Waterline September 2016

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

SEPTEMBER 2016

VHF channel changes Simon Barker, Tauranga Coastguard, tunes into the October 1 marine radio changes. See page 7.

02 WATERLINE

SEPTEMBER 2016

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

Phone 07-578 0030 Fax 07-571 1116 No.1 The Strand, Tauranga 3110. PO Box 240, Tauranga 3140 email: brian@thesun.co.nz For advertising, call Chloe on 07 928 3054 email chloe@thesun.co.nz

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WATERLINE 03

SEPTEMBER 2016

Hangry, impatient fishermen Spring is to kayak fishermen as Christmas is to a 10-year-old. The days are getting longer, the water temperature is rising – and the kayakers are finding themselves hangry – a combination of hungry and angry.

All winter long they’ve waited, dreamed, and bored everyone with their tales of fishing. But there’s a problem. Right when ‘Santa’ should arrive, the wind blows into town and steals all the fun. Yes, spring is often a frustrating time to be a kayak fisherman.

Here in the Bay of Plenty the spring westerlies are an absolute nightmare. They blow directly offshore and they can last for weeks. The only way to combat wind is to avoid it and this means picking your days – when it’s not windy – or finding shelter. On the plus side, the wind generally flattens off the surf and the fish are getting hungry…so your days on the water should be pretty rewarding.

Tim’s tip No 1: The cliffs north of Waihi beach are paradise at this time of the year. It’s a prime kayak fishing location as it’s protected from the westerly and has a safe beach launching point.

So you’ve picked the one fantastic day – or found a sheltered spot – and you’re heading out for your first kayak of the season. What should you expect?

On the snapper side of things I would expect the fish to be in good condition but not found in big numbers. The water temperature is still hovering around 16-17 degrees Celsius, so they’ll be a bit lethargic. The good news is that when the bite comes on it’s really on, as they are trying to put on weight for spawning.

A five-inch softbait with a slow retrieve or a straylined pillie will work wonders on these fish.

On the kingfish side of things, expect there to be a lot of rats. These provide a lot of fun on light gear but not a lot of meat for the table.

The bigger kings are still in spawning mode and will be found a little further out than what the average kayaker wants to travel, for example Mayor Island.

Other species that are still worth targeting are gurnard and Tarakihi. As the water is still a little cool, they will still be found in quite close and are a welcome addition to anyone’s pan.

Target the Tarakihi using a ledger rig with 1/0 hooks. They will be found only on top of reefs, so find the rocks with your sounder and look for the red blobs above them.

There are a few rocks off Papamoa or else head to Town Point. The gurnard can be found over sand and are real opportunists, so you’ll probably catch them while targeting snapper.

Tim’s Tip No 2: Fish two rods at a time. Put a ledger rig on one and drag it along while you softbait with the other. The different methods help to double your chances.

I hope the above points help to catch you a few fish, but please feel free to contact me through NZ Kayaker if you need any more help.

Be safe, be seen, and paddle hard.

04 WATERLINE

SEPTEMBER 2016

Paradise is ready and waiting!

Nestled on the southern end of Taveuni, you’ll find Paradise. The island resort in the northeast of the Fiji group is a little off the beaten track, which makes it even more special.

This boutique resort, with a specialist diving reputation, has stunning clear water diving right off the front lawn.

It is in the heart of some of the world’s best diving sites such as Rainbow Reef and many others in the Somosomo Strait, between the islands of Taveuni and Vanua Levu.

A twin-engined Otter will have you landed at Matei on the north end of Taveuni “the Garden Island” in just over an hour from Nadi International.

From there it’s a pleasant one-hour drive along the picturesque coastal road, the length of the island to Paradise in the south.

And when we say off the beaten track, it literally was beaten. The road was one of the victims of an unwelcome guest by the name of Winston, who breezed in back in February. The category five – the worst – cyclone ravaged parts of Fiji and particularly the south end of Taveuni.

But it has been a remarkable road to recovery for the islanders and the resort owners, to rebuild their homes, lives and business from the rubble and chaos wreaked by Winston.

It was also a great privilege to share the Paradise Taveuni’s first night open, four months after Winston.

The emotions and relief, mixed with exhaustion, hung in the warm night air as Allan and Teri Gortan celebrated with their loyal staff, and the first guests in months.

Fish on the menu, doesn’t come fresher than this.

One of the dive boats being prepared for the day’s outing.

There’s still a lot to do, but Paradise really is back on the tourist map and they’re eager to get the message out that Paradise is ready and waiting!

The Waterline team was really impressed how the Paradise team rallied together, overcoming not only the major tasks, but also the many inevitable little niggles that come with rebuilding a classy resort, on the outskirts of nowhere, in a few months.

Remarkable, too, is the resilience of the Fiji people. I’ve always said they are the friendliest in the world…

Well they lay on an extra friendly welcome to visitors showing loyalty and support.

Tourism numbers dropped about 36 per cent after Winston tore through the islands. Yet the resorts such as Paradise are up and running, keener than ever to see visitors…

And the best thing to help Fiji rebound from Winston is for tourists to support them.

I found it fascinating and rewarding seeing

good people staunchly pushing on with their lives and livelihoods in response to the worst nature can throw their way…Complete with a few little hiccups along the way…Rather than being cosseted in a poncy, pristine artificial environment with its first-world problems!

One of the unique features of Paradise is the gin-clear tropical waters, teeming with colourful fish, right on the front doorstep.

We snorkelled almost daily, stepping off the ancient lava flow rocks into beautiful warm, clear waters. The sea temperature even in winter sits at around 24 degrees Celsius, the daytime air temperature simmers in the late-20s and the nights rarely drop below 23 degrees Celsius.

Despite the coastline being thrashed by nine metre waves, the coral and fish life carry on with vigour.

Paradise Taveuni has its own on-site PADI dive shop and instructors, a flotilla of dive boats and a knowledgeable team ready to take divers to some off the best sites in the world.

I was amazed to see the local guides navigating their way around the extensive reef systems without depth sounder or GPS. They know every nook and cranny, every current in every tide and moon phase; and can drop divers right onto the best locations.

I’ve sailed and dived most locations in the Pacific, and can honestly say Paradise provided the best I’ve seen so far.

Rainbow Reef tops the list, with such great visibility and variety.

WATERLINE 05

SEPTEMBER 2016

nd walks.

Plenty of great isla

My first dive was at Storm Warning, so named because it’s the first part of the reef to signal to locals the arrival of troubled waters. Not on our day! Storm Warning was gentle as a baby, leading us down the sloping reef faces and drifting over a huge variety of coral and sealife.

The deepest point was 85 feet and we ended with a gradual ascent to the waiting dive boat.

Next up was Freeway, another section of the Rainbow Reef, where divers are dropped in for a tropical road trip, eased along with a helpful current to see stunning corals and sea life.

This dive only took us to about 75 feet, although much of the scenery was around half that depth. A highlight for me near the end of the dive was the massive purple ‘Cabbage Patch’ of enormous leaf-like corals.

There’s plenty of snorkelling opportunities handy to Paradise. If you want to go further than the resort seafront, there are plenty of spots only 30-40 minutes by boat.

Island tours are a regular activity, taking in some spectacular coastal walks, stunning waterfalls such as the Bouma Park, where ‘Return to Blue Lagoon’ was filmed with Charlize Theron in the nineties.

A quirk of the world’s Greenwich Time System is also a neat little side trip – to a unique place where the International Dateline cuts through the island. You can have your photo taken with half your body in today and

Beach brid

e: Escorted

by warrior

s.

half in yesterday!

Yes many things are possible in Paradise, including time travel.

For those wanting some pampering, there’s massages and treatments in the spa or your room.

Fishing feeding happens anytime on the waterfront, there are some little beach kayaks for snooping around the coastline, farm tours, village tours, kava sessions and the usual tropical island distractions involving coconuts, frogs, horses, lizards and fishes.

It’s a great place to get married. We were privileged to meet a young Aussie couple who had eloped and were wed, without their families’ knowledge, at Taveuni. It was a beautiful occasion in the tropical sunset, the resort went all out with preparations, including tree planting, an archway of flowers and oiled-up warrior escorts for the bride.

I even was privileged to experience that most humbling of tropical island events, being hit by a falling coconut. I was stoked to reach that milestone without serious injury, just laughed so much I fell in the garden.

Those with a canine soft spot will simply love the selection of smoochy Ridgebacks.

There are three to choose from.

Thanks to Paradise Taveuni and staff for an amazing couple of weeks, in well, Paradise.

We wish you well in your remarkable recovery. We look forward to a return to Paradise soon.

py hours.

Sunsets and hap

g is the island A great side trip after divin le of Tuvalu in of Kioa, bought by peop who have the middle of last century, to relieve progressively migrated there l reef island cora overcrowding on their d Kioa in of Vaitupu. They purchase today the Kioa 1947 for $15,000. Even dation and trepi the islanders speak of her the migrants fear initially, about whet cannibals, and would be eaten by Fijian rent climate. how they’d cope with a diffe islanders Today, the several thousand to visitors s craft thrive on Kioa, sell hand de the inclu tions tradi their and part of drum. group playing of a massive

Brian Rogers

Waterfalls of

the Boum

a region.

SEPTEMBER 2016

06 WATERLINE

STOP THE SPREAD OF MARINE PESTS Marine pests are a threat to great boating, diving and seafood supply. They’re easily spread through ballast water and hull fouling.

fa nw orm

Antifoul regularly

•

Haul out to clean heavy hull fouling

•

Check and clean your hull before you travel somewhere new

ca te sea squirt

un ica te s ea squirt

t

•

d be Club

Keep your boat bottom clean – no more than light slime, all the time

ni tu an Australi

Don’t let marine pests hitch-hike on your fouling fuzz: •

GD154336

KEEP THEM OUT OF BAY OF PLENTY

n ea Mediterran

These marine invaders have become established in parts of Auckland or Northland, but not the Bay of Plenty.

Tauranga marinas have new hull hygiene rules for visiting vessels. Contact Tauranga Bridge Marina ph 07 575 8264 or Tauranga Marina ph 07 578 8747 for details.

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JOIN THE PEST PATROL Keep watch, call it in.

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

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

Find out more at www.boprc.govt.nz/ marinepests

Photos courtesy of G.Read, S.Wilkens & Northland Regional Council

WATERLINE 07

SEPTEMBER 2016

Medal haul for Bay Olympians “Bloody awesome.” Tauranga Yacht and Power Boat Club’s Steve Glover doesn’t mince his words.

But he’s hit the nail on the head following a stunning day on the water for Tauranga sailors Peter Burling and Molly Meech who won gold and silver respectively at the Rio Olympic regatta in August.

Four-time world champions Peter and teammate Blair Tuke won gold in the 49ers, which was followed by a silver from Molly and her teammate Alex Maloney in the women’s 49erFX. The gold and silver medals add to Molly’s brother Sam Meech’s bronze in the Laser class, and Jason Saunders’ fourth placing in the Nacra class with teammate Gemma Jones earlier on at the Rio Olympic games.

At 5am on the morning of August 19, a small crowd of Tauranga Yacht and Power Boat Club members gathered at former commodore Gary Smith’s home to cheer on Peter and Molly in their respective medal races.

“The boys and girls were glued to the screen cheering our mates on this morning, it was really awesome,” says Steve.

“With Peter and Molly’s medals, Tauranga Yacht Club’s now got a gold, a silver, a bronze and a fourth; so that’s pretty cool for our club, just spectacular.”

The club couldn’t be prouder of the four Tauranga sailors and their achievements, says Steve.

“They are all just bloody awesome people, what more can I say.”

He goes further, describing Burling as “a freak” and adds: “There’s no-one like him and there’ll never ever will be another one like him ever again.”

“He’s an unbelievable sailor and epitomises the term ‘role model’. He doesn’t blow his own trumpet, he’s not over the top; he’s just you’re average

Kiwi kid doing above-average, amazing things.

“And to have a brother and sister medal at the same Olympics as well, that’s spectacular. “Not many brother-and-sister teams have got medals at the same Olympics I would imagine.”

Steve acknowledges Peter, Molly, Sam and Jason’s accomplishments comes down to grit, dedication, determination and Peter Burling perseverance, but and Blair he feels their parents Tuke won deserve a lion’s share of the gold at the kudos too.

Rio Olympics.

“To do what they’ve all done, the parents have given up their lives so their children can pursue their dreams and succeed on the world stage, now that’s pretty amazing and incredible,” says Steve.

Adding to the Bay’s medal haul is Lisa Carrington, who is the first New Zealand woman to win multiple medals at a single Olympics.

She claimed bronze in the women’s K1 500m at Rodrigo de Freitas lagoon and a gold medal in Lisa the fast and Carrington furious canoe won gold and sprint they call bronze at the the K1 200m. games.

Tauranga’s Sam Meech claimed a bronze medal.

David Tauranga

Early change on VHF channels New Zealand is moving early on an international requirement to change some maritime VHF repeater channels to make space for newlyallocated international services for ship tracking and data services.

New Zealand is moving a few private VHF repeater services, most Coastguard VHF repeater services, and all NowCasting weather services to accommodate these changes, on

October 1, 2016.

The changes are being made before the before the peak summer recreational boating season when VHF radio services become busy, ensuring New Zealand is ready for the changes that come into force internationally on January 1, 2017.

The existing maritime Channel 16 used for safety, distress and calling purposes will not change.

Current VHF radios will be able to access all the available channels after the changes take place, but some boaties may have to change to a new channel number to continue accessing some local

repeaters, or listen to the weather forecast.

The biggest change is the new four digit maritime channels for the Coastguard and NowCasting weather service. These four-digit channel numbers are allocated internationally to new maritime channels. New Zealand will be using some of the new fourdigit maritime channels for the Coastguard and privately provided NowCasting weather services.

Boaties will still be able to listen to weather channels on the current VHF set by dropping the first two digits and using the last two digits of the four-digit channel number.

For example, in the Waitemata Harbour where the new weather channel number is 2019, you only need to use channel 19.

In the Bay of Plenty the weather channel changes from 22-79.

Coastguard channels on the Coromandel and in the Bay of Plenty are also changing from October 1, 2016.

Whitianga, VHF 86 – 83.

Tairua/Pauanui, 86 – 63.

Whangamata, 84 – 04.

Waihi Beach, 85 – 07.

Tauranga/Maketu, 83 – 01.

Whakatane/Opotiki, 80 – 18.

Waihau Bay, 63 – 65.

Rotorua Lakes 81 – 02

08 WATERLINE

SEPTEMBER 2016

Everybody wins with nautical team-up If you are looking for a deal on a new boat package, just in time for summer, then Mastertech Marine has the answer.

Thanks to a special partnership between leading Kiwi boat builders Buccaneer and Mercury Marine, the Buccaneer 565 Sportsman XL, featuring a Mercury 115hp 4-stroke outboard, has been released – with over $18,000 worth of extras thrown in, at no extra cost.

Mastercraft Marine Sales Manager Mark Stratford says this collaboration was designed to keep both companies’ factories running at full capacity over the winter months, as these are normally slower times for boat and motor sales.

And the customer reaps the benefits!

“We’ve managed to secure just five of these, and customers are already showing a lot of interest,” says Mark.

The Mercury-powered 565 Sportsman XL is a fully rigged package, starting with a rope-and-chain fully automatic capstan on the bow – no more hauling anchors up from the depths.

It has a full infill in the cabin, which includes the provision for a toilet under it; this feature is normally reserved for much bigger boats.

The dashboard is fitted with smartcraft gauges for easy observation of the engine management features, Lowrance Elite 7Ti – the latest technology in CHIRP depth sounders – including a full chart plotter, and a VHF Radio.

The seating configuration is perfect. Backto-back passenger seating includes a large underseat storage area, and the captain sits atop a single swivel pedestal.

But by far the most impressive accessory must be the stainless steel Bimini top, complete with rocket launcher to keep all your rods up off the deck. The clear side curtains will keep you protected from the wind in winter.

The boat comes with hydraulic steering, making handling a breeze no matter your strength or stature.

LED interior lights and external navigational lighting provide all the lighting you need for a night-time fish or late night return from a day on the water.

With a 165 litre under-floor fuel tank, the fuel miser 115hp 4-stroke Mercury (giving 10 nautical miles per litre at speed) will have plenty of juice for a full day’s skiing or a trip to Mayor Island.

With a five-year warranty offered by Mercury Marine, customers are also purchasing outstanding peace of mind.

WATERLINE 09

SEPTEMBER 2016

Big savings on a new Buccaneer An all-around internal liner is unique to Buccaneer. Rather than the carpet-on-fiberglass outer you see in most modern boats, this liner is a lot easier to clean, and dries quickly.

The ultra-floor also allows for quick and easy cleanup after a day’s fishing – no absorbent surfaces means no places for lingering smells.

The trailer is a Hamilton-built Enduro with fully sealed subframe and flushing port, which helps reduce corrosion. Manufactured from NZ fully-galvanized

steel componentry, the package comes standard on a single axle trailer, though Mark says a tandem option is available.

According to our test drive, this is an all-around awesome family boat. Buccaneer’s philosophy –manufacturing quality boats that are beautiful to look at and built to last – certainly shows in this exceptional example of NZ-built watercraft. With lowinterest finance available through Mercury Finance, there is every reason to climb aboard a new boat this summer.

Matt Batchelor

10 WATERLINE

SEPTEMBER 2016

CLUB NEWS

Congratulations to everyone Nick Wrinch has stepped up to the plate and become Tauranga Yacht and Power Boat Club’s new Commodore.

We all look forward to working with Nick, who is very supportive of the centreboard division.

Nigel Rippey has done a grand job as Commodore and, fortunately for us, still plays a role in the coaching and the daily running of the place.

I would also like to thank Pauline Barnett for the fine job she has done of writing the articles for the TYPBC magazine over the last few years. She has now returned to Auckland to support her son’s sailing.

Gary Smith has finally become a Life Member of the club and it is well-deserved.

Thank you for your support of the centreboard division.

Shirley, Jack Wilkins, Sam Way, Anya Pearce, Max Faulkner, Monty Carter, Josh Blackie, Sydney Cunliffe, Max Scott and Olly Maidment.

TYPBC Olympic Sailors

All four of ‘our’ Olympic participants vied for a medal this month. It has been an exciting roller-coaster ride, which has really caught the public’s imagination. I think we are running out of superlatives when it comes to describing Pete and Blair’s’ performances in the 49er – a truly outstanding performance, yet again. Congratulations to them on their welldeserved gold medal.

Sam Meech had to battle hard to get selected

Centreboard Sailing

We have had a fine winter with our young members representing New Zealand in the Asian Optimist Champs in Sri Lanka, where Joel Kennedy managed a final result of 38th in a fleet of 112 of the world's top Optimist sailors.

Lachlan Dillon, who missed half of his racing due to sickness, bounced back to win one of the final races in the Silver fleet. The Asian Champs is one of the most competitive international Optimist regattas on the circuit, so these results are exceptional.

The Winter Series has been fantastic with the weather gods looking after us. We only lost one race day due to bad weather all winter.

Warren Belk has done a stellar job of race officer. The opening day we had 73 boats in all classes, and good turnout numbers every race day.

We had a strong winter series in all classes.

I was also very pleased to see the 420s class racing in our club series. These boats are generally used for school racing.

The Green Optimists were very tight with three boats battling it out on the last day. The Open Optimist had good numbers all season, with a couple of outstanding sailors coming up through our ranks. P Class rose to 10 boats, with two boats ahead of the pack - what an epic race-by-race battle. The Techno boardsailors showed good speed all winter.

Our place-winners, and perhaps names to look out for in the future, were Robbie

our results are getting better.

So all of you up-and-coming Olympians, come to our club, for Learn to Sail right through to Advanced Race Coaching. All are welcome.

Please contact the TYPBC or visit our web page to learn more.

We are very proud of our successful club, proud to have had four sailors competing at the games in Rio, and proud to have these talented, world-class sailors come through our club as juniors.

Sailability

This year we have something special going on in our club: Sailibility. This is to give people with disabilities a chance to learn or continue sailing in our fine harbour – what a great sport.

The boats they use are specially designed vessels called Hansa 303.

It is nice to see we have a group of volunteers interested in making this happen in Tauranga, so thank you Peter Dallimore and friends for getting this off the ground. Peter is the interim Sailability Chairperson, along with Dave Burss when he returns from overseas.

Youth Pathways Regatta

for the NZ team. In hindsight, that battle may have been good training for the Olympic Regatta itself. Sam had to battle difficult conditions and tactical mind games in the medal race and won bronze in a fleet of 46 top-class Laser sailors, which is an awesome achievement.

Gemma Jones and Jason Saunders had a fantastic regatta in the Nacra class. Their victory in the medal race was a superb achievement, but I guess it did little to console them that they just missed out on a medal and had to settle for fourth place. It was still a fantastic performance and we are proud of you and all our Olympic sailors.

Alex Maloney and Molly Meech in the 49erFX won a silver that last day. I just could not take my eyes off the TV, heart racing. The girls did us proud, finishing only one and a half seconds off the gold medal place.

Sailing School

Maria Farrario returns for her third season of teaching sailing at TYPBC. Maria is keen to get the sailing school cranked up for the summer. She really is a marvel and each year

At the same time, a select youth team was sailing in the Youth Pathways Regatta in Auckland in the MRX one design keelboats.

Our team of senior skipper Greg Farmer, Elly Warren, Tom Maidment, Niamh Dillon, Harry Bailey, and Luke Gulliver finished a very meritorious fourth.

This is an excellent result from a team that had been put together just before the regatta, had never raced together, and had very little keelboat experience.

Foiling Kiteboard Champs

In the meantime, we saw another success in a less well-known event.

You will have seen some keen types suspended on a bit of string from above, standing well clear of the harbour water, defying the laws of physics on their foils.

One of them, club member Richard Bates, has just won the grandmaster’s division of the Hydrofoil World Kiteboarding Pro Tour, held in Mauritius.

What a winter season, and we give thanks to all those putting their hand up to take on a helping role, and those on committees for the coming season. We also thank all those who have helped in any way around the club and on the water through the winter season.

Greg Scott

WATERLINE 11

SEPTEMBER 2016

Give windsurfing a go The latest ‘Have a Go at Windsurfing’ morning at Tauranga Yacht and Power Boat Club (TYPBC) drew a great turnout, introducing an adult and ten children to the sport.

Tauranga Yacht & Power Boat Club

in October and November 2016, though dates are yet to be confirmed.

Places will be limited, so please contact Pauline at menp@ihug.co.nz or see the TYPBC website for more information.

Before heading out on the water, they practiced on the simulator to get a feeling for uphauling the sail, balancing on the board, safety positioning, and steering.

When they ventured off dry land, four TYPBC windsurfers were ready to provide the necessary support. The light winds were perfect and most of the participants got the hang of it quickly.

Many thanks to all the participants, to the Bay of Plenty Sailing Academy Trust (BoPSAT) for providing all the gear, to Max, Dolf, Veerle and Olly for being such enthusiastic and helpful instructors, and to Mark ten Have for driving a small rib and providing extra safety on the water.

A ‘Learn to Windsurf ’ course will run

Pauline ten Have

Tauranga youth windsurf the world Yachting New Zealand (YNZ) has opened up the RS:X 8.5 AON Youth Programme to the Techno293 class, allowing Tauranga Yacht and Power Boat Club (TYPBC) windsurfers to attend several clinics over the past few months.

The programme aims to develop and prepare young sailors who dream of international success. Coaches Bruce Kendall and Kate Ellingham helped the attending TYPBC members to gain huge amounts of skills and knowledge over the course of the clinics.

The TYPBC will host the second September clinic for two days, and Ms Ellingham will attend, alongside several Auckland windsurfers.

With spring around the corner, the windsurfers will be seen more regularly on the water in preparation for their next season, with several regattas and clinics coming up.

Max van der Zalm and Veerle ten Have will be off to Europe at the end of September to compete at the Techno293 World Championships in Lake Garda, Italy. Having experienced the Championships last year, they say they are looking forward to not only improving their results, but also catching up with old friends.

Both feel extremely lucky for being invited to participate in the Netherlands-based training sessions of the Dutch Techno293 team in the two weeks before travelling to Italy.

In the meantime, Olly Maidment and Dolf

ten Have will hold the windsurfing fort at TYPBC while preparing for the Tauranga Windsurf Weekend (23-24 September), the Winter Champs at Murrays Bay, and Sir Peter Blake.

12 WATERLINE

SEPTEMBER 2016

CLUB NEWS

Omokoroa Boat Club

A gig, award and summer sailing ahead The Omokoroa Boat Club is settling down after a very successful visit from Bay of Plenty band Kokomo on August 21, with their many fans rocking and bopping on a beautiful afternoon.

Also our Junior Sailing programme had just been awarded regional runner-up in the TrustPower Volunteer Awards for 2016, which in its citation recognised the club had run the programme since 1999, had more than 660 young sailors partake of the sail training – and due to the club’s promotion of safe use of sailing dinghies and rescue craft, no injuries or accidents have been recorded.

We feel very proud to accept the award – and thank you TrustPower and Western Bay of Plenty District Council and especially our parents and young leaders. It really is a joy to see these young sailors taking to the water each weekend during summer and giving it their all.

Our Junior Sailing Programme starts again on October 8, at 10am.

Senior Sailors started our winter series on August 14, with a beautiful fine day and light southwest breeze. And en route to Te Puna the

Tauranga fleet headed home under kites, an amazing and somewhat daunting sight for us to tack through!

However, all was well and no incidents were reported!

Winner of the first race was Arcadia with Greg Molesworth and a picked racing crew.

The remaining four yachts all made it home in time for a celebration in the club house.

Our next sailing dates for the winter series are September 11 and 15.

The summer series starts October 9.

Adult mid-week sailing We are again holding mid-week sailing for adults with our sunbursts and this starts on September 15, weather permitting.

Provisional date for the club’s dinghy rowing races is December 4, which will also be the day for the sixth annual running – or floating – of the ducks. A sight not to be missed!

So we are set for a busy summer in the upper harbour.

Signing off – sailing convenor John Budden and keeper of the ducks.

WATERLINE 13

SEPTEMBER 2016

CLUB NEWS

Young Mariners

Young mariners quarterly review A day on the water was just what the Young Mariners needed to try out their new life jackets and give new members some valuable experience.

With winter comes a different focus for the Mariners, with activities including a winter camp at Waihi Beach, resuscitation and first aid training, testing their cooking skills (and parents’ taste buds) in a ‘Disaster Chef ’ competition, target shooting, and, of course, mastering nautical knots.

They were also lucky to have Paul Robb from Land Search and Rescue and his trainee tracking dog Wolf give the girls a talk and a demonstration of Wolf ’s skills. A visit to Coastguard, hosted by Simon Barker, gave the girls a better understanding of Coastguard activities, and the duties that their dedicated volunteers carry out.

While the girls have been busy working through the winter programme, much of the focus of the leaders and parents is on equipment maintenance and fundraising.

Tauranga Young Mariners Chairperson Richard Harrison says some ‘off the water’ goals for the upcoming year include working towards becoming financially sustainable, and improving the boats and camping equipment.

Great progress has been made in these areas in recent months.

Quartermaster Phil Olds encourages parents to assist in repairing and upgrading a Sunburst over winter, which now awaits additional funding before being fitted out with a new mast, sails, and rigging.

The Young Mariners have embraced the fundraising opportunities and enjoyed talking to the public about their activities while raising funds at a sausage sizzle, while their parents and supporters held a successful Rialto movie night which raised much-needed funds for their First Aid and Water Safety programme.

Thanks to First Sovereign Trust’s generosity, they will have plenty of new life jackets ready

for summer, to ensure a safe and secure fit for each of the girls.

Additional larger jackets means parents can be on the water assisting and participating, which is of benefit to the girls and the leaders, and great for the parents themselves, as on a beautiful day there is no better place to be.

Dragon Community Trust has given Tauranga Young Mariners a boost by covering three months’ rent for the base and equipment shed at Sulphur Point, while Pub Charity Ltd have contributed towards their tent and camping equipment upgrade. The support from these organisations is vital to ensure Tauranga Young Mariners can continue to offer their successful water-based programme.

The unit has had a boost in members over the winter season, now reaching their maximum number of 20, as they can only cater for this many girls out on the water at any one time.

Looking forward, the Young Mariners will be attending the Spring Regatta in early September and getting some more time on the water. They also hope to have the Sunburst repairs completed in time for the summer season.

Katrina Chantler

Filename: young mariners club news WL 1609 Publication: Waterline Headline: Young Mariners Quarterly Review Byline: Katrina Chantler

14 WATERLINE

SEPTEMBER 2016

CLUB NEWS

Young Mariners

Hello from the other side I came to New Zealand in January 2016, leaving my family, my friends, my school and my hobbies in Germany. I had to start from the beginning.

Luckily my host family was lovely and my school mates really nice. But what to do after school? I’m on a student exchange, so I wanted to try new things.

I’d heard that my school offered volleyball. I wanted to try it! When I first asked they told

Lea Schwarzlmüller

me, “Wait until the year has started and you feel comfortable in all your subjects.”

One week later, I asked again. “Oh, volleyball always starts right at the beginning of the term, now all the teams are full. Sorry.” And thus ended my dream of volleyball.

What else could I do?

My German family loves sailing. We often go out in the holidays, charter a yacht for one or two weeks. And now I was living in Tauranga, so close to the sea and the harbour. So it wasn’t surprising that I started looking for sailing lessons.

I called a thousand people, but it seemed like no-one offers weekly sailing lessons. From the yacht club I got the number of someone called Shelley.

“She is the leader of the Young Mariners, maybe you can ask her,” they told me. I had absolutely no idea what the ‘Young Mariners’ were doing, or who Shelley was, but I called her. She sounded really nice and invited me to come around next Thursday to meet everyone and have a look at what Mariners is about.

On my first night at Young Mariners we sailed out on a catamaran and stopped at Matakana Island to go for a swim. It was relaxing, fun and I got to know the girls a little bit, which was more than enough for me to know that I would love to come back every week.

We went kayaking, learned life-saving, and went on a weekend camp at Lake Rerewhaakaitu, near Rotorua. We sailed a lot, practiced rowing (for the first time in my life) and had funny nights in the tent. But mostly I enjoyed the chats when we were just sitting

BATTERY WAREHOUSE

in the grass, talking about everything and anything.

We went to the Easter Regatta in Whangaparoa, where we competed against the other Young Mariners Units from around New Zealand. It was so much fun. We won a few things at the regatta and it was a great experience to be a part of such a cool community; I even went on the Seniors Outing and learnt to snowboard.

I felt like I was a part of something ‘New Zealandish’. And that was always my goal: to be a part of New Zealand, not just a visitor.

Everyone was so friendly and helpful, which made it easy for me to adapt and take part. But at the same time I was just like every other girl, with the same rights and tasks, helping to create something great.

Mariners became a really big part of my exchange. I loved all the things I did here in New Zealand, but Thursday was always the day in the week I looked forward to the most. I loved learning everything and especially having fun with everyone. The girls became my best and closest friends here. That made it really hard for me to leave.

When my German parents came at the end of my stay, they met the Young Mariners and their families. They told me how glad they were that I had had the chance to meet such wonderful people!

And do you know what I’m grateful for the most? That volleyball at my school had already started. Otherwise I would have never looked for sailing lessons and this article would never have been written.

Lea Schwarzlmüller

WATERLINE 15

SEPTEMBER 2016

CLUB NEWS

BOPSAT

Newsflash! You don’t need a boat!

Sailing has a reputation as an expensive sport. It can be – why do you think Alan Bond, Ernesto Bertarelli, Larry Ellison, and so many tycoons before them, have been the champions of the America’s Cup? Yachting New Zealand spends millions to help our high performance sailors achieve their potential.

Down at the grassroots level, yacht clubs are populated by families who often have to dig pretty deep to spend thousands on gear and more on coaching and regattas away. Many of these kids probably don’t realise how fortunate they are.

But just because your pockets are not that deep, it doesn’t mean your kids have to miss out on this fabulous sport.

Here’s what is available through BoPSAT in Tauranga:

Learn to Sail

Each spring and summer term, in a number of primary schools, we sponsor a weekday learn to sail course for kids who would otherwise not get this chance. Each programme is made up of 10 weekly lessons by our qualified volunteers or professional yacht club coaches, using top quality equipment. Six pupils are hand-picked by the school for each course.

Everything is provided for free, including wetsuits and transport to and from school.

If you have kids at Merivale, Gate Pa, Greerton Village, Brookfield or Arataki School, ask them if they are running a programme next term and whether your child could be considered. If you would like your school to join the programme, contact us.

Improvers’ courses

At the end of each course our coaches will identify those sailors who’ve shown the most commitment and the most potential to become good sailors. We will then consider putting them through an improvers’ course, possibly the next term or in the upcoming school holidays.

Places are limited but we are keen to support all those who are really promising. Again there is no charge, although transport may not always be available.

Sponsor a Sailor

Under this new programme we pair up young sailors, from the above programmes, with business and private sponsors in a multiyear commitment to take the sailor as far as they want to go during their school years.

Sponsors pay for club membership, coaching,

and other costs and get the satisfaction of seeing their sailors succeed. One of the sailor’s first major events might be the AIMs Games. We provide racing gear at no charge.

We are hopeful these relationships will grow over time and have other benefits for both parties. To date we have three Sailor Sponsors ready to meet three young sailors.

School team sailing

From Year 9, or in some cases Year 7, keen sailors have the opportunity to join their school’s sailing team. All of the established secondary schools in the Tauranga area have had sailing teams, and most of them still do. Team sailing is the rugby sevens equivalent – short, fast races in a round robin format with six kids in three boats per team. It’s exciting, fantastic fun and great to watch.

Again BoPSAT supplies the gear – for a fee this time – and coaches can be arranged through the yacht club or by finding a teacher or parent who will volunteer. Fundraisers can help with costs, and you still don’t need to buy a boat!

High performance

The further a sailor progresses, the greater the costs, but also the greater the support available. For those who get selected to represent New Zealand at overseas events, such as the Opti Asian Championships or the Youth Olympics, we have the BoPSAT Overseas Sailors Fund, which makes a worthwhile contribution to travel costs. Fundraisers and extra sponsorships can also really help.

If a sailor is selected for the NZ Youth Team to go to the world championships, the NZL Yachting Trust steps up and makes a great contribution. Yachting New Zealand has even been known to fund sailors to go to major overseas events to gain experience in the lead up to youth worlds.

Of course, if your child turns out to be the next Peter Burling, sooner or later the cash

will start to flow in the other direction! At that point, you might like to remind your now adult child, of the sacrifices you made and the rising costs facing their hard working parents.

Rewards

Of course, there’s only one Peter Burling, who happens to be patron of BoPSAT. But however far your child goes with competitive sailing, they can gain not only a fantastic skill, but so much more. Sailing teaches many great attributes and skills, including self-reliance, determination, thoroughness, concentration, environmental awareness, courage and being organised. And yacht clubs are friendly, social places where great kids get off the internet, out of the house and challenge themselves with lots of fun adventures.

These benefits, rather than the promise of Olympic glory, are what drive us to work to make sailing accessible to as wide a cross section of the community as possible. Talk to your school or check out our website. We’d love you to get on board!

Stuart Pedersen

16 WATERLINE

SEPTEMBER 2016

WATERLINE 17

SEPTEMBER 2016

One owner vessel with only 61hrs!

Sea Ray 400, this popular 400 series with flybridge and hardtop fitted, was purchased new in New Zealand from the importer. She has style and performance, while still offering a great cockpit for those who need to fish seriously.

Powered by twin Caterpillar 300hp diesels with only 61 hours! She’s run on shafts, and supported by a Westerbeke genset with only 26 hours use.

A built-in staircase provides easy access to the bridge, which offers ample headroom and sun lounging space.

The interior is well appointed with a two-cabin layout with island double and ensuite, two toilets – one in ensuite – and two showers. The salon provides ample seating with a U-shaped dinette with 6’4” headroom, air conditioning for ultimate comfort.

With a Raytheon Raydata system, 2m inflatable dinghy, rare to find one with such low hours. A fantastic opportunity awaits for only $349,000. Ideal for cruising couples or a young family.

Listing broker Brett Eaton would be keen to show you all her fantastic features, as she’s currently sitting at Tauranga Bridge Marina. Call Brett now on 0274 592 982 or 07 575 0512.

Cleaning up Pilot Bay Rotting piles of sea lettuce mixed with a coil of large wire rope and a tyre is prompting a clean-up of Pilot Bay. Following a recent dive in the area, the Mount Underwater Club and Tauranga Dive are organising a clean-up of Pilot Bay on October 2.

“We will need all sorts of volunteers, especially divers, to haul, tow, pull, or just plain muscle

the rubbish off the bottom and into skip bins and have a jolly old fashioned clean-up,” says Tauranga Dive’s Gwyn Brown.

Gwyn says there was so much rubbish and hazardous waste on the bottom that even Superman would have struggles to take it all in.

“I know I came up at the end in Pilot Bay disgusted with my fellow humans at what has been thrown into our beautiful harbour.”

For more details and times, keep an eye on SunLive.co.nz

18 WATERLINE

SEPTEMBER 2016

Closing Marlborough scallop beds So the Marlborough scallop grounds have finally been closed. About bloody time.

The legal size in the area is 90mm. It’s 100mm elsewhere.

You can take 50 of the little delicacies as well. Here in the Bay you can only take 20 per person per day. The reasoning being there are a lot of bays down there, and a lot of scallop beds.

Not any more, I suppose.

The ministry has known for quite some time that numbers and sizes were decreasing. Oh, and good on them too for closing it three days before the season opens. That’s right, they get a longer ‘take’ season as well.

Locals have known for ages that numbers and sizes were down.

Dive shops hear all the gossip, just ask me anything.

What I don’t understand is why you all can’t get your heads around a very simple principle.

You have a resource, it requires X number of individuals to reproduce each year to maintain the population. If you allow X + 1 number of individuals to be taken, then soon there will be no resource. I suck at maths, but even I can work this out.

But okay, maybe that’s too complicated. Let’s simplify it all. Take what you need, not what you want. Not what you think you can give away to your neighbours. Not what you can swap for something else that you desire, which is illegal by the way.

Not what you can say later ‘wow, that was my personal best, I’m awesome!’

This personal best thing too, really gets my blood boiling. To say I have caught a 20 pound snapper, the biggest marlin, the heaviest crayfish…bloody nonsense. Take a photograph, have the fish reproduced from that in fibreglass so you can say it’s still out there, somewhere, if that’s your thing.

If you were going to release it anyway, not eat it, why did you do it? For fun? Seriously? Bet

you don’t head down to the local bush block to put a hook in a pig so you can catch it for fun. Not a nice picture is it? A pig being hooked in the mouth, bleeding everywhere? But it’s okay for fish.

It would seem that while the ministry has an idea of what the commercial take is in the area, they have no idea what Mr Weekend Warrior out in his 10 foot tinny is taking. And how much can he take?

Well, three guys on board, out each day. That’s 1050 scallops a week. I’m no doctor, but that has to cause some serious gas issues sooner or later. A few days of sitting around the camp fire over Christmas eating beans produces the same problem. I personally don’t think it’s possible to eat 50

scallops a day, or even in a sitting. Even for a family of four, it’s quite a meal. And yes, they won’t be taking that much each day, but even so…seriously, you can take 50? Or rather you could.

Same goes for the blue cod industry, and low and behold it has also been closed in the inner Marlborough Sounds area.

Have a guess why. Let’s hope the closure, likely to be for a couple of years, will allow the beds to recover. And then let’s hope the ministry reduces the numbers that can be taken and increase the size. Good luck everyone.

WATERLINE 19

SEPTEMBER 2016

EPIRB & Coastguard saved my life A leap of faith has saved a man whose yacht encountered some steering problems in rough seas in the Bay of Plenty.

A distress signal was set off at 8.15pm on August 9 sparking a major overnight rescue operation 41 nautical miles from Tauranga.

The vessel was found battling 35 knot winds and big seas about 20 nautical miles northeast of Mayor Island.

Paul Christenson, with years of experience around boats, was forced to leap from his yacht into the grasp of Tauranga Coastguard members. “I’m lucky they have strong arms,” says Paul, speaking after his ordeal.

Paul, 54, was sailing the 8.8m Windsong from Auckland to Dunedin, where he and his wife Michelle have recently relocated to.

Paul says his wife is his best friend and his supported him no matter what.

A message over the Maritime National Radio from Michelle to Paul had everyone who was involved in the rescue choked up.

“I love you. I don’t care about the about the boat. I can live without the boat, but I can’t live without you.” It was those words from Michelle that spurred on rescue teams to get to Paul.

Before setting sail, Paul had checked the

forecast and believed he had a three-four day window of sailable weather.

However, things turned when he entered waters near the Bay of Plenty.

“It was nasty. It wasn’t just a big swell. The water was ugly.”

It was about 1pm when Paul noticed some steering issues with Windsong. He says the vessel would not respond properly.

After encountering some issues, Paul decided to head into Tauranga to try to get everything settled. He didn’t make it to Tauranga and ended up setting off his EPIRB, which he had recently just bought.

He was located by container ship Kota Loceng about 3am, which stood by until Tauranga Coastguard’s TECT Rescue arrived.

Paul says he was shattered by the time rescue crews reached him.

“I had got my wife’s clothes off the boat, but left my new clothes and heart medication behind. My priorities were all screwed up.”

Over a hot breakfast of bacon and eggs, Paul could not sing the praises of his rescuers enough. Meanwhile, those volunteer rescuers were heading to work after spending all night out at sea. Windsong has since been recovered and is on the hard at the Tauranga Bridge Marina.

Paul is re-united with Michelle in Dunedin.

Windsong made its own way ashore the next day, and was salvaged at Waihi Beach.

Paul with the EPIRB that he activated 40 nautical miles offshore, leading to his rescue by Tauranga Coastguard.

20 WATERLINE

SEPTEMBER 2016

Riding the wave to the worlds

When Jordan Lilley gave up downhill mountain biking, his parents John and Donna were jubilant because they always feared he’d get injured.

The joy soon turned to apprehension when Jordan took up jetski. But they are full of pride as the 23-year-old has been selected to represent New Zealand at the International Jet Sports Boating Association World Finals Championships in October.

It’s been a meteoric rise for the Tauranga rider, who only started competing about four months ago, says his father John.

Although his family have a history of jet boat racing, with John admitting he “won the odd title” in his time.

But his son first found the thrill of speed on land rather than water, with downhill mountain biking.

“Well those bloody downhill mountain bikers they’re just mad, aren’t they? He certainly rides things to the edge. He rides on the limit and he has from the very first stage.”

But when Jordan decided to give jetski racing a go they soon became worried that Jordan’s lack of fear might see him take unnec-

essary risks.

They didn’t need to worry, in fact his mountain biking skills have been an added bonus for the sport.

“They think his downhill mountain biking may have some bearing on the style he rides the jetski – believe it or not,” says John.

“Because he rides so far back [on the jetski] rather than crouching over the front.

“He’s very, very good at it too. I’m not just saying that because he’s my boy. He just wrings the neck of his jetski.

“Its sort of been a real buzz for us because both his mother and I really enjoy following him around. “It’s just always great to see your kids doing well.”

John says about 1200 riders will take part in the world

finals championships in Arizona. But Jordan is confident he can give it his best.

“In his class there are more than 100 riders so it’s about getting to the finals. There’s some bloody good riders in there.

“You’ve got to have a fast machine. Because if you haven’t got one of those, you’re buggered; and if you can’t wring the neck of the [jetski] you’re not going to do well.”

For now Jordan is looking for a naming sponsor to help him get to the championships.

John says they are hoping businesses will literally jump on board.

Well more like, have their names on the jetski Jordan’s planning to take over to compete at the championships from October 1-9.

John says the Tauranga Jet Sport Association has been great in helping support Jordan, but John is hoping other businesses will join the cause.

To support Jordan, contact John on 027 210 4815.

Jordan Lilley, racing at a recent event, will head to Arizona for the world championships in October.

Greg Taipari

SEPTEMBER 2016

WATERLINE 21

A long row for Psyche’s owner Turning Psyche from a fishing boat into a family launch required a full set of boatbuilding skills – and Psyche’s owner John Taylor has an unique story about how he acquired his.

John says he was taught his boatbuilding by women. The same women who during the Second World War then, recently passed, were building wooden hulled motor torpedo boats, relatively small high speed monohulls carrying guns, depth charges or torpedoes, while the men were away fighting.

John began his boating building after the war with an apprenticeship at John Sadd and Sons of Maldon Essex.

“John Sad and Sons then employed 2300 carpenters, joiners, furnituremakers and builders; and I started at 14 years of age was taught by women,” says John. “The women made all the motor torpedo boats. So that’s where I got my skills in boat building, from this company.”

John’s dad was a butcher with uncles owning a farm and slaughterhouse. His mother’s family were commercial fishermen and Thames barge owners. John says he was rowing from age sixseven when his dad came back from the war.

Early adventures included ferrying food to people stranded after the great flood of 1953.

More than 300 people died in Britain in the disaster and more than 3000 in Holland and Belgium.

“The whole north side of the Thames, all the islands were flooded. It was my job to row in the dinghy 10ft clinker dinghy, and deliver all the food out to all the people. They had all animals; sheep and goats and pigs up on the top floor of their houses to save them, and I spent weeks doing that.”

The rowing continued in his teenage years when he got involved with the fishermen with the Southend on Sea lifeboat. From the age 17-18 he was rowing about 1300 miles a year.

“After-work and on weekends I assisted the lifeboat when anybody was in distress on the Chapman Sands, which used to just cover with water,” says John.

He had a 20ft dory, something he’s never been without since. He still has one in his backyard.

He would row out and picked up the stranded and ferry them to the life boat.

The apprenticeship was seven years, which in Britain obtained him City and Guilds advanced qualifications in carpentry, joinery, furniture

making, boat building and brick and block making.

He also had a Thames Waterman’s licence.

One of his first restorations was a Board of Trade pleasure boat licensed to carry 90 passengers.

“She was built of Honduras mahogany over 5” by 2” oak frames spaced at 18” centres, and she had two and half inch Honduras mahogany planking.”

John also worked for the National Trust in England, restoring old buildings.

“I’ve worked on buildings up to 1500 years old.

All restoration had to be by hand, the way they did in the old days. So there was no screws, nails, or bolts. It was all treenailed. One of the jobs was Rochford Hall in Essex, where Anne Boleyn was imprisoned.” He’s still got his hand adze and ship’s adze in the shed.

John and Valerie arrived in New Zealand in the mid-1970s, lured by a job offer from the NZ Joinery Federation wanting somebody that specialised in circular staircase work.

They disembarked in Auckland.

“I came down the gang plank; two shot guns, my rifle, three fishing rods and my toolkit to start work in NZ,” says John.

“It was a Sunday; there was one policeman end of the jetty in Auckland.”

When he asked what he should do about the firearms he was told to get them registered after he arrived in PalmJohn Taylor erston North. with a nearly On starting work with Brian Finlay, completed a 1959 All Black, John asked him how Psyche. many circular staircases he wanted him to build, because he had noticed all the houses in New Zealand were single-storey. “‘Just the one’, he says. ‘For my mate up on Massey Hill’. So we travelled 12,000 miles just to build the one staircase.

Then he apologised that he could not offer the sort of work I was used to.”

But John’s ability to keep the apprentices from cutting off their fingers and toes was noticed and he was recommended as a tutor at the polytechnic at Palmerston North – where he remained through several institutional name-changes, and maintained his record.

“I was so proud of the fact that nobody had an accident under my supervision in the 28 years that I was there – and they mentioned that at my retirement,” says John.

John bought Psyche in 1986. He brought her up from Lyttelton to Havelock in Pelorous Sound from where John and his son Mike took her across Cook Strait to Porirua harbor.

That’s where the decision to convert her from a commercial fishing vessel to a motor sailor was made, and the boat was taken to the Pohangina Valley and placed in a paddock where John continued working on her mainly during weekends and holidays.

She was brought up to Tauranga after John Launching day. retired and they moved to Tauranga.

22 WATERLINE

Yakityyak Kayak Club Saturday 22 October Lake Waikaremoana Oct 22-24 – Labour Weekend. You need to have suitable kayaking attire, camping gear & walking gear with you. To register you need to be a current club member & have completed a 2 day skills course. Txt or email Estelle 022 0918 6052 bopyakityyakkayakclub@gmail.com for details, more dates and events Surf Life Saving NZ Saturday 24 September Bay of Plenty Winter Series #2 At Omanu Beach SLSC, 15 Surf Road, Omanu 8am. Mark 574 2061 email: mark. inglis@surflifesaving.org.nz Saturday 15 October Bay of Plenty Winter Series #3 Papamoa SFSC, 561 Papamoa Beach Rd 8am. Mark 574 2061 email: mark.inglis@ surflifesaving.org.nz To list your water sports event please email: julie@thesun.co.nz with Water Sports in the subject heading.

CLASSIFIEDS For Sale VOLVO MTR 200 HP x2 $14,500 each. 140 HP $8500 or to be run in. FORD 250 HP $6500. May trade. Ph 07 843 4392 or 027 620 9712 12ft ALUMINIUM DINGY PLUS TRAILER. Trailor needs some repairs. $1,200.

Phone 07 576 6443.

CATAMARAN 30ft Great Barrier Express. Fast and exciting boat to sail. With Mooring at Tanners Point. $30,000. Ph 027 207 3808 MOORING in Town Basin for sale or rent. $4,000. Ph 027 207 3808 LAUNCH - Steel launch 26.5ft. Little use View B46 Tauranga Marina. $27,500.

Ph 07 843 4392 or 027 620 9712

For Rent 16M MARINA BERTH – for rent at Bridge Marina $600 per month. Ph 027 492 4988 MOORING FOR RENT - The Strand. $25p/w Phone 07 843 4392 or 027 620 9712 MOORING TO RENT – Whangamata. Good spot, close to Marina channel. $25 p/w Ph 022 132 3671 MOORING FOR RENT Town Reach Highly sought after area due to the shelter from prevailing W & SW winds. Private car park & boat ramp for mooring owners only. Just serviced to new heavier Specs. Suitable for boats up to 12m. $32 per week. Mooring also available Tairua/Pauanui $25 per week. Call Scott - 021511151

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

WANTED Farr 6000 in good condition, phone Don 0212501100

Trades and Services BATTERIES Battery Direct Nz www.batterydirect.co.nz sales@batterydirect.co.nz 0800 267 468 BOAT MAINTENANCE Matamata Motor Trimmers & Upholstery Boat clear, canvas work, upholstery Ph: 07 571 4421 CNR Mirrielees & Cross Roads, Tauranga FINANCE AFB Accept Finance Brokers Ph: 07 574 0002 or 027 4435524 7 Days

SEPTEMBER 2016

In Brief

New look for iconic old stone jetty

To read these stories in full go to www.waterline.co.nz

The refurbishment of the old stone wharf at Ferry Landing in Whitianga is almost complete, according to Thames-Coromandel District Council.

Classified as a Grade One structure by Heritage New Zealand, the wharf was central to the kauri logging trade back during the 1800s and part of the original 1837 stone wharf still remains.

But the wharf was in need of restoration. During the last 18 months council has rebuilt the walls and old stone steps leading up from the wharf to the landing by using some of the wharf ’s original stones, which were recovered from the sea floor below.

Professional stonemasons were also brought on-site to ensure the repaving of the landing platform was in keeping with the historical heritage of the site, while the old concrete petrol pump bases have been removed and new wooden marine bollards and seating installed.

Mercury Bay area manager Allan Tiplady says thanks to some very talented local community members a new derrick has also been crafted and rebuilt.

For more information about the project and the history of the Wharf, see: www.tcdc.govt.nz/oldferrylanding

Wharf expansion on hold Coromandel Marine Farmers Association’s plans to expand Sugarloaf Wharf have been put on hold for now, according to Thames-Coromandel District Council.

CoroMFA spokesperson Gilbert James says due to an appeal about the zoning of the Sugarloaf Wharf under council’s proposed new district plan, the association is putting it’s expansions plans on hold while the nature of this appeal is being clarified.

At this stage, the expansion plans will be put on hold for six months while the CoroMFA gathers more information. However, the entire appeal process could take between 12-18 months to fully and finally resolve.

The new zone being proposed for the Sugarloaf is a Marine Service Zone.

Harbour crucial to Whakatane The Whakatane District Council has six new applications from commercial boat operators for permanent berths at its wharves.

EBCC chief executive Ged Casey says the port area is getting busier, with two large vessels currently loading out equipment on a daily basis to facilitate the Eastern Bay of Plenty aquaculture development.

The district council recently applied to construct a new pontoon wharf alongside part of Quay St, to the west of the Wairere Stream.

“It is good to see that the council’s Long Term Plan provides for the design and consenting of a replacement for the existing, but aged, Main Commercial Wharf, which is expected to get underway this year,” says Ged. The chamber believes both these developments have the potential to contribute significantly to the area’s business growth and will be lodging a submission in support of the Quay Street Wharf resource consent application.

It also encourages other like-minded individuals and organisations to add their support, says Ged.

WATERLINE 23

SEPTEMBER 2016

TECT Rescue back in the water Tauranga Coastguard’s 12-metre aluminium power catamaran, the TECT Rescue, is back in business after a two month refit.

The vessel was lifted out and volunteers stripped down all its hatches, doors and fittings.

From the waterline down it was sandblasted back to bare metal and completely re-antifouled.

From the waterline up, TECT Rescue had a complete repaint.

All-new electronics were installed, including chartplotters and radar, before TECT was put back into service in mid-August.

It had been back in the water only a matter of hours when called on for a daring midnight rescue; a yachtie had abandoned his vessel about 40 miles offshore.(More on that story, elsewhere in this edition.)

Tauranga Coastguard are very thankful for assistance received during the refit.

Tauranga Sandblasting did a great job with the sandblasting and painting, McLeod Cranes donated the use of a crane to prepare the boat for going into the shed, Tauranga Sulphur Point Marina contributed much of the cost of the haul out, and Jeremy Gilbert

of Watercraft Electrical donated his time to refit all the new electronics package.

Many hours of donated time were given by the Coastguard Volunteers.

And Harris Tate Lawyers donated the Man Over Board alarms to help keep the crew safe in the future.

Coastguard crew members Mike Saunders, Anna Meissner, Dave Teale and Chris Clark with the new Man Overboard alarms donated by Harris Tate.

24 WATERLINE

SEPTEMBER 2016

Surtees Boats factory expansion Whakatane boat builder Surtees Boats is adding a new 900m2 building to its current production facility, enabling the company to further streamline the manufacturing process and decrease the lead-time for customer orders.

“The brand is enjoying very strong sales across all of the markets in which we operate in, this expansion will give us the ability to increase our production output,” says CEO Adam Dyck.

“This ability to increase our production will allow us to expand into new sales markets and to meet the demand we expect to experience once those markets are established.”

The expansion of the factory is a strategic

move to further streamline the company’s manufacturing process and to decrease the lead-time for customer orders, says Adam.

Surtees Boats produced more than 400 boats in 2015, and expects a 20 per cent increase in the upcoming year. The company currently produces 23 models ranging in size from 4.95m to 8.5m.

Closer to home, the lucrative Australian market is a key driver behind the company’s need to expand.

“Australia is a huge market for us, currently it’s about 50 per cent of what we produce and we have seven dealers there, one in every state except for ACT,” says Adam.

“We have developed our hull technology in the rough waters off the Whakatane coast.

A lot of the boating that Australians do is in open water; and that’s where we find our boats have massive appeal.”

With the expansion of the production facil-

ity, it will also see the company bolster staff numbers. The company currently employs 57 staff; with a further five staff needing to be employed once the build of the new factory is completed.

Surtees Boats was born during the early1990s when Neil Surtees decided to design and build himself an aluminum boat to use for fishing off the Whakatane coast. Surtees today employs 57 people building 400 boats a year for the New Zealand, Australian and Pacific markets. With such an extensive range of trailer boats, Surtees is internationally recognised for their high quality, stability, safety, and practical features.

Surtees Boats was named Exporter of the Year Award at the 2014 BNZ Bay of Plenty ExportNZ Awards. This followed on from similar success at the same awards in 2013, where they received the Best Emerging Exporter Award.

You can buy NZ’s most awarded aluminium boats direct from the manufacturer.

Call 07 322 8461 or visit the factory 2909 State Highway 30, Whakatane.

www.surteesboats.com

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SEPTEMBER 2016

Navigational safety bylaw delayed

The final shape of the Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s Navigational Safety Bylaw is delayed because one of the parties involved in the Kaituna jetboat speed discussion has not been heard by the commissioners.

The commissioners have adjourned deliberations until the affected party has been heard.

It became apparent during submissions that at least one key party had not provided a submission to the bylaw review.

Although BOPRC undertook extensive advertising and public consultation processes, the commissioners and staff considered it prudent to adjourn deliberations until it could be established whether or not the key affected parties could provide additional information that would be useful to the commissioners.

The commissioners have exercised a power to consider input from anyone they consider relevant.

The agenda for BOPRC meeting on August 24, 2016, states a legal opinion supports the commissioners’ call.

The affected person should be invited to comment to meet the Principles of Consultation that persons who will or may be affected by the, or have an interest in, the decision or matter should be encouraged by the local authority to present their views to the local authority. The legal advice included legal precedent, which showed that following the Special Consultative Procedure is not always sufficient to comply with the principles of consultation.

As a result staff are reviewing the full stakeholder list to check if there are any other affected parties that should be encouraged to comment.

The new bylaw must be operative by July 15, 2017, before the 2010 bylaw lapses. To avoid confusion among the boating public, making the bylaw operative part way through the summer boating season is not considered appropriate. The delay means the new bylaw will be recommended to be made operative after the summer boating season, but before the current bylaw lapses.

Marine market day on Prep your boat, check your gear, and know the rules.

This is the message the Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s Harbourmaster Team will be promoting under the Safer Boating umbrella at the Marine Market Day. Held at Sulphur Point Marina on Sunday September 18 from 9am, the harbourmaster team is the team that will be kept on their toes all summer promoting safe boating behaviour.

Tauranga Marine Industry Association chairman Jim McManaway says this will be a first for the region with large numbers of both private and commercial operators present. “You name it, if it relates to being on, in or near the water this summer it will probably be there.”

The Marine Market Day is a community event that coincides with the Tauranga Yacht and Power Boat Club’s opening day. For more information on the event visit www.boprc.govt. nz/marinemarket

MARINEAY MARKET D ptember Sunday 18 Se pm from 9am – 12 Marina Sulphur Point Put on by the Tauranga Marine Industry Association, this community event celebrates our local maritime industry.

Make sure you come along and find some bargains, talk to some experts and learn a thing or two about how to be safe on the water.

For more information check out www.boprc.govt.nz/marinemarketday

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SEPTEMBER 2016

Oil spill response vessel The Bay of Plenty Regional Council has approved the purchase of a specialist oil spill response vessel, after being embarrassed by a lack of suitable vessel to deal with the Anzac Day oil spill of 2015.

In the report approved by the council in July, BOPRC general manager regulatory services Eddie Grogan stated the council’s existing boats are not equipped to deal with oil spills, and that a purpose-

built vessel is the appropriate step to take.

Councillors were shown photographs of an existing vessel used in Auckland, similar to what staff propose. An off-the-shelf boat will not meet the specific needs required, councillors were told.

The council is advertising a tender for the design and build of a vessel. It will be multi-purpose, but with an eye to giving the regional council greater capability to respond to oil spills.

And $600,000 is set aside for the project in the Long Term Plan. Tenders closed September 6.

A similar vessel presented to regional councillors to give them some idea of what they may end up with.

Delicacies on the menu

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Keen whitebaiters lining up for their favourite stands to try net the delicacies on the incoming tide are being reminded of the rules.

The whitebaiting season runs from August 15-November 30 everywhere except the West Coast of the South Island, where it runs from September 1-November 14.

Whitebait are juveniles of five species of native fish: giant kokopu, banded kokopu, shortjaw kokopu, inanga, and koaro. Those that escape the whitebait net grow into adults ranging from 10cm to 60cm long.

“Unfortunately, four of the five species are categorised as either threatened or at risk due to declining numbers and habitat,” says DOC freshwater scientist Jane Goodman.

“Fishers are encouraged to only take what they need and

to think about the sustainability of the fishery for future generations.

“It’s good to see more conservation measures such as planting and fencing off spawning grounds and adult habitat.

“We urge people to contact their local DOC or regional council office if they see overhanging culverts or other barriers that stop whitebait migrating,” says Jane.

DOC will be patrolling whitebaiting sites and talking to whitebaiters throughout the season to ensure people are complying with the regulations.

Illegal whitebaiting carries a maximum fine of $5000 and whitebaiting equipment can be seized.

Pamphlets with the regulations are at DOC offices and sporting shops.

WATERLINE 27

SEPTEMBER 2016

Filleting fish in 15 seconds Nick Balks doesn’t like fish much, he grew up inland. But with a filleting knife in hand he’s one of the quickest in the country when it comes to reducing a fish to fillets, skin and bones.

The top knifehand at Sanford Ltd in Tauranga – and number four in the country – is in training for the next national knifehand competition in Auckland on Anniversary Weekend in January 2017.

Advertised as the Auckland Seafood Festival’s Fish Filleting Competition, the contest is strictly professional, between Nick and about ten other knifehands to see who is quickest.

The comNick Balks in action.

petition is held during the Auckland Seafood Festival. Nick, and about 11 other knife hands compete to see who is quickest.

And it’s not just speed that counts, says Nick.

“They do 10kg of Tarakihi. They weight up the whole fish to 10kg, then while we are filleting it they are timing us and they weight the fish at the end – and the fillets at the end to find out the recovery,” says Nick.

“The higher the weight of the fillets the better, and they also judge on the quality and presentation of the fillets.”

Judging is on the weight, presentation and speed.

The average recovery from 10kg of whole fish is 3.6kg of fillets on average.

A good knifehand can do up to 4kg of fillets – a 40 per cent recovery rate, say Nick.

In practising for next year’s competition, he’s currently cutting at 40 per cent.

“Not a lot of people can get that. I think the winner last year had about 38 per cent,” says Nick.

Filleting 10kg of fish in competition takes eight-10 minutes, says Nick.

That’s skinning, filleting and taking the bones out as well.

“It’s the whole process,” says Nick.

“The average knifehand will cut countless fish a day. I think I can cut one fish in about 15 seconds or something like that, so it’s pretty quick.”

Nick normally works with a selection of six stainless steel blades. There’s a knife for filleting, a different knife for skinning, and depending on the size of the fish a bigger knife.

“We also take the guts out and the heads off and things like that,” says Nick.

It’s a tough competition, and there’s spying going on. Nick is cutting in the Sanford Seafood Retail shop on Cross Rd, Tauranga. He’s cutting for customers and weighs up 10kg of fish for practice when he gets the chance.

“I know the winner of the competition this year came in last week to try and see how I was doing, but I was on my break. So he couldn’t scope me out.”

Not a fisherman or someone fond of fish, Nick says he found a job cutting and discovered a love for it.

“It’s a good skill to have.”

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28 WATERLINE

SEPTEMBER 2016

Magnificent men and their flying machines PA R T O N E

“It’s a new dawn”…Grace Slick’s voice resonated from the car cassette player as her band launched into their intro song for their Woodstock setlist.

We leaned against the front mudguards of the MK 1 Ford Cortina and looked around the foreshore of Kulim Park, Tauranga. It was 1973.

A largely chaotic jumble of aluminium spars, fragile plywood hulls, dacron sails, massive spinnakers stuffed in bags, ramshackle trailers, and battle-scarred Holden, Valiant and Vauxhall tow-cars disrupted what normally would have been an otherwise a typically conservative Tauranga setting.

Moving amongst the disarray, a swarthy, loud bunch of long-haired youths sought to out-do each other in masculine display of pre-race banter. Crates of DB Bitter rattled their way from car to rig-up area.

Skippers and crew tensioned the massive rigs, while their girlfriends adorned in quaint Kiwi versions of hippie attire moved charmingly through the swill. A new dawn for Tauranga sailing for sure.

The previous summer had seen local sailors Wayne Eaton and Ian Dustin hoist the coveted Cornwall cup above their heads and thereby stamp their mark on New Zealand youth sailing. But the outdated Z class yachts were beginning to lack appeal for the new younger generation, who were rattling the cages of convention across a broad strata of society.

The Q class yachts seemed to provide the freedom of expression and shock-factor which sat more comfortably with the youth of the early1970s.

A short history

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These weren’t a new class of yacht. In Australia the class was first conceived in 1914 in Sydney Harbour. In New Zealand, they evolved from the Pennant class, which was essentially a mish-mash of random centreboard yacht designs sailing mainly out of Auckland in the postwar years.

Eventually the unrestricted 12-footer emerged in 1956, racing as a stand-alone class, with a ruling of a 12ft overall length, and that was about it. This allowed tremendous scope for budding young yacht designers, and the resultant creations invariably had massive rigs and required highly skilled and acrobatic sailors to keep them on their feet.

The Aussies came over in 1957 with two boats, each with a crew of four, plus a bailer boy, and an annual inter-dominion contest was born.

The Aussie 12s had no buoyancy, and needed to be towed home after a capsize. A brief interlude saw the inevitable decimation of the fleet by a multihull in the form of the 12ft ‘Kitty Cat’ catamaran in 1958

by Kiwi sailor John Peet. A slight amendment to the class rules saw an alteration to monohull yachts only, and a required minimal buoyancy.

Late 1960s

Technology moved forward in the late-1960s with the introduction of lighter weight tapered aluminium spars. This resulted in much higher aspect rigs and shorter booms, greatly increasing windward efficiency.

Dacron sailcloth replaced cotton sailcloth, klinki and cedar plywood replaced kauri planking formed around light ribs, and the stage was set for the glamour skiff classes to take a quantum leap forward to the next level.

The Q class designs of the early-1970s evolved in parallel to it’s sibling, the Cherub class, and close cousin, the R class. Prolific Kiwi designers John Spencer and Bruce Farr experimented with chine and rocker profiles in the Cherub and R class hulls, and it was common for the 12ft Cherubs to be re-rigged and raced with the unrestricted Q class.

WATERLINE 29

SEPTEMBER 2016

The short-lived reign of the Q class fleet But beam restrictions in the Cherub class meant the hulls weren’t powerful enough to handle the increasing spreads of sail required to create a racewinning Q class. Bruce Farr became the early pioneer of wider, ultra-light hulls, capable of carrying the taller rigs.

His “aircraft carrier” Qs sported fore-and-aft buoyancy tanks, wide side-decks with extended wings, wide transoms with long straight runs, and tight, ‘U’ sectioned bow shapes. These were quite user-friendly boats to sail with guaranteed reaching speeds and acceptable upwind speed.

In typical Bruce Farr fashion, the build process involved an intricate “egg-grater” stringer-on-frame construction, with an overlay of brittle lightweight ply and much sweat and tears required in order to form his tight bow sections.

Rig loadings were spread through the intricate plywood engineering, and for those that could endure the build process, a competitive boat was the result.

Bruce was a talented yachtsman in his own right, and he piloted ‘Beazley Homes’ to an inter-dominion victory in 1970.

Variations of this design and build concept dominated the Q class and 18 foot skiff fleets for a number of years.

The 1970s

Some experimenting with foam and fibreglass gave inconclusive results. In about 1972 the local contingent built a foam boat and launched it with much fanfare at Kulim Park.

The boat survived a trial sail as far as Rangiwea Island before disintegrating with the resultant cargo loss of a dozen DB beer which probably still sits at the bottom of the western channel to this day.

A brief reversion back to more known construction medians saw the emergence of ‘Lockwood Homes’, ‘Stars Travel’ and ‘Miss Goodwin Homes’. These Peter Staceydesigned boats were orthodox hard chine with a double-ply bottom built on light bulkheads and stringers and carrying 26-28ft masts.

Buoyancy tanks were incorporated fore and aft which gave the crew the opportunity to recover the boat after capsizing and complete the race.

The 500 square foot spinnakers were carried on 17ft poles and the headsails were rolled up downwind to keep things tidy. A 180 square foot flanker was normally carried onboard as well for tight reaches or breezy downwind legs. The boats carried short bowsprits as well in order to accommodate the massive sail area.

The contemporary wide, flat stern sections delivered devastating reaching speed and predictable upwind stability, but could put the

Q-Class “R.I.P” rea ching accross Tauranga harbour 1973.

snout down when flat running in spectacular style.

It was during this period that the ‘Miner’s trophy’ was conceived

by Tauranga personality ‘Beach-buggy’, who knew nothing about sailing but was a great supporter of all Q class antics.

It took an Aussie to topple Bruce Farr off his pedestal, with a back-to-basics stitch-and-tape build, which shook the cages of convention. And all of a sudden you could build a race-winning boat with half the effort and time, so in about 1974 the Aussie stitchand-glue Q class took NZ like a storm.

A bit like dress-making, the shapes were marked out on plywood, and simply folded up and braced into the required width, and fibreglass-taped preferably using epoxy resins.

Local competitor Bill Faulkner will attest that polyester resin had doubtful bonding qualities when used with fibreglass tape on plywood chines.

The key element was the space-frame. An aluminium structure capable of taking the rig loadings was installed into the fragile hull, and a fast, light, highly unstable yacht was the result. Alloy wings were fitted in order to

Heatons Truck, Rotorua Lakeside “accommodation” 1974. position the two-person twin-trapezing crew further outboard, and rudders were mounted on stainless and alloy frames about 400mm aft of the transom in order to gain more steering leverage. Tiller extensions were commonly four metres in length.

When rigged and launched, a Q class would tip over if not held upright by the crew. Once embarking, a semblance of stability took over, but these were grossly over-balanced yachts and were notoriously difficult to sail.

Nowadays carbon fibre construction and gennakers on prods are the norm, but that is another story.

Geoff Collins

30 WATERLINE

SEPTEMBER 2016

Homebuilt Spray on market The late Roy McNab’s ‘Spray’ named ‘Indus’ is on the market.

It’s named after the immigrant ship Indus that brought the McNab family to Nelson in 1843.

Roy chose a Roberts Spray design because it was the boat that suited his interests and the confines of Tairua’s shallow harbour.

Shallow draft, traditional lines, sailing ability, reasonable motoring ability, plenty of room and comfort and plenty of fishing space were why he settled on a Spray design.

Only after starting the project did the McNabs become aware of the history of the original Spray and Josha Slocum’s first recorded solo circumnavigation.

Indus is constructed of kahikatea strip planking, epoxy glued, bronze fastened. It has an Australian iron bark keel, stem, deadwood, and horn timbers. Ballast is 3.2 tonnes of lead in the keel, 4.6 tonnes interior lead. The interior is finished in kauri and swamp totara.

The deck is 40ft Loa 47ft, beam 14’4” draught five foot. Displacement is 17 tonnes.

Indus is powered by a 70hp four-cylinder Ford diesel on V drive. The mast is wooden, and gaff rigged. There are two cockpit winches. Sails include; storm jib, genoa, main, top sail.

3a Landscape Road 3a Landscape Road Tauranga Tauranga

Indus has wheel steering, auto anchoring, two cabins; one double and three single berths. Toilet, shower, fridge freezer and fourburner oven.

Electronics include VHF, SSB, GPS/plotter,

Tel: 07 576 3009 Tel:027 07 627 576 5448 3009 Mobile: Mobile: 027 627 5448

fish finder, depth sounder, radar and stereo.

Indus is a large volume quality vessel suitable for offshore, coastal cruising or live-aboard.

Viewing is a must to appreciate the workmanship gone into this traditional vessel.

SEPTEMBER 2016

WATERLINE 31

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SEPTEMBER 2016