Tauranga last year to fulfil a promise they made to themselves of getting out of Auckland before they turned 40. Now aged 39, Stu is happy to be back on home turf and is looking forward to the next adventure ahead.

“I’ve just slipped into this career really. That’s what happens when Jo-Marie Baker you keep saying yes to things.” waterline Summer 2019

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put to the test

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With names like ‘The Boss’, ‘Annihilator’ and ‘Rat Attack’ you could think you have stumbled on nicknames of roller coasters or jet pilots in a Top Gun movie spinoff.

The scenic and generally placid Lake Maraetai in Mangakino plays host to Hydro Thunder, a group of stunningly powerful hydro plane boats that shatter the silence and make waves of their own at breakneck speeds.

Here in New Zealand, Grand Prix (GP) is a class of boats featuring bigblock V8 piston engines producing as much as 1500 horsepower. The 23to 26-foot craft routinely approach speeds in excess of 270 km/h in a straight line.

The comparison to fighter jets is no co-incidence, with these craft well equipped with literal cockpits for the pilots – yes, they are called pilots to navigate their machines across the water in the quickest way possible, which, for viewers is a breath-taking sight. One such example is a boat called ‘The Boss’, which has a 24-foot hull configuration, literally built around a F16 fighter jet cockpit!

Pilot Jack Lupton of the GP57 Penrite Repco boat explains his love for propelling himself across the water against other like-minded individuals in his 510 cubic-inch V8 powered craft.

“It’s heaps of fun, he says.

“We don’t have any attitudes among the crews either, which is great.

We’re all really supportive of each other. It’s a great community to be a part of.”

The four round series kicks off in early 2020, with championship events offering different conditions between two locations each for the North and South Islands. The field is shaping up to be the largest we’ve ever seen, with over 10 boats vying for national supremacy.

Finding the best of the best within our shores is only one part of the story, with the team happy to announce that all comers from around the globe will converge on New Zealand in 2021 to compete for world bragging rights. This comes in the form of the UIM (Union Internationale Motonautique) World Grand Prix Hydroplane Championship, which is planned at this stage to be a 3-round series – with Lake Taupo, Lake Karapiro and Tauranga suggested as possible locations for racing.

Secretary of Hydro Thunder Denise Preece is excited about the event coming to New Zealand.

“The scene here is growing, and to get international competition to pit ourselves against is fantastic, she says.

“We’re looking forward to racing some greats of the sport.”

The UIM is based in Europe, so international competition is expected, with the best of the best coming Downunder to vie for the title, something Jack is also enthused about.

“We’re going to get some fantastic racing during the World’s.

“When we all hit Turn 1…its going to be crazy…”

Matt Mortimer waterline Summer 2019

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38 Gulf Classic Regatta th

Dustin Wilson

The annual Waikato Yacht Squadron Gulf Classic is more than just a sailing race. An event you can make a weekend of.

What does the Gulf Classic look like from an entrant’s eyes?

Here is a typical Gulf Classic weekend from my experience: We arrive at Maraetai Beach Boating club on Friday arvo and are greeted at the entry gate by the Commodore of the Waikato

Yacht Squadron. He welcomes us, and lets us know where we can park, explains the facilities and more importantly gives directions to the bar. We find the parking spots next to the ramp and go about setting up the trailer yacht ready for tomorrow’s race….. well the skipper mostly does. The crew need to “re-hydrate” after the drive up from Hamilton.

I love hard work, I could watch it all day. You can build quite the appetite watching the skipper rig and prep the boat, once complete the team heads upstairs to the restaurant and bar.

We grab a table with an amazing view over the water (literally sitting over the water). Skipper heads over to the registration table to sign us in, the crew require more “hydration” from that stair climb.

Registration time

The night before the race Dustin Wilson, Paul Weaver and Mike Allison.

While at the registration table we enter one of the Fineline “guess the length” competitions and be in to win some awesome new sailing rope sponsored by New Zealand’s leading cordage manufacturer Fineline Marine. There is a keeler package and a trailer yacht package on offer.

Dinner is ordered and the socialising and “hydration” continues on, at 2030 race briefing starts, we get a run down on tomorrow.

For this coming event we have special spot prizes for those present at the Friday night briefing. Boom Sailing Whitianga have kindly donated vouchers for trips on their catamarans sailing out of the beautiful Mercury Bay! Including a family voucher for a sail on Fully Charged and some lucky sailor will win a ride on their foiling catamaran Excess which is an SL33 high performance racing yacht. This boat was critical for Team New Zealand in the testing and design which lead to the big 72 foot Americas Cup foiling cats in San Francisco.

When it’s time to leave we head for our accommodation which in our case, like a few other competitors it’s the boat in the carpark. Some teams have cleverly pre-booked a bach in Maraetai only walking distance from the venue.

Ready to go

Leonie skippering “Sweet Surrender” a Noelex 25 from BOPTYS (Bay of Plenty Trailer Yacht Squadron).

Keeler preparing for the start in a few minutes.

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Saturday morning arrives, a quick shower in the clubrooms and out we go ready for the 10 am start. The race course is based around a circumnavigation of Waiheke Island plus some other islands, depending which of the three categories you have entered (trailer yacht 40/60 mile or Keeler 85 mile).

If you are lucky enough to be back at the ramp before the bar

Raglan boys racing aboard “Floydy Boy” the Ross780 trailer yacht.

Dustin Wilson and Paul Weaver launching the yacht just before the start.

closes you can catch up with hydration levels and if really lucky the kitchens still open so you can regain some strength with a hot meal after a big race.

Sunday morning at 10am is prize giving you don’t want to miss the amazing prizes on offer. Sponsors support the event with goodies and looking around the prize table while having some complimentary morning coffee you will see bottles of Mt Gay Rum, vouchers from North Sails, Pine Harbour Electrical, Autotrail, Crombie Lockwood and Pine Harbour Marina. Alpha Electrical, FBO Beachlands also supplied prizes and there is even an outboard motor from Eastern Marine.

A good plan is to arrive early and enjoy a breakfast from the restaurant while overlooking yesterday’s race course. This is a good time to catch up with other competitors and share tall

stories of the race exaggerating how big the waves were and how strong that wind was out there. Perhaps have another coffee to recover from last nights “hydration” session…

After prize giving its time to watch the skipper pack up the boat and help him by stowing all the prizes in your car. If you aren’t from the “big smoke” why not take the opportunity to head into the city and check out the viaduct basin, you might get to see the new Team NZ boat.

As you can see the Gulf Classic Regatta is more than just a sailing race, it’s an event you can make a whole weekend of. If you might be interested jump on Facebook Gulf Classic Regatta for information and online registration. Trailer yachts and keelers welcome (including multihulls).

The 38th Annual Gulf Classic Regatta March 6-7-8th 2020.

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False killer whales, regular visitors in the Bay of Plenty

It’s the time of the year that we expect the return of one of New Zealand’s rarest whale species, the false killer whale.

This little known (and unfortunately named) whale enters the coastal waters of northern New Zealand at the beginning of summer and usually stay until the end of autumn. The Bay of Plenty appears to be a very important area for these charismatic whales, especially in summer.

The first reports are usually received from around White Island in late November or early December and the whales appear to move gradually further inshore, presumably following their favourite prey of game fish such as tuna. They are often sighted around Mayor Island, Penguin Shoals and the Alderman Islands from late December to February before they slowly work their way further north towards the outer Hauraki

Gulf and the Northland coast.

Researchers from the Far Out Ocean Research Collective have been studying this rare species in New Zealand waters for over 15 years and have found out that they form part of a small population of around 200, with the same individuals returning to our coastal waters year after year.

It is still not known where they spend the winters.

Interestingly, false killer whales appear to be in constant company of large numbers of offshore bottlenose dolphins.

The exact reasons for this association are still not fully understood but joint hunting of fish seems to be one of the driving factors.

The biggest challenge faced by researchers is to actually catch up with the whales. They often travel fast and inhabit a very large area, so they are easily missed.

Consequently, the research is heavily reliant on the help from boaties and the awareness and support have been steadily

growing over the years. Especially, game fishers encounter them quite frequently as they target the same prey as the whales and their reports have greatly aided the knowledge about the whales’ movements.

However, there are a number of challenges when trying to identify false killer whales in the field; the whales are usually seen together with large numbers of bottlenose dolphins and it can be hard to spot them within these mixed groups. They also look similar to the more common pilot whale.

Lastly, the unfortunate name causes a lot of confusion with actual killer whales. A series of identification guides have been produced to show the difference between the different species.

As a general rule, if you come across a group of a few hundred very large, dark and active bottlenose dolphins between November and May, there are probably false killer whales mixed in with them.

If you are lucky enough to encounter false killer whales out there this summer you can give the Far Out Ocean Research Collective a call on 0800 FAR OUT or visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ FalseKillerWhalesNZ or their website: www.farout.org.nz. Individuals can be identified by the markings in their fins so any photos or videos are extremely helpful.

Jochen Zaeschmar waterline Summer 2019

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So you want to catch a

Quality gear will make all the difference.

Here in The Bay of Plenty we are very fortunate to have one the best fisheries for yellowtail kingfish anywhere in the world. From right up in the shallow estuaries and out on the pins down to 200m of water, these hard fighting fish have earned their reputation for destroying tackle and leaving anglers broken-hearted.

There’s so many stories about ‘the one that got away’ so in this article I’m going to share with you a few tips I learned over the years working as a deckhand on one of New Zealand’s top kingi fishing charter boats, Pursuit.

First of all you need to know where to start looking. From late spring and right through summer our harbour is loaded with baitfish, and shadowing them are packs of kings. They can be found right up in half a metre of water chasing mullet and piper, or hanging around marker poles in the channels.

Current is very important, so if you find an area with tidal flow plus the baitfish, there’s a good chance predators aren’t far away.

Piper are a perfect bait to use inshore, they’re prolific throughout the harbour and respond well to a burly trail. Tiny hooks are required to catch one and a bit of gentle handling while rigging them up to ensure your fragile bait is fresh and lively once deployed.

Match your tackle to fit your live bait, small but strong hooks with leader as light as possible depending on the area you’re fishing. For example off a wharf use 50lb fluorocarbon leader, 1-2/0 hook and 50lb braid. Kingfish have a dirty habit 14

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of heading straight for the piles once hooked so you really want that stopping power if you need it.

Out of a boat over the sand flats I’ll down scale a bit to maybe 30lb leaders and 20lb braid since there isn’t as much structure to be busted off on. The lighter your leader the more bites you get and the more fun you’ll have.

We have a huge area of offshore reefs which hold kingfish all year round. From Mayor island, Okaparu, Schooner Rocks, Plate Island and right out to White Island.

There are countless pins and reefs with potential, some more well known than others. The same rules apply out here, current plus food equals predators.

The bait schools will usually sit on the up-current face of a pin, where the nutrient rich water gets pushed up from the depths by currents.

Some reefs come right up and break the surface, these areas usually hold kahawai and trevally which you’ll see feeding on krill. Situations like this can be a good opportunity to cast a stickbait or catch one of the kahawai and put it out under a balloon.

Target techniques There are a few different techniques to target kingfish in the deeper areas. Mechanical jigging used to work really well but over the years the more popular spots have seen fish become ‘jig shy’ meaning you really have to work hard for a bite some days.

My favourite and what I consider the most effective method to catch a Kingy would have to be with a live bait. Jack mackerel, koheru, kahawai, squid and flying fish are all top performers. Hooking your bait through the nose will help it get down faster and prevent spinning.

Keep your rig simple, 4ft of 130lb trace, strong hooks

to match your bait size and ball sinker running free on the mainline connected with a good quality swivel. You want your sinkers to be just enough to get your livey down to the bottom but not so much that it gets skull dragged. High quality 80lb+ mainline, braid works well in deep water but mono does give that extra little bit of abrasion resistance if your fish gets its head into the reef below.

Kingfish are the ultimate test on your gear so make sure it’s all up to scratch before wasting money on fuel and terminal tackle.

I have seen so many reels fall to bits mid-fight, which never ends well. There’s a huge range of rods and reels on the market which will do the job for less than $500, but remember, you get what you pay for.

Any kingfish off a wharf is a challenge

Dirty fighters So once you’ve got all those parts sorted, it’s time to get a hook in one of these reef thugs.

Use your fish finder to locate the targets and set a drift upwind/ up-current which will mean your offering arrives in the bite zone as you drift over the spot.

I like to leave the reel in free spool and keep in contact with the bait to make sure it doesn’t become snagged or torn off the hook.

Once you think you’ve been bit, (usually indicated by line rapidly spilling off the reel) give it a second or two then engage the drag, retrieve any slack and set the hook. Making sure the line stays tight is crucial in this first part, quite often the bait will still be swinging off the hook and kingy just has to shake his head and it’ll fall out.

Once connected you’ll want to apply as much drag as possible without breaking the line, kingfish are dirty fighters and will head straight to the nearest obstruction to try break you off.

The first and last 30 seconds of the battle are usually when things go wrong, so when your fish finally comes into view don’t panic or do anything stupid. Ease the drag off slightly and if you’re with a mate, get them to grab it by the bottom lip and tail once it’s tired enough to come aboard.

Remember to always look after the fishery and only take what you need, one average sized kingfish yields a lot of meat.

White Island has had a voluntary bag limit set up by the local charter operators of one fish per person, per day and has to be over 1 metre in length. This has worked well in maintaining the marine life as it still is one of best places in the world to catch a kingfish over 30 kilos.

Mark Collins, MC Boatworks

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Taupo Waka Ama event popular

Organiser Tredegar Hall steering a crew home.

The Taupo Waka Ama Club partnered with Tuwharetoa Maori trust Board recently to host a Waka Ama event on

Hundreds turned out for a paddle.

Lake Taupo called ‘Te Hokinga mai ki te Wai’ or, Return to the water, a Taupo Waka Festival.

Photos: Matt Mortimer

Waka ama is a growing sport in New Zealand with athletes paddling outrigger canoes, a different craft to paddle in comparison to your standard kayak.

The event was the vision of organisers Tredegar Hall and JB Ioaba.

“A waka with an outrigger like we paddle is different to a standard kayak in that they are a lot slower,” says JB. “They do have their challenges. Their buoyancy is different in Lake Taupo due to the fresh water for example. Just like wearing a wetsuit it affects your ability in open water, the same applies to our craft sitting higher in the dense salt water. A lot of our events are in the ocean too, so the dynamic is different.”

Tredegar was excited about the community aspect of such an event.

“This was a great opportunity to raise money for the club and connect our community back to the water.”

Teams gathering together with up to five workmates, friends or whanau getting a full head of steam (paddle steam of course!) out on Lake Taupo and giving their all in a fun-filled day.

Supporters took the opportunity to spend some time lakeside cheering on friends and whanau alike, bringing and sharing food together and setting up tents to get out of the sun.

The Taupo Waka Ama crew provided a steerer too, to keep all of the effort on track and in a straight line.

A few other hardy individuals entered the 6.7-kilometre course for small boats which included everything from stand-up paddle boards, kayaks surf skis and other waka.

Three races across the day included, small boats which had everything from stand-up paddle boards to conventional kayaks and everything inbetween, High School teams racing and the main event, featuring all of the adult teams.

These all adult crews entered in the main event will have a minimum of two races and the day concluded with drinks and prize giving held in the Taupo Yacht Club. Tredegar was happy with the concept, particularly with the family feel to the day.

“We knew there weren’t any events like this that anyone in the community could get involved in, it’s not just about racing but also connecting with the water and the local environment particularly after the lake spill in July.”

Matt Mortimer

Organiser JB Ioaba in his element.

It isn’t over until the final sprint up the beach!

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EcoQuip©EQ300S and your vessel: Working on any substrate the Ecoquip Vapor Blaster profiles your vessel for the best coating adhesion.

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Working on any substrate the EcoQuip© Vapor Blaster profiles surfaces for the best coating adhesion. Completely mobile, the blasting unit can be brought to you to provide on-site blasting. With an adjustable range of blasting pressure for the finer detail blasting work through to the heavy industrial steel blasting, the EcoQuip© Vapor Blaster is perfect for exposing welds for inspection purposes.

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Reaction to Motiti marine reserves Apprehension is building in the Bay of Plenty fishing community about whether a number of popular offshore reefs will be permanently closed.

A long-running legal battle led by the Motiti Rohe Moana Trust and supported

by Forest and Bird has reached the Court of Appeal, with a decision still pending on whether or not the Resource Management Act should be used to restrict access to a number of reefs surrounding Motiti Island including Ō karapu Reef, Otāiti (Astrolabe Reef ), Schooner rocks, Brewers Shole, Plate Island and Tokoroa Shoals.

The Trust is worried about the declining marine environment so took a case to the Environment Court in 2017 arguing that better protections were needed in the Bay of Plenty Regional Coastal Environment Plan.

In a landmark decision released last year, the Environment Court ruled in favour of the Trust and said the RMA applies to protecting significant indigenous biodiversity areas – effectively directing Bay of Plenty Regional Council to protect the reefs. Three protection areas would be established banning everyone (including Motiti Island residents) from taking plants or animals due to their significant marine biodiversity values.

These protected areas haven’t yet been established because the Ministry for Primary Industries (on behalf of the Crown) appealed the decision to the High Court – which again ruled in the Trust’s favour. Now the case has progressed to the Court of Appeal with the NZ Rock Lobster Industry Council, Fisheries Inshore NZ and the Pāua Industry Council having joined MPI in a further appeal. At issue is the jurisdictional overlap between the Fisheries Act 1996 and the Resource Management Act 1991.

It’s not yet known when the Court of Appeal will release their decision.

The dispute has received little publicity until now and many fishermen have only recently become aware of the possible reef closures – sparking anger and confusion as to what the long-term implications might be for New Zealand’s entire coastline.

Mount Maunganui Sports Fishing Club committee member Steve Penn believes

Mount Maunganui Sports Fishing Club committee member Steve Penn.

the Trust’s position is a knee-jerk reaction following the Rena grounding in 2011.

“Personally I think their claim has become emotional. For years and years those reefs have been open to the public for fishing and there’s been no fears raised about depletion of stock. Not until the Rena ran aground.

“Then all of a sudden, people started saying we should turn that area into a marine reserve, that all the fisheries are endangered and the oil is going to kill off everything. When you have a major disaster like the Rena, of course that’s going to happen. But the area has recovered well. I’ve fished and dived up there for 40+ years and I really don’t see any long-term depletion.

Despite the Environment Court’s ruling in favour of closure, Steve says more scientific proof is needed to show a marine reserve is justified. He says the vast majority of recreational and commercial fishermen abide by bag limits and regulations to ensure stock levels are maintained, and other tools could be used besides a total closure.

“You could call for a restriction on commercial activity, long-lining, netting and other bulk-methods of gathering, Steve suggests. “The major thing that’s upsetting everybody is there’s been no consultation on the future of what’s going to happen. We are all now waiting with bated breath to see what the Court of Appeal decides.”

The Mount Maunganui Sports Fishing

Club has also seen correspondence which suggests only a small number of Motiti Island residents are in favour of closing the reefs, with other hapu members opposed to it. “There’s only about 10 or so people who are actually driving this thing, and of course Forest and Bird. But it’ll affect a major number of recreational fishers in this country.”

Fellow fisherman Chris Bailey agrees it’s been a shock to hear of the court proceedings and what it might mean.

“There’s been no consultation to speak of and virtually no notification. I always thought anything as crucial as this would have had to have been in the public spotlight and had the public onboard. But there’s been nothing.”

Chris has fished around Motiti for decades and is worried any closure will simply increase pressure on other parts of the coastline. “I think what the Motiti Trust is trying to achieve is admirable – we all want to maintain the fishing stocks. But this is certainly a divisive way to go about it and I don’t think they’re going to have the support of the wider community.”

Te Puke-based fisherman Roger Hintz says conflicting information is circulating in the fishing community and anger is mounting.

“It’s been kept almost clandestine – very little known about it, very little said about it. There’s so many questions at so many levels and there needs to be some answers.

It has massive implications.”

Roger says the Environment Court appears to be making political decisions rather than the regional council, and the latter isn’t geared up to implement and enforce marine reserves.

“I’m all for reserves, I want to see a whole lot more, but I want to see it done on a formula that’s scientifically-based and has some structure to it, not just something that’s ad hoc and pushed by a certain group and Forest and Bird.”

Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s Regional Development Manager, David Phizacklea, confirmed no final decision can be made on the protection areas until all court proceedings have concluded.

If the interim Environment Court decision is upheld, David confirms the ‘no take’ rule would apply to everyone, including Motiti Island residents. There is no provision for customary rights.

Jo-Marie Baker

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Cruising in the Bay of Plenty this summer?

Your clean, properly antifouled hull helps stop the spread of marine pests.

Thanks for doing your bit.

www.boprc.govt.nz/marinepests 20

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Catfish threat Lucas Macdonald, Biosecurity Officer from the Bay of Plenty Regional Council says the education component is critical, because many boaties visiting from outside the region may not understand the catfish threat: “It’s really important for people to realise that boats can spread these pest fish. The fish get transported along with aquatic weed in boat trailers so it’s crucial to remember the check, clean, dry message and make sure your boat is drained of water - especially when moving between waterways.”

“All it takes one person to unwittingly transport a small fragment of weed, a pest fish or its eggs to a new body of water and cause irreversible damage to our lakes,” he says. “Once established, aquatic pests are difficult and costly to control, and even harder to eradicate.”

Fyke netting in operation at Lake Rotoiti.

Brown bullhead catfish can grow up to 40cm long.

How to prevent the spread of all aquatic pests Before leaving a lake, waterway or river: 1. Remove all weeds from your boat trailer and gear. Not only does this prevent any aquatic weeds hitching a ride from being spread but also any small catfish or eggs that could be hiding in the weed.

2. Empty any lake water or ballast you may be carrying. This is especially relevant to those water-skiing and wakeboarding.

3. Don’t leave your trailer in the water.

If you see a catfish in any Bay of Plenty waterway, please report it by calling us on 0800 STOP PESTS (0800 786 773).

The Regional Council and Te Arawa Lakes Trust have been working closely with locals in the last 9 months to raise awareness and started a community netting programme in the Rotorua Lakes. The Te Arawa Catfish Killers have successfully netted 3,125 catfish to date, while volunteers are also on the lookout in the wider Rotorua Lakes by netting in Lakes Ōkāreka, Rotoehu, Rotomā and Tarawera.

Council-funded research currently being undertaken by NIWA and the University of Waikato to find new surveillance methods and tools to stop the spread of the pest is showing promise. The outcomes of both should hopefully be able to feed into future control activity.

Catfish were first discovered in Lake Rotoiti in 2016 and subsequently in Lake Rotorua in December 2018, highlighting just how easily they can spread between waterways. Since netting operations first began 3 years ago over 63,000 catfish have been caught using fyke nets. Encouragingly during the 2018/19 net season a drop of 18% catfish were caught from the previous season, despite twice as many nets being set. But with each catfish able to produce up to 6,000 eggs and survive out of water for up to 48 hours, there is no room for complacency.

What Catfish look like The Brown bullhead catfish can grow up to 40cm long and are typically a dark brown / green colour with thick and leathery skin. They are easily identifiable by a sharp toxic spine on their fins and have four pairs of barbels around the mouth

Why they are a problem They feed on small native fish, trout and their eggs. Catfish also compete for food with other native species, including koura (freshwater crayfish). They lower water quality by stirring up mud to feed.

Small catfish or eggs could be hiding in the weed on your trailer. waterline Summer 2019

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Stabicraft Supercab 1850 X1 Technical details and Safety Features: NZ CPC Safety Standards, SUCG Boating Safety Standard, ABP Safety Standards, Reserve Buoyancy and LED Lights Specifications: Length Max Adults Recommended Maximum HP Max engine weight Leg Length

Fuel tank

External Bean Internal Beam Tube thickness Hull thickness Sealed Buoyancy Dry Hull weight Tow weight

Length on Trailer

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One of the most affordable and complete day boater packages available on the market today has got to be the new Supercab 1850 X1 by Stabicraft. Whether you are a first timer, a fisher, skier, diver, or an

18.5ft (5.6m) 6 HP 115hp 140hp 220kg 25” 120l 2.24m 1.65m 3mm 4mm 1570L 740kg 1250kg 6.7m

experienced hand, this boat is a must-see.

On first impressions the Supercab 1850 X1 exudes strength and safety. In keeping with Stabicraft’s motto “Adventure with Confidence” the Supercab is built to CPC (coastguard) safety standards. This means the vessel comes with positive buoyance inbuilt by design, water pumps, running lights etc. So for the safety minded family boatie, this gets the big tick.

The Supercab 1850 may be aimed at the entry level boatie with its price vs features on offer.

You can’t go past the fact that the vessel is also perfect for the experienced fisher who prefers to go it alone. This vessel is simple to launch and retrieve as the design of the trailer and the

vessel are intended to make it easy. The push-button anchoring facility, made possible by the Maxwell RC capstan, means you no longer have to take the risk of getting out on the bow, or endure the contortions required to climb through a bow hatch. Simply steer your boat over the location you want to stop over while you are looking at your fish finder, push a button on the stylish and smart designed dashboard, and see the capstan go to work.

Obviously the reverse is true when you are ready to leave your favourite spot, start your motor, push the button and the anchor will come up and be locked in place until you are ready to deploy it again as many times as it takes.

Electronics packages On the topic of electronics, you can get a basic set up for about $1000, but MasterTech owner Karl Rastrick encourages buyers to spend smarter and get into something that will meet needs for as little as around $1500. Obviously you can spend more to make it work for you, however, the idea of this package is to make it affordable but also to deliver outstanding value. Clearly Stabicraft have knocked it out of the park with this one.

I was keen to see just how much I could throw at the 1850 X1 as a ski boat too. With the throttle nearly all the way down I put it through some tight figure 8’s to see when it would start

to cavitate. My first and second attempt failed and it wasn’t till I pushed passed the point where any sane skipper would, that it slipped, and even then only just for a split second. It would be hard to find anyone that would try to do that with a ski or a biscuit behind them. The point being that driving this boat feels safe and secure and the comfort that comes with knowing that it offers such forgiveness if you do get it wrong delivers great confidence. The Supercab I took for a trial has a 115hp outboard mounted and tuned by MasterTech to provide the best results and performance. However, there is no need for that kind of power with the Supercab 1850 X1. With the 90hp Mercury or Suzuki, the fuel efficiency is staggering. Just ask Karl how far it can take you on just 10 litres. It’s a true testament to the quiet performance of the 4 strokes you can choose from.

Stability and safety The inbuilt pontoons surely offer buoyancy even if the vessel should somehow be swamped. However, when it is loaded normally the stability is marvellous. Karl demonstrated this by placing more than 100kg on the very edge of one side of the boat and actively tried to bounce and rock the boat and it barely moved.

To add to the safety there has been a lot of thought put into waterline Summer 2019

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comfort, your friends or family won’t have to sit on their chilly bins, there are seats enough for four adults, and if you are towing a ski, your look-out can flip the chair-back front to back and keep a sharp eye on the skier in total comfort.

Packed with features

The Supercab 1850 comes packed with great value features including Arrow pontoons, game chaser transom, bow storage shelves, SARCA aluminium fairlead, foot rest and cargo barrier, battery and oil tank storage, bilge pump well, rear fold-down seats, rodholders in aft coaming, stabi cleats, steering – nonfeedback, central battery box, wingstyle coaming, cantilever seat bases with storage, skipper seat with swivels, Maxwell RC6 capstan, 6 rod rocket-launcher, graphics package, and Stabicraft multiholders (drinks and tackle).

There is so much packed into this turn-key package that the $60,000 price tag seems unreal. In fact for around $65,000 you can opt for the additional features that include the 115hp

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outboard, either a Mercury or Suzuki, rear boarding ladder, removable filleting /bait board, central mounted windscreen wiper and an electronics package.

MasterTech are proud to demonstrate the capabilities of this vessel. Karl and the team offer their renowned service in setting the vessel up to ensure that it performs at its best. What really exceeds expectations is the vessel induction that they offer, this is second to none. Karl clearly believes that his role is to ensure that boaties are fully satisfied with their experience on the water and not just on the showroom floor. They don’t miss any details when it comes to providing all the information that is needed to manage the various bits and pieces so operation, clean up and maintenance are covered.

The after sales service is more than excellent with staff being on call or at the end of the phone to assist with any curly questions that may crop up.

Get down to MasterTech and speak to Karl about how you can take advantage of this amazing boating package.

Sunny Peeters

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DF2.5

BOAT OF THE MO

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NTH

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Two hours from home

Skipper Stuart Pedersen, his wife Pamela, brother-in-law Stephen Newman, and fellow Tauranga Yacht & Powerboat Club member Bruce Goodwin were two hours from reaching safety when tragedy struck.

Three days earlier, sailing back from Fiji on Stuart and Pamela’s yacht Essence, the experienced sailors knew a storm was coming.

The decision was made to head directly to Opua in the Bay of Islands, rather than Tauranga.

“The thing that drove Stuart, Pamela and Bruce was to always take the safe course,” says Stephen.

The boat was in top-notch condition, with Stuart doing more maintenance before they left Fiji.

“There is no doubt that was an amazing boat. The winches were in good condition, the skippers were really good and I was always impressed with the diligence that Stuart, Bruce and Pamela all put towards weather decisions.

“They had four models that they were following the whole time. They had two separate strands of information, I think one from Bob McDavitt, and another from coastal people based in Auckland. I was astounded that none of them ever married up.

You have a whole lot of models to look at coming from the same data, but they don’t add up the same way.”

With the safest option selected, they headed as fast as they could to Opua.

Storm hit hard

The boat had been fully prepared the day before. A storm jib was rigged, and inside, the cabin was as tight as it could be, with the floor screwed down and held in some places by tape as well, to make sure. Unfortunately the winds came up far stronger than the 45 knots expected.

“We went into the storm knowing it was coming and it hit real hard.

“I’d been told that the wind speed device on the mast stops at 60 knots. It was red lining. In other words it was over 60.

“The waves seemed far bigger than 15 metres. If you’ve seen the film ‘A perfect storm’, that’s what it felt like. They were humungous.”

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The boat had been moving fast through the water, and Stephen and Pamela sheltered in the cabin while Stuart and Bruce stayed on deck.

“We got knocked down twice,” says Stephen. “I think the first one about 10.30 and we carried on. Pamela asked if I felt confident. I said ‘look out the back we’ve got some of the best skippers out there. I feel confident.’”

They were both in the cabin when they heard what Stephen describes as a ‘massive whomping’ sound. The next second he was under water.

“I think we either turned turtle, knocked over by a wave, or we broached. To me it felt like the boat flexed.”

The windows had exploded out. Stephen was under water for so long, that he’d already pulled his life jacket by the time he came up again.

Mayday call

“Pamela was already moving towards the radio, her head covered in blood. She put out an amazing Mayday call and they answered. But of course there was no position. The position GPS had been knocked out.”

The EPU was also gone. Half an hour earlier when the boat had come within range, Pamela had spoken to the Coastguard for the first time that she was able to raise them.

“She’d given where we were, how many people on board and all the data that they need and so we knew even by dead reckoning that they’d find us eventually. But the EPIRB’s loss for us, certainly for me, really made me quite upset thinking ‘how the hell will they find us in sea like this?’

The staircase had gone, and Stephen tried to see what was happening on deck.

“The whole front of the boat was fairly munted.”

He could see Stuart and Bruce, pulling each other out from under the mess, and opened the hatch to help. They quickly realised that Pamela and Stephen were in a sinking cabin with water coming in the windows, the life raft and EPU both gone.

“Luckily Bruce had a Personal Locator Beacon. It wasn’t actually on and it was in his cabin. Bruce did something unimaginably brave in that sinking boat. I don’t know how deep the water was, but he went forward to where his cabin was, got it, closed the hatch and came back to us.”

At this stage, they all knew they would be going into the water.

Stuart Pedersen and the passage home The Mayday was incomplete in terms of location, the boat was going down, they had no EPIRB and no life raft, but they had each other.

“Pamela poured out some chocolate and we sat around the shattered combing where the steering wheel was and talked about what to do and how we’re going to survive in the water. There was no panic, just good planning. We talked as equals about how we’re going to come back together as four. Unfortunately that part didn’t occur in terms of all coming back alive.”

They got their tethers, attached themselves and exited the boat, calmly stepping out through the gate on the safety lines.

“We still had humour even as we were leaving the boat. Stuart brought along the grab bag, and the dan buoy thinking we could always wave it. Pamela and I both clung to it at various stages as a life ring.”

After some time in the water an albatross landed beside them and kept them company, a source of comfort as the group became colder. The talking gradually dried up as they were repeatedly dumped under the waves.

“It was like a washing machine effect with water pushing us down, and wondering will we ever come up.”

“We became more animated when the Air Force Orion turned up and did about three or four passes before it actually spotted us and waggled its wings. Stuart opened up a small handheld radio and talked to the crew, giving them directions in reference to their port or starboard side.

“It was a good feeling when we saw the Orion. It was even better when the life raft was dropped.”

Dropped upstream of the waves, a huge line floated out from it, which Bruce and Stephen grabbed and started pulling on.

“If you think they drop the life raft and it’s ‘all over rover’, that’s just half the story. Getting to it is really hard. Getting in it is hard.”

Bruce was first into the life raft, and helped Stephen who found himself stuck by a tangle as he came up the chute.

“The tangle was Pamela and Stuart.

The tumbling had wrapped the ropes around them tightly.”

The helicopter diver arrived and cut them apart with a large knife, then sent Stuart up first before retrieving Pamela.

“All the time that I was in the water I never once saw Stuart take his hands off Pamela. Most of the time he held her head. She wasn’t talking much, as she was semi-comatose. As he got weaker later on he held her arms. He never let her go.

“When the diver was cutting her away from Stuart, Bruce was holding Pamela and I was holding Stuart. His lips were blue but he was still holding Pamela’s hand. I had to tell him ‘Stuart you’ve got to let her go. Everyone is safe.

Pammy is safe’.

“My last sight of him alive was as he headed up to the helicopter festooned with the equipment that was still attached to him.”

Sadly the experienced skipper and sailor Stuart Pedersen didn’t make it, dying during the difficult rescue.

“The amazing thing is love at the end,” says Stephen. “Stuart loved Pamela so much. He held her all the time until it was time to let her go and he did.”

“If Stuart was here today and we had survived that storm I’d still get in a boat with him and I’d still sail with him. He was a very good skipper and he made sure he had another very good skipper on board. I still feel happy for the experience but Rosalie Liddle Crawford devastated for the loss.”

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Legend II is a very capable offshore cruising yacht designed and built by Mick Orchard in 1972.

Beautifully crafted in triple diagonal Kauri, glassed over. Legend II measures 44’ with a ¾ length lead keel and a draft of 6’. Cutter rigged, alloy mast with steps and stainless rigging.

With offshore cruising in mind, Legend II has a grunty 100HP Ford auxiliary extensive sail wardrobe, offshore electronic package and safety equipment package and equipment including Windvane steering and solar panels make this vessel suitable for island cruising.

Legend II has accommodation for 5+ people in two cabins. The galley has a fridge, good sized freezer, two-burner oven/grill, hot and cold pressure water and twin sinks.

There is a toilet and shower midship and ample storage.

The saloon is a U shaped settee and table with massive headroom of two metres.

Legend II has proved herself numerous times with journeys up to the pacific islands and circumnavigating the globe from 2005 to 2010. By design she is a steady, stiff, stable, strong, sea kindly vessel with many more ocean passages to be sailed.

Brian Worthington, Gulf Group Marine Brokers

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Not the normal actions of a Skipper Have you heard of The Fiery Star?

Probably not but she sunk in our waters south of Cuvier Island off the Coromandel Coast with the loss of life of the Captain and 78 passengers and some crew in 1865.

The Fiery Star, previously named The Comet, was launched in New York in 1851 and was admired as a very well appointed and fast clipper which held several record passages. She beat the famous clipper Flying Dutchman in a race around Cape Horn to San Francisco in 1853. Her best days run was 350 miles in one day.

In 1863 she was purchased by a Liverpool company and renamed The Fiery Star and was mainly used on the Australian trade.

On her fateful voyage she left Moreton Bay Queensland on April 1 1865 with a cargo of wool and 63 passengers. A severe gale was encountered and when the clipper was 150 miles north west of the Chatham Islands fire was detected from the cargo of wool in the forward hold.

The captain altered course for Lyttleton but the wind changed and the gale continued while frantic efforts were being made to quell the fire.

On 20 April the captain made the decision to abandon the ship however two of the four lifeboats had been lost overboard during the storm. He decided to join the 86 in the two lifeboats (all except one of the passengers and some crew) hoping to make it to the Chatham Islands. The remaining crew were left on the burning clipper. Not too often does the captain take this action!

The adverse weather continued with some very rough seas. It was thought that on 3 May with the crew battling the fire sighted the Mercury and the Aldermen Islands from well out to sea.

Unfortunately another gale struck and took her further out to sea. However on 11 May the wind changed and The Fiery Star still burning with the wool fire in the hold was thought to be 25 miles from shore and at 10pm the lights of the barque Dauntless were sighted. The Dauntless dispatched a life raft after seeing rockets, blue lights and the firing of a cannon.

The captain of the Dauntless the next morning boarded the stricken Fiery Star, assessed the damage with the remaining 17 crew and it was decided to abandon the clipper after 20 days of fighting the fire. The position given was south of Cuvier Island latitude 37 degrees 5 min. longitude 175 degrees 42 East. The Fiery Star sank soon after.

A search of the Chatham Islands and neighbouring Pitt Island found no trace of the Captain and 78 on the liferafts. With the adverse conditions prevailing at the time the search was later abandoned with the assumption all had perished with no trace.

Ron Morgan

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Volunteers recognised at Coastguard Awards

Hutchwilco Volunteer of the Year Susan Lean - Coastguard Waihi Beach.

Volunteers from the Bay of Plenty took out five of seven awards at the Coastguard New Zealand Awards of Excellence recently.

The annual ceremony recognises the dedication of Coastguard volunteers to saving lives at sea, including the rescues carried out on the water and the work that goes on behind the scenes on land.

Volunteers from Coastguard Maketu, Coastguard Opotiki, Coastguard Waihi Beach, and Coastguard Whitianga all won awards.

Susan Lean from Waihi Beach took home two awards, including the supreme award of Hutchwilco Volunteer of the Year.

Susan was recognised for dedicating more than 2000 hours of her time to Waihi Beach in the last year, a true reflection of her enthusiasm and commitment to the job. By using her expertise in computer programmes and software, Susan is a key force in implementing new systems within the unit.

Alongside her technical prowess, Susan encourages a unit culture that is collaborative, inclusive and professional.

It’s this leadership which has ensured all unit members have a voice and are part of a supportive environment.

“Susan continually puts the needs of her fellow unit members before her own,” says Coastguard New Zealand President

The Coastguard Award recipients from Bay of Plenty.

Mike Purchase. “In the busy summer months, she works alongside her fellow unit members to help them do the best they can and foster a positive working environment.”

“Susan’s keen eye for improvement, coupled with her genuine care for those she works with has seen her improve how the unit works to the benefit all those who are part of it.”

Coastguard Opotiki won the Community Relations Activity of the Year for their open day they held in January to coincide with Coastguard’s Old4New Lifejacket Upgrade Campaign being in the area. With community engagement at the forefront, the unit organised a day where local people could view and interact with Opotiki’s Search and Rescue organisations and safety services.

The open day brought Coastguard, St John Ambulance, New Zealand Police and the local Rescue Helicopter together to emphasise the importance of water safety.

A large influence behind the creation of this event was a recent Water Safety statistic showing the high number of drownings in Maori and Pacific Island groups. As more than 50% of Opotiki’s community is made up of this ‘at risk’ group, Coastguard Opotiki used their influence and resources to assist in changing attitudes around water safety.

Community and safety were also key motivators over the last year for the Coastguard Unit of the Year, Maketu.

A key example of this was the installation of a 24/7 webcam on the Kaituna bar which Coastguard Maketu worked with the Harbourmaster to provide to the local community. The unit is also dedicated to empowering its volunteers with unique training opportunities that build confidence and skill, including Youth in Emergency Services and Search and Rescue training with neighbouring Coastguard units.

Coastguard Whitianga won Rescue of the Year for executing a challenging rescue of a 24ft yacht with two people on board, that was in serious trouble between Cape Colville and Opito Bay. Drawing on years of experience and supreme navigation skills, the Duty Officer and Incident Management Team were able to decipher the puzzle that was locating the yacht. Constant communication with the yacht and a well thought-out response plan, endorsed by the police, resulted in Coastguard Whitianga’s rescue vessel, NZCT Rescue, reaching the stricken yacht in under two hours with the two people on board confirmed safe and well.

“These annual awards are an opportunity for us to stop and recognise the incredible and noble efforts of these very special people,” says Mr Purchase.

“The unwavering commitment of our volunteers to each other, Coastguard, and their communities is truly humbling.

While they think of themselves as ordinary people, their actions are nothing short of heroic.” waterline Summer 2019

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A cruisy cat

A cruisy sailing cat has just come on the market, ready for more summer sailing adventures.

Abakazam is something of a local icon in Bay of Plenty and Coromandel waters.

The spacious and easy-going Pelin 36, Abakazam, more recently sailing under the magazine name, Waterline, is for sale due to ill health of the owner.

It’s both a floating bach and a competent seafarer. There are few vessels that boast the ability to be both without compromise, but this vessel does!

Abakazam has plenty of adventures in her well-documented history, being at the centre of many feature stories and photography sessions for Waterline Magazine. Ahead awaits plenty more adventures for the new owners. A capable coastal cruiser or a roomy and warm live-aboard, there’s a ton of possibilities for this versatile boat.

Built in Te Puke by the late Tim Simcock, Abakazam was a stalwart of the Omokoroa sailing scene and the Olds family, until purchased by the Rogers family and sailed out of Te Puna and more recently, Whitianga.

She’s spruce and mahogany ply, glassed over, with a recently added lifted cabin top in foam core and fibreglass, professionally built.

Economic cruising Power is by a single, low hours Yamaha 25 high-thrust four stroke outboard in a pod under the cockpit, tilting clear of the water to provide clean and quiet sailing and reduced fouling when moored. Steering is by wheel and there’s an autohelm that connects to the crossbar and controlled from the helm station.

Top speed is nine knots under motor, cruising speeds 7-8 knots and miserly fuel consumption of around 4-5 litres an hour.

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Abakazam frequently sails in the low to mid teens, has a simple and balanced rig that is easily handled by one and superbly easy with two.

The jib and main sails are in average condition, the bigger headsails in nearly new condition.

The mainsail has a full boom cover which simply unzips along the top, and when you’re done for the day, the lazy jacks help flake the sail back into its cover. The jib is on a roller furler and there’s a furling genoa, or screecher, launched from the end of the bow sprit with an endless sheet furler. A gennaker is also flown from the same set up for downwind and reaching, light-air days. The gennaker can be partially furled on the prod to assist with the drop, to take the drama out of sail changes!

Stable and spacious There’s two new swivelling helm seats on each side of the cockpit, giving excellent viewing and comfortable ride under sail or motor. A newish anchor winch, with dual controls on foredeck and at helm station, provide easy and safe anchoring.

A bridle arrangement can also be quickly deployed when necessary to provide stable anchoring. The main anchor is a stainless steel claw and there’s a heavy duty Danforth for cyclone situations, or deployment as a second anchor (one from each bow) in extreme conditions.

Rudders and centreboard retract for shallow draft and reducing fouling areas.

The rudders, stocks and tillers have recently been replaced with carbon fibre shafts and custom made aluminium stocks.

This boat easily sails through the middle of the Tauranga harbour shallows and has made the passage from Tauranga to Bowentown on countless voyages while heading north or south.

It can also anchor in very shallow situations, providing a great option on those busy summer days when all the deep water in the bays are taken, this boat can cruise right up to the beach and

“Abakazam has plenty of adventures in her well-documented history, being at the centre of many feature stories and photography sessions for Waterline Magazine”

its quite happy sitting on its hulls on the sand at low tides.

It could also be permanently moored in shallows or on mudflats if required. Two moorings are available for purchase.

Interior is roomy and spacious, unlike many cats that are closed in and divided into smaller spaces, Abakazam has an open and airy feel. There is full standing headroom virtually throughout. Large opening hatches allow great airflow and views while at anchor.

The main cabin has two double berths, semi-enclosed. These could be easily curtained off for more privacy; we’ve enjoyed keeping the interior open and breezy. A U-shape couch with storage under, is wrapped around a large central dining table.

Generous single berths in each bow and another small double/ large single in the starboard aft hull. There’s heaps of shelves and storage in the hulls and under the berths.

The views from the cabin are wide and open, through the new teak rear doors and the big cabin windows and hatches.

Comfortable interior A well-equipped galley in the starboard hull is open to the bridgedeck with a servery between. Electric pump supplies galley water. A 3-way fridge in the main cabin is vented through a solar vent and handy to both the galley and the cockpit.

A large shower area, electric flushing head with holding tank, and bathroom with full standing headroom is located in the port aft hull.

Fresh water to each tap is via 20 litre tanks, but any number of spare tanks are available to be taken as required, so there’s no need to be carrying more weight than necessary for each trip.

Nearly new VHF and Garmin chart plotter and depth sounder at the helm station is removable for security and weather protection.

New LED lighting throughout includes night vision mode.

Stereo has CD player, interior and cockpit speakers and subwoofer under saloon seats.

Dual batteries and an 80W solar panel, plus charging from the engine, ensure plenty of power.

The stern features a massive duckboard for swimming and boarding. This is a fantastic dive boat, stable and roomy with plenty of space for divers and swimmers to gear-up on the aft platform. An optional swing-down water level boarding step is available, but not currently fitted.

The duckboard is big enough to easily pull the dinghy aboard, using a roller built into the aft edge of the platform.

No worries about dinghy stowage, easy and safe and no towing required.

The outboard has a pair of 35 litre tote tanks, supplemented by as many spare as required, depending on the length of voyage, safely stowed in the vented aft fuel locker and the vented fore lockers outside of the cabin.

Copious deck space

There’s removable kayak racks that span the rear platform, storing two sea kayaks or paddleboards safe and secure above the dinghy. Plus there’s plenty options for deck storage of watertoys and boards.

The antifoul is long-life Coppercoat, easily brushed down on the beach a few times a year. Easy maintenance and no toxic chemicals.

There are copious rod holders, this boat is a fish magnet, often catching tuna and kingfish on lures while underway.

With 18 feet of beam, it is easy to set up a good spread of lures across the stern. The fish seem to like the cool vibe these hulls

give while underway.

Abakazam boat has cruised extensively on the eastern seaboard of the Bay of Plenty and Coromandel. It’s equally at home, whether tucked up in a quiet bay or covering large distances at sea in ease and comfort.

It is capable of being an easy weekend cruiser, or a long term stay-aboard, having completed many voyages of weeks on end.

It has been the centre of our family lifestyle and holds many cherished memories and adventures.

We are sure there’s another family ready to take up the adventure.

She’s been well set up and maintained by her Coastguard skipper owner, who unfortunately is not well enough to sail her or complete a few cosmetic touches that could enhance this boat even more.

The only question is where to keep such a lovely boat? Issue solved; we have two great options.

Abakazam is currently in Whitianga for viewing and is available with two swing mooring options available to buy in Whitianga and Tauranga harbours by negotiation.

For more information, photos and viewing, see the brokerage listings with Gulf Group and Tauranga Boat Sales. waterline Summer 2019

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Expedition race combo The 16th Legends regatta unfurled at Great Mercury Island at Labour Weekend, with hosts Mount Maunganui Yacht Club.

The concept a combination of expedition and race regatta.

Great Mercury Island is the perfect place for such a regatta.

The Legends was the brainchild of club stalwart Doug Harrison who envisaged a sailing event in which all sailors could join together for a great club event of fellowship and fun mixed in with a bit of sailing. The venue is ideal for being an almost equal distance from Tauranga and Auckland and has two natural harbours, one on either side of the island. Both are The all woman crew from Rascal Tom. capable of holding a large fleet of boats. As a bonus the island By the end of the day, the conditions were getting difficult with is spectacularly beautiful. It is one of the special things to love the wind consistently over 30 knots at the island and, with the about New Zealand – relatively few people get to see some of the tide running against it, the sea state had deteriorated such that the most amazing places because they are not that accessible. committee made the decision to change the finish line to Coralie The expedition part of the regatta is the getting to and from Bay. That is not such a bad thing because Coralie Bay is on the Great Mercury Island. Great Mercury is at the top of the east side which is sheltered from the westerly winds. Even so, Coromandel which is 63 miles from Tauranga and a similar some boats preferred the normal harbour at “the Cove” (Haruru distance from Auckland. That is about 10-12 hours of sailing for harbour) so for the first night the fleet was split between the two, most yachts, depending on the weather. In benign conditions it is not too difficult a task but the weather doesn’t always cooperate while the wind howled around us.

Several boats chose to stop halfway and await the better which makes the transit more challenging. This is an important conditions expected on Saturday. Voodoo Lounge suffered part of the regatta ethos – providing opportunities for sailors to mainsail damage on the way up, so didn’t make it at all. improve their seamanship and perhaps undertake a trip that they Outrageous Fortune suffered broken steering during a gybe in would not normally tackle. There is also an option for boats Colville Channel and limped into the Cove glad to make it to a to start from Whitianga which encouraged Mike Way to enter safe harbour. Summer Magic had several false starts and waited Summer Magic, a 25 foot trailer sailer. at Whitianga until the conditions were more For this year’s opening leg the wind suited to their size of boat. Ian Williams on was a brisk westerly of 25-40 knots.

Candela put in a commendable effort being the Most boats found the task challenging only solo sailor to make the trip. enough but with the wind being The second leg was the traditional around offshore the sea state was kind and the island race which is a popular event and provided opportunities for some boats over 20 boats participated. The wind was still to post quick times. Others were a good 20 knots but it was consistent so an more circumspect, happy to arrive well enjoyable sail was had by everyone. Prize giving rather than quickly. Several skippers afterwards was held on the beach at Coralie reported that novice or shorthanded Bay and everyone had a great time. We heard crew became nervous when the of the adventures of Wil Horne and Ian had on wind got over 30 knots so that they Truxton in the Coastal Classic the day before. reduced sail area considerably, but that In the strong conditions we all faced, they broke reinforces good decision making on their rudder clean off, had to be towed back Ross Currie from The Rascal winner of the B&G their part – an important part of good to Auckland, Installed a new rudder overnight and Promarine Electrical participation prize. seamanship.

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and made the trip from Auckland to be at our prizegiving all within 24 hours. We also counted down for the arrival of the only all woman crew, on Rascal Tom and became worried when they failed to show. Gun Caundle was the most nervous not only because Rascal Tom is his boat but his daughter, Robyn, was the skipper. It turns out that the reason they were late was that the crew didn’t receive the message that the finish had been moved to Coralie Bay and so had finished at the Cove only to find nobody there.

The third leg on Sunday, a short race Pork Chop. from Coralie Bay back to the Cove, was spoiled when the wind dropped out completely after the lead boats had Regatta Winners from Pork Chop. finished. That left the slower boats the effort to participate and to the committee for putting becalmed for an hour or so, many together another excellent weekend. becoming frustrated and retiring. The prize giving that day, at the wharf, was a civilised affair with canapes and bubbly Summer 2019 on the beach being provided by Erin As Summer rolls around for 2019 the Mount Maunganui and Haeg on River Rebel. It was all very Yacht Club is planning a busy calendar. enjoyable and a great way to finish the Summer started with the Legends Regatta, which was held day. at Labour Weekend. A separate report on this very successful All that remained was the return to weekend as mentioned elsewhere in this edition. home base. Elixir, heading to Auckland The major items of the summer programme is the new faced a day of headwinds, whereas those heading to Tauranga Triple Coastal Series. This is a series of three races for boats from expected an easier time with wind behind. One of the favourable Tauranga interested in coastal racing. The series consists of three rules of Legends is the Motoring Rule. This rule reflects the events: ethos of the regatta, which is for everyone to have a great time, White Island Race which was held on 16 November 2019. not necessarily with orthodox racing. It means that boats are Whangamata Race on 7 February 2020. allowed to motor without being disqualified if that is the most Mayor Island race on 6 March 2020. efficient way of getting home. So in the early hours of Monday, The series is open for boats from any club affiliated with when the breeze was light boats could use their motors to make Yachting NZ. sure they got home at a reasonable time. The crew on Pork Chop The year end Christmas raft up is going to be held on 15 chose to go for an early morning dive instead, which meant they December and will be at Pilot Bay. The idea is to celebrate left when the wind was up and completed virtually the whole leg the end of the year on and in the water rather than ashore. All under spinnaker. Because of this, they were clear winners of the members are welcome to come along and a water taxi will be leg which set them up to take the trophy for the weekend. Adam available for those not able to bring their own boat.

Yates, the Commodore and one of the owners of Pork Chop has The 2nd annual sand bar cricket match is going to be held completed all 16 regattas and is glad to have finally got his name in the new year. We need to wait for an especially low tide to on the trophy! coincide with a weekend and this doesn’t happen until March.

The main prize, though, is for participating, not necessarily With the newly dredged harbour channel, deep draft boats are winning. The major prize this year was a B&G AIS and VHF able to ‘moor’ alongside the bank and participate or spectate on supplied courtesy of Pro Marine Electrical. Ross Currie from The the cricket happening in the middle of the harbour. This was an Rascal was the lucky winner. enjoyable event last year and is a good way to make the most of Thanks must go to all 26 Skippers and boats which made Daylight saving and summer weather.

Adam Yates waterline Summer 2019

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Named the best in NZ Outstanding innovation and a tremendous work ethic has seen Bridge Marina Travelift Ltd win the inaugural “Boatyard of the Year” award at this year’s NZ Marina Operators’ Association conference.

Bruce and Lucy Goodchap have owned and operated the business since the marina was first developed 22 years ago and are immensely proud of their team and the accolade they’ve achieved.

“We were absolutely delighted and it was a real team award.

Our staff have certainly taken ownership of it and it’s given them a real boost,” Lucy says.

It’s rare for a boatyard to be privately owned as most are operated by marina owners, councils or clubs. But the Goodchaps go out of their way to be different, delivering a full service anti-foul package for boat owners and striving for environmental efficiencies.

“We provide a fixed price to do all the work required to antifoul the vessel - lift out, waterblast, ground-rental, wetsand, re-antifoul and return the vessel to the water,” Bruce explains. “Often we will collect the vessel from its berth and return to the berth once all the work is complete. The owner will be notified with an email invoice stating that all work is complete and the boat is back. Last financial year we did 121 antifoul packages alone.”

The judging panel was impressed by the team’s hands-on approach to doing all the work themselves, as well as the number of lifts performed annually.

“An absolute highlight for us is the number of lifts per annum,” Bruce says. “This number has increased each year of operation and currently sits at 1071 for the 2018 financial year which we see as a great achievement for a yard with a single travelift, no trolley and only 5500m2 of land.”

Another major achievement was securing resource consent to discharge treated storm-water and wash water from their boatyard into Tauranga Harbour. Negotiations with four iwi and the BOP Regional Council took nine years, with the

judges noting the exercise “would have seemed impossible” several years ago.

The new treatment system is a testament to Kiwi ingenuity and meets the ANZECC guidelines for Marine Water 2000 by achieving an 80% protection level after 10m of reasonable mixing.

“We are extremely proud to be protecting our playground and getting such great results,” Bruce says. “The system we developed relies on slowing down water flow, allowing the heavy metals and other elements to settle out of the water.

This process occurs over a 48 hour time frame. We can collect and hold up to 180,000L at one time after which the water goes through a three stage filter consisting of sand, lime and crushed mussel shell.”

The business has also developed an effective tenting process to contain airborne contaminants and has recently introduced the first vapour blaster to Tauranga. “This is a sandblaster, encapsulated in water which reduces the amount of airborne contaminants by 90% compared to standard sandblasting.

“This is a cost effective and more environmentally-friendly way of removing antifoul and has been well received by our customers.” Bruce says the blaster has had a flow-on effect for the travelift business, attracting vessels from outside the region. “It also increases our labour and painting revenue which is a big part of our annual turnover.”

The judges applauded the boatyard for being in complete control of its environment and thinking outside the square.

“Every single inch of the space works. The manager has a great work ethic and an attitude to staff that is second to none,” the judges said.

While the whole team is still basking in the glory of winning this year’s title, other developments are already in the pipeline.

Bruce and Lucy plan to replace and upgrade their 35 tonne travelift in the near future and recycle discharge water through their water blaster to reduce their overall water usage.

“We want to look after our harbour and ensure our work has as little impact on the environment as possible. We also want to continue providing first-class advice and service to our customers.”

The Bridge Marina Travelift team from left to right Marek Zadak, Bruce Goodchap, Lucy Goodchap, Brian Slow, Matt Barr & Antonio Saraiva. waterline Summer 2019

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Areas targeted for closure Prime fishing areas in the Bay of Plenty have been targeted for closure and LegaSea along with local fishers are pushing back.

to meet the conditions specified in a related Environment Court decision.

Public access and the ability to fish in our marine environment is essential for our collective wellbeing. Any proposals for closures must be widely consulted and generate meaningful discussion if they are to get public buy-in. So far this process doesn’t meet these criteria.

The closures of some reefs and islands in the area around Motiti are supported by the latest Court of Appeal decision.

The New Zealand Sport Fishing Council has registered as an Warren Maher – Tairua lifestyler “interested party” with the Bay of Plenty Regional Council in Warren Maher loves his fishing. So much that he has volunteered respect to any resource consent applications or planning processes to be the delegate for the Coromandel fishing clubs affiliated to within the coastal marine area of the Bay of Plenty that may affect the New Zealand Sport Fishing Council. This means recreational fishing interests. he advocates for the fishing interests of local club This is in response to a High Court decision members and the wider community. This year Warren and Court of Appeal ruling acknowledging that was appointed as the Bay of Plenty representative on Councils can use their powers under the Resource the NZSFC Board. Most often this involves attending Management Act to protect or manage indigenous meetings to talk about fisheries issues when the sun is biodiversity in the coastal marine zone out to 12 shining and the fish are biting. True dedication from nautical miles, in the Territorial Sea. Warren and his Fishing Council colleagues.

Despite the most recent decisions, the overlap Warren’s first introduction to fishing was as a child between the Resource Management Act and growing up in Taupo. He was taught to fly fish by Fisheries Act provisions still need to be clarified. his Pop. Warren spent days exploring the lake front, Meantime, we have to gear up and be prepared to Waikato River and up the back participate in the BOP Council’s processes. of the Waitahanui River with his Local NZ Sport Fishing Council representatives Warren Maher. mates. Christmas holidays meant will engage as required to provide constructive regular trips to Plummer’s Point campground feedback on any proposals that may impact on recreational fishing where freshwater fishing gave way to the interests. more exciting wharf and sea fishing. Warren The NZSFC has also requested a position on the Bay of now lives in Tairua and balances his life Plenty Regional Council’s Scientific Advisory Group that is between family, work, fishing and diving. scoping out the baseline and ongoing monitoring requirements

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A treat awaits at the

Tongariro National Trout Centre As Christmas approaches, many holiday makers and more than a few handy fishermen flock to the Lake Taupo district to, among other things get out on the boat and throw a rod over the side for a spot of trout fishing.

Trout numbers each year are not left to chance, with staff at the Tongariro Trout Centre just south of Turangi on State Highway One taking on the responsibility of breeding more through their hatchery each year.

The centre is run by The Tongariro National Trout Centre Society, and caters to many ages, with kid fishing days on every day during the school holidays for a $45 fee. Five to 16-year-olds can hone their skills with a rod and catch a trout of their own.

Manager Bevin Severinson is tasked with keeping on top of the demand during the kid fishing days and managing the facilities.

“We have people lined up for our Take a Kid fishing days, he says.

“I’ve even come in to find people waiting, for the chance to not just catch, but also fillet and woodsmoke their catch as well at a catchment area set aside at the centre.”

No jigging or harling here, just a safe environment for kids to start out or further their journey with rod in hand.

Adults don’t get the chance to join in on the fishing but can experience the museum and aquarium on-site.

It’s fair to say the place has its fair share of visitors, but there is more in store as early next year, the facilities will take on some new tenants, with the addition of a whio creche beginning onsite.

This will be the country’s largest Whio Creche with juvenile 3-4 month old blue ducks brought in from around New Zealand to prepare and get them used to the outdoor surroundings before being released back into the original river systems where the eggs were collected from.

The expectation is visitors will be able to get close to these beautiful birds in a controlled and safe environment, free of the natural predators these eggs and young birds experience in the wild.

“Whio live next to our waterways,” says Bevin.

“This is a nationwide program, we get them from Mount Bruce in the Wairarapa, as well as Auckland Zoo – all over the country.”

With this level of detail and time going into keeping whio and trout numbers up in Lake Taupo, perhaps we’ll hear more stories about ‘the one that got away’?

Matt Mortimer

A display inside the museum. All photos: Matt Mortimer.

A trout fishing rod.

A bush walk alongside the stream that leads from the main building.

The stream leading from the hatchery area is teeming with trout.

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Where are all the Ron Morgan

The John Dory appear to have almost disappeared from our beaches over the winter months.

The John Dory has been called “a vacuum cleaner� as it can swallow some quite large fish with an expandable jaw. It is very thin and can approach its prey head-on virtually undetected. It appears stationary with a high dorsal fin and relatively large tail keeping it steady with just its fins moving before attacking its prey. The John Dory is rated highly for its eating quality.

Many years back there would be a regular early morning number of folk roaming the beaches for the John Dory that would become beached while chasing sprats in the shallows. Some would be laying on the sand from the receding tide having beached themselves and the tell tale sign was often a large gull pecking the eyes or the fish. If one was quick enough the remainder of the fish was still great eating much to the disgust of the gull who was sent off to find another stranded fish.

Numbers appear similar in open water fishing but why have they decreased inshore and on the beaches?

John Dory?

John Ellwood whilst operating the ferry at Mercury Bay in between runs in one year caught 790 John Dory! He donated most to the elderly who regularly met at the wharf or to valued customers on the ferry.

As a youngster we would catch John Dory after sighting them near the wharf and herding them towards shore by throwing gravel on the seaward side of the fish. With a log piece of stick we would further assist by hitting the water. It is great sight today to see youngsters catch a John Dory whilst retrieving a sprat caught from the wharf. Sadly this is not so common over recent years.

My Labrador was trained to catch and retrieve John Dory in the shallows.

He delighted in catching the semi stranded fish as they surfaced often side-on swimming in circles.

There was one problem. When other people nearby sighted a fish he noted the body language and actions so immediately departed to assist! Unfortunately he dived into the water with such gusto and enthusiasm that he created confusion and so upsetted the visibility the fish escaped much to the disgust of the people involved. This often involved a trade off with previously caught fish to avoid a possible argument.

Pencil sketch by a previous student Brooke Ellis of Mercury Bay Area School.

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Alf Rendell celebrates 102 Local legend and Tauranga Yacht and Powerboat Club member Alf Rendell has reached the grand age of 102.

Born in November 1917, he came to the small, coastal fishing village of Tauranga as an eight-month-old baby from Whakatane, and like his father before him, became a well-known photographer in the region.

Alf was the rear commodore of the Tauranga Yacht and Powerboat Club in 1940 and 41.

“At the end of that season I put my boat up for sale, sold it and went into the army,” says Alf. “They asked me ‘what would I like to do?’, and I said I’d like to go into signals or the army services corp, but they put me into machine gunners.

“I went as an observer in September. Soon afterwards in December, the Japanese came into the war. They’d sent us to Fiji, but I was lucky. I had the flu so I followed the battalion about a month later and missed all the hard work. They had to dig out the sandstone to put petrol tanks into the ground.”

After three months, Alf returned to NZ before being sent to Tonga. There he manned the machine gun posts around the coasts at night, and was given the job of photographer.

“They issued me with a bicycle, so when I wasn’t doing army duty I could cycle wherever I liked.”

He took a series of pictures, with some of them now on display in Tonga’s first public library which was opened in October 2019.

After the four months in Tonga, Alf was sent to New Caledonia, where he was able to use a dark room to print out photographs for every chap in the battalion, spending the rest of the war mainly doing photography.

On returning to NZ in 1945, Alf didn’t buy a boat again for a long time.

“I got married. And went into business doing photography and just became very busy.”

He dropped off his membership of the yacht and powerboat club for a few years.

“But I’m a member now. I’m probably what you call a social member.”

Alf is also a member of the Order of the Blue Gavel, a group of ex-NZ commodores.

Back in 1940, the Tauranga Yacht and Powerboat Club was located next to the Matapihi rail bridge.

“I joined the yacht club in 1933 when I was still going to school.

We were building the yacht club in the last year or two of school, and we used to do working bees.”

The current commodore Andrew Knowles says the club moved to its new location at Sulphur Point because the then new harbour bridge was not high enough to allow yachts with masts up to pass underneath.

Alf recalls there were about 100 members back in the 30s.

“There were about 20 or 30 boats – including three or four yachts, and launches. We used to have the odd race.”

Alf sailed a Patiki yacht called Mavis. Arch Logan had designed the small skimmers at the turn of the century, calling them Patikis,

Above: Alf Rendall with a framed photograph of his Patiki yacht, Mavis. Left: Ngahuia with Frank Gresham inset. (Image:Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, AWNS-19400117-46-4 )

the Maori name for flounder or flatfish.

Alf recalls with a chuckle that as rear commodore he didn’t have to do much.

“It was just a nominal position.”

He does remember a tragedy though that happened in the harbour.

“On 14 January, 1940, four men who were on board the Ngahuia drowned off Matakana Island. There were five on board coming back in in a storm, and they grounded in the middle of the night. Only one lived, four drowned.”

The B class keel yacht Ngahuia had run into a storm with heavy seas on a return trip from White Island.

The survivor and yacht owner Frank Gresham made it to shore through 50 yards of boiling surf, and although injured, alerted a nearby resident who sent for help.

The four who died, all club members, were 19-year-old John Willcock, 23-year-old Roy Tonkin, 33-year-old Phillip Neilson, and 38-year-old Leslie Mellows. Despite a search by 150 men, Phillip’s body was never recovered.

“At their funerals I represented the yacht club,” says Alf. In October 2020, it will be 100 years since the Tauranga Yacht and Powerboat Club held its inaugural meeting on October 20, 1920, with the Opening Day celebrated on November 25, 1920. A history of the club was edited by Marion Smith at the 75-year mark, and the club is having an updated history written ready for the centenary. On most Mondays, John Weston, another club member, picks up Alf from his home at Oaklands and they head to the club for coffee. On his 102nd birthday Alf enjoyed a tour of the city in a Rosalie Liddle Crawford beautiful vintage car. Happy birthday Alf. waterline Summer 2019

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Improved facilities for the summer Those folk in Mercury Bay have been enjoying the new town upgrade with the improved outdoor dining areas, walkways, murals and artwork all depicting the navigational and nautical theme incorporating the town planning theme.

The boating fraternity have been enjoying the pontoon at the main launching ramp for some time as well. A second upgrade has recently been added at Robinson Road which has been a welcome addition ahead of the busy summer months. The pontoons have been especially popular for embarking and disembarking ,ideal for younger and older family members and have stream lined the launching and retrieving operation as boats can be accommodated at the pontoon rather than clogging the launching area.

A TCDC Councillor for Mercury Bay who has taken an active role in these developments added: “I believe that marine activities are the lifeblood of our community. It was the lack of facilities that encouraged me to seek election to the TCDC. The boating fraternity are a significant contributor to our economic well being and I am satisfied to see the progress we have made in providing significant improvements in our trailer boat facilities. We have a lot more to do but have come a long way in the last nine years.�

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Those who may enjoy the beauty of walking or riding will soon have a fitness area, a bridge and the new toilet block near the popular barbeque area at Taputaputea stream.

This area and the walkway are in full use and are enhanced with Michael Smither’s stingrays in the concrete. The extended walkways, recently installed connecting the town centre feature historical information coupled with visual images of the early history of the town.

Sugarloaf Boat Ramp.

The younger folk have also been treated to a new playground which is a credit to all involved which is proving particularly popular. Those a little older are looking forward to the proposed developments of the planned skateboard park with a progressive group working with the Community Board

Royal Billy point Wharf.

Fund raising continues on this impressive initiative with the plans and designs attracting favourable comment.

Those in Pauanui are also delighted with the improved facilities at Royal Billy Point.

Some improvements with the safety bolsters around the posts will further enhance these facilities and no doubt improve access over the busy holiday period.

An excellent calendar with valued information on Thames Coast launching ramps has been produced by the TCDC and is available free of charge at most regional offices and bait shops in the area.

Congratulations to the Thames Coromandel and local Community Boards for their planning and developing these initiatives for the benefit of both locals and the many visitors expected over the coming Ron Morgan months.

King salmon is a fish worthy of its name, prized for its rich flavour and delicate texture.

A member of the Salmonidae family (trout, salmon), king salmon was introduced to New Zealand in the early 20th century. The species varies in colour, but fresh run salmon are largely silver, with a dark tinge on its back, dotted with black spots.

King salmon has a full, rich flavour with a delicate, “melt in the mouth� texture. It is highly regarded for its taste and texture - the result of a premium breed of salmon, which stores higher levels of natural oils. It is also a very versatile fish that can be cooked using a

variety of methods. It cooks quickly and flakes easily when tested with a fork.

King salmon is delicious both cooked and served rare.

It is frequently eaten raw as sushi or sashimi. You can buy king salmon whole, filleted, portioned or smoked.

Good-quality king salmon will have an even consistency of vibrant apricot colour across the salmon meat, with firm, moist flesh.

The premium taste and texture of king salmon make it a popular Christmas protein. For a quick and easy meal, try barbecued salmon. Mix together a handful of roughly chopped chervil and Italian parsley, lime zest, a pinch of chilli flakes, and a clove of garlic. Season with salt and pepper. Brush the salmon fillets with olive oil and dip into herb mix until generously coated. Barbecue until the fish is just cooked through. Serve on a bed of grilled seasonal vegetables, with a basil pesto sauce. For the complete recipe, visit www.seafood.co.nz

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Catfish Cull is calling

Counting catfish.

Fishers of all ages try their luck in Motuoapa.

Prizes aplenty after the day is over.

The 2020 Rosemergy Catfish Cull happens at Lake Taupo again this year, in efforts to eradicate or at least reduce the number of the pest fish from the lake.

Each year divers arm themselves with hand-spears and descend on New Zealand’s largest lake over the first weekend of February, with the view of eradicating as many of them as possible, taking the opportunity to dive in the clear lake water and sharpen their spears, and their technique as well.

The expectation for the cull is to get more than 350 divers in their wetsuits this time, to see who can take away something from the huge pool of prizes on offer. Thousands of dollars of exciting giveaways are up for grabs with brands 50

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Hundreds are turning out to spear catfish.

such as Cressi, Ocean Hunter, Wettie and more getting in on the action.

A representative from one of these sponsors, Cressi New Zealand, Dean Albiston is also an organising team member. Dean confirms the event is definitely proving popular, with results to match, with over 2500 catfish speared each year – with only one option allowed for participants.

“It’s all hand-spears, no guns.”

Dean will be hoping for a great day weather-wise too. An increase in temperature also amounts to an increase in catch. Although there are no guarantees and despite what the locals will tell you about the sun always shining over the great lake, the sun is certainly more likely to be shining in earlyFebruary.

“Weather makes a big difference. Last year was not the best, however two years ago we got over 4000.

The weather plays a big part in numbers.

The more settled the day is, the more fish come into the shallow water.

Spearfishers can shoot catfish in Lake Taupo any time of the year, however spearing trout is illegal, so much so that if competitors do so, they will be banned from all future competitions.

Luckily for the organisers, the event has backing in regard to the conservation element too.

“We’re very fortunate to have the Department of Conservation on board.

Catfish aren’t a native species to the lake and are a natural predator to the trout we have.”

“Having the cull each year helps control the numbers.”

The event base is in the popular spot of Motuoapa, at the marina about a 10-minute drive North of Turangi on State Highway One. Matt Mortimer

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