Cruise News April 2022

issue 11

Cruise News Newsletter of Island Cruising NZ

Inside: What to Pack when you're crewing to the Pacific Come and Party with us in Paradise!

Upcoming Events Heads Up - when you can flush the loo Pacific Circuit Rally Cruising Workshop- The Schengen Shuffle

April 2022

Island Cruising NZ Contact Us Viki Moore Email info@islandcruising.nz Website www.islandcruising.nz Phone +64 21 438 977 Facebook www.facebook.com/islandcruising.nz

on the cover SweetWaters in the sunset Photo by Stephen Plank

photos and news contributions are welcome

issue 11

In this issue April 2022 From the Helm The latest update from Viki.

Memories not Dreams

By Helen Shrewsbury

Packing for the Pacific Tips on what to take when you get invited to sail in the Pacific Rally

The Schengen Shuffle Tips for cruising the Med

Fiji Regatta Week Join us to Party in Paradise!

Upcoming Events Check out what is coming up for cruisers around the country.

Heads Up! What you can flush down the loo.

Pacific Rally Packs on their way out to the sailors.

Pacific COVID Update The latest news relating to the maritime border closures.

Rally Update Plans afoot for upcoming rallies to the South Island, Pacific & Japan.

Become a Member!

For just $95.00 per year & thanks to our amazing sponsors you'll receive:

Weekly members only workshops to help you get ready to go on a long coastal or offshore voyage.

Invitations to exclusive webinars with marine industry experts Access to our CrewSeeker page Free digital subscription to Boating NZ Magazine Discounted courtesy flags from Bato Flags 20% off PredictWind subscriptions Discount off Hyrdrovane self steering systems Discount off Marine Medic and Cat 1 Medical Kits from Oceania Medical 10% off Advanced Sea Survival Courses with Skipper Training Discount off VHF courses with Coastguard Boating Education Up to 15% off at Cater Marine Up to 10% off at Kiwi Yachting - Safety at Sea 10% off Radix Nutrition meals 10% discount off SeaLogs Discounts on Rocket - South Pacific Cruising Guides Discounts on Helly Hansen sailing clothing 10% discount from Topsail Insurance 10% discount off charts and cruising guides from TransPacific Marine Yacht Delivery Solutions - special deals 15% discount off Buoycatcher Discounts off global data roaming and internet booster antennas from Global Marine Expert advice and assistance from Dalwyn at House of Travel Discounted rates on mooring ropes and yacht braid 10% discount on Sailutions - rigging hardware $300 off watermakers from Open Ocean Special rates at Port Whangarei Marine Centre Special rates from Marine Diesel Solutions Discounts at Dockland 5 Marine 10% discount off See-Level 5% discount on Global Dive courses Special rates with Zoom Sails Discounts on electronics & communications gear from Wright Electronics

Join Us Now online www.islandcruising.nz

From the helm

The countdown is on to our Pacific rally departure! The first group is heading away from Opua at the beginning of May and the second group is departing from Whangārei at the end of June. We have got an awesome group of sailors and some incredible inclusions and discounts from our rally sponsors which makes joining the rally cheaper and way more convenient than trying to organise everything yourself.

I have really enjoyed putting everything together for the rally. the packs have got heaps of goodies and samples from our generous supporters, we've got weather routing, discounts from the marinas, help with crew, assistance with the mountains of additional paperwork, some awesome events, charts, a rally guide with all the detail on the new regulations on getting in and out of the country, and heaps more!

There is still time if you'd like to join us. You can register online here.

We've had some awesome webinars from experts like Nick & Keryn from PredictWind about getting the IridiumGO all set up and how to get the best out of your offshore app. We've also had a webinar on offshore voice communications - SSB Radio, Satellite phones, getting the most out of your VHF too from Peter Mott of Passage Guardian. And an update from Richard Chesher on the gems to explore when sailing in New Caledonia - along with a fantastic discount on his incredible Rocket Guide. Our next webinar is all about the documentation, COVID tests, and mountains of paperwork to complete before leaving NZ and arriving in Fiji. There are lots of things to be aware of!

If you are heading to Fiji under your own steam, safe travels and we look forward to seeing you up there! I hope you can also join us for a Kiwi Sailors lunch at Cloud 9 floating bar in the Mamanuca group on the 9th July. More info later in the newsletter. If you are looking out for crew, we've got heaps of people on our CrewSeeker list who'd love to help you out!

Fiji Regatta week is another extremely popular event in the South Pacific Sailing calendar! If you'd like to join in the fun, you can either sail up, or fly up as part of our exclusive Island Cruising Group! Check out the details further on in the newsletter. It is going to be LOTS of fun. I hope you can join us.

New Caledonia is now open for sailors, and some of the rally participants are also heading there for some adventures in this exciting destination after Fiji. We've got discounts on Rocket Guides, paper charts, weather routing and more! Get in touch if you are interested in heading this way.

In other news from the Pacific, Vanuatu has announced that they will be opening certain Islands to tourists from 1 July. We don't have all the detail on what this means for the maritime border as yet, but if you are interested in sailing to Vanuatu, please let me know and I can send you more detail when we have it.

On the boat side of things, I've been busy fixing my boat toilet, so this week I am feeling like a bit of a plumbing expert. Having the right tools for the job and some extra hands from the crew certainly helps too! This is the third toilet I've had in my boat in the last 19 years I've owned her (through no fault of my own - promise!!).

I am pleased that our air border is finally going to be open to the international cruisers who have been stuck away from their boats for the last two years. I have been working with many of these people to try and reunite them with their homes over the last two years and thankfully it looks like their time has finally come.

In the mean time - New Zealand's maritime border remains closed to International cruisers. The delay in bringing our maritime border in line with the air border is quite frankly crazy... I really feel for the marine businesses who rely on the income that the international cruisers bring in to our economy and for the sailors wanting to come and explore this amazing country.

I hope you enjoy this edition of Cruise News.

Happy sailing and thanks for all your support!

Cheers. Viki

PARTY IN PARADISE! Fiji Regatta Week

13 - 19 September 2022

Join us in Fiji in September for Fiji Regatta week - either sail in or fly up with our Island Cruising group!

Travel packages include: Return airfares ex Auckland to Nadi on Air NZ, including a meal & bag Return transfers by bus and boat to Musket Cove 6 nights accommodation in a Garden Bure or Two Bedroom Island Villa All meals on Musket Cove - breakfast, lunch & dinner daily Island Cruising event at Musket Cove Pricing starts from $2549.00 per person based on four people sharing a Garden Bure. Other options available - get in contact for more details.

Contact Dalwyn from House of Travel to secure your spot - this will sell out!

Email: dalwyns@hot.co.nz phone: +64 3 341 9352

Kiwi Sailors Lunch at Cloud 9 - Fiji!

Join Viki & the Island Cruising Pacific Rally for a kiwi cruisers catch up Saturday 9 July Cloud 9 - Mamanuca Group lunch - Pizza & cocktails Transfers from the anchorage provided RSVP essential to book your spot - info@islandcruising.nz All sailors welcome!

Memories not Dreams

By Helen Shrewsbury

From an early age I dreamed of living on a boat and sailing the world. I was almost certainly influenced by my parents who, for as long as I can remember, talked about the day they were going to set off and sail round the World, a dream that was never fulfilled. They got as far as sailing from Scotland to The Azores in their 27ft boat and decided long distance sailing was not for them. Hardly surprising when you consider it was before GPS, AIS and good weather forecasting and they were in a small boat, lovingly built by my father in our backyard!

When we bought Cerulean, our 43ft Bluewater, custom built boat, in the UK a few years after the death of both my parents, part of me felt I was not only fulfilling my dream, but those of my parents too. Our boat is vastly different from the one dad built, with much more space, all modern equipment, seakindly and very comfortable. To honour mum and dad in the months following us buying Cerulean, we sailed her on a pilgrimage back to their beloved home on the West Coast of Scotland. In fact our shakedown sail included sailing along the south coast of England to Cornwall, Isles of Scilly, West Wales, Northern Ireland and the West Coast of Scotland. It was a perfect way for us to get to know Cerulean and for us to understand and prioritise the work that needed to be done to make her ready for the long passages we were planning to undertake.

We spent the cold winter of 2020/21 in Falmouth, England, working on the boat almost every day.We stripped her, both inside and out, removing the sails, running rigging, mast, squabs, engine and canvas, in fact everything that made Cerulean a boat! We cleaned, scraped, rubbed, squirted, prodded, brushed, screwed and stuck everything we could. After years of neglect, we serviced winches, steering, propellor, seacocks, liferaft and cooker. By the time we left the yard five months later we had new sails, canvas, rigging, battery management upgrade, solar panels and engine. We had focused on the items we knew we had to rely on to get us safely across the Atlantic and beyond, sticking to a pre-determined budget as we continued to review whether an item was a need or a want!

In early June 2021 we left UK waters and set off on our first multi-night passage, crossing The Bay of Biscay and arriving in Spain at the start of our long sail home. We both really enjoyed the crossing, which was essentially a make or break for the trip as I had limited long distance sailing experience and Steve had none! His first taste of sailing was on my Whiting 29 when we sailed her from Lyttelton to Mana Marina in Wellington when I relocated to Auckland three years earlier.If that hadn’t gone well we would not be where we were now but, in the same vein, if the Bay of Biscay passage had been a disaster, we would have questioned our ability to continue our safe journey home. Thankfully we did not encounter any Orcas which were attacking boats on a fairly regular basis in the waters we were sailing, and enjoyed some wonderful sails and experiences as we made our way south along the Spanish and Portuguese coastline.

One of the many wonderful things about cruising without deadlines is the freedom to change your plans, which we did constantly as new opportunities arose. After meeting some fellow cruisers in Portugal, we decided to change our mind about crossing the Atlantic early in the season, and instead head to Senegal and Gambia before continuing to Cape Verde.It was the best decision of our trip and we experienced a taste of life in a third world county that we will remember for the rest of our lives.

Gambia gave us a window into the lives of a young country where the people are struggling to survive in a harsh, but beautiful environment, abundant in wildlife and nature but a country desperate to improve their subsistence living conditions and clutching any opportunity which may present them with a way to improve the lives of their families.

Gambia is not on the normal well travelled route to cross the Atlantic and involved a 960NM passage from The Canaries along the West Africa coastline. We made an unplanned stop in Dakar, Senegal, for a week as our buddy boat experienced some damage during bad weather we encountered as we headed south and Dakar proved to be an excellent place to get sails and canvas repair.

We spent a month in Africa, travelling up The Gambia River to where hippos wallow on the mud banks close to mangroves and paddy fields, where brightly coloured birds fill the skies and where the smiles of children are as wide as the fast flowing river we travelled up. We celebrated Christmas in a country where Muslims and Christians respect and recognise their different religions and woke to the sound of the call to prayer at sunrise and then was welcomed at 8am by a local “boat boy” wishing us a “Happy Christmas” when bringing fresh bread to the boat.

Our adventures continued in Cape Verde and then, our biggest challenge – crossing the Atlantic to The Caribbean. We had spent 18 months preparing the boat and ourselves for this moment and both of us felt ready to take the leap of faith and jump off at Mindelo into the deep waters of the Atlantic ocean. We had waited for the right weather window, which proved to be a good one as we experienced calm seas for most of the 2000NM crossing to Grenada. We both loved our time crossing the Atlantic, arriving 17 days later exhilarated, proud and happy. Most importantly we really enjoyed the time we spent together. For the last two years we have seldom been more than 43ft from each other, yet we continue to laugh, love, respect, trust and challenge each other.

As we continue our adventure exploring the many and varied islands of The Caribbean we often reflect on what we have achieved so far and how fortunate we are to be able to live this life. However, the decision to choose this lifestyle was not a hard one but it is the decisions made earlier that are the hardest – choosing when to resign from your job, dealing with the pain of separation from loved ones, buying the right boat and having confidence in your own abilities. My parents chose not to follow their dreams. I’m so happy I chose to follow mine.

Oxley Sails - Discounts for Island Cruising Members Contact Viki - info@islandcruising.nz

Helly Hansen

Great discounts for Island Cruising members on all Helly Hansen sailing gear Order through info@islandcruising.nz View the range online here www.hellyhansen.co.nz

Do Good Things One of our Island Cruising Values is to leave a positive impact on the communities we visit. I am really excited for the Pacific Rally to be supporting the awesome mahi of the teams from Days For Girls and Sea Mercy Fiji.

Days for Girls are a team of volunteers based here in New Zealand (and around the world) who make washable, reusable sanitary products for girls. This initiative enables girls to continue to go to school, reduce stigma and manage their health with dignity and comfort. Days For Girls volunteers have made 750 kits that our rally participants will help to transport up to Fiji, where the team from Sea Mercy Fiji will arrange for the packs to be distributed to the communities.

Pacific Rally 2022 Rally to Fiji & New Caledonia Departing in May, from Opua or June from Whangarei cruise to Fiji where you can enjoy exploring this stunning part of the world, at your own pace. Enter at Savusavu or Denerau. Make your way up to Musket Cove for Fiji Regatta Week in September.

From there, we'll sail to New Caledonia, before heading back to NZ in October. There will hopefully also be the option of adding a stop in Vanuatu if it opens.

Fiji Regatta Week If you are just keen to sail up for the Fiji Regatta week in September, we can help with that too.

Some of our amazing Sponsors Deals 33% discount on berths at Bay of Islands Marina 50% discount on berths at Whangarei Marina Welcome events in Fiji 10% Discount from Topsail Insurance Fishing Tackle from Hunting & Fishing 20% Discount from Predict Wind Free digital subscription to Boating NZ Magazine 15% discount from Cater Marine Food, smoothies and discounts from Radix Nutrition Discounts on lines from Nautilus Braids Discount on Sea Survival course with Skipper Training Discount on Marine Medic courses & Cat 1 Medical Kit from Oceania Medical Passage Guardian service Discounted flag package from Bato Flags Discounts on charts & cruising guides from TransPacific marine $300 discount on watermakers from Open Ocean Discount on Hydrovane Discount on SCUBA courses with Global Dive Discount on wet weather gear from Helly Hansen House of Travel - crew transfer service

Register online here!

Rally Inclusions Assistance getting prepared to go offshore through our Cruising Preparation Workshops. Helping get you, your crew and your vessel ready for Cat 1. All the content is online with regular webinars and weekly email content.

Assistance with all the administration, COVID tests and paperwork with going offshore. We make sure you know all the current rules and regulations and are there to help.

The services of a Professional Weather Router on the longer passages.

Radio scheds and checkins with Gulf Harbour Radio & Passage Guardian.

A comprehensive Rally Guide for each destination packed with tips, places to go, local contacts, cultural considerations, and much more to help you get the most out of your voyage.

A rally pack and goody bag with local information, sponsored products, discounts and more.

Discounted charts and cruising guides.

Discounts to help get your boat ready from all our supportive rally partner businesses.

Welcome to Fiji & Social events and activities along the way.

A PredictWind Rally Tracker 20% discount on your weather routing subscription with PredictWind Assistance with getting crew and changing crew with House of Travel Shore crew support if things go wrong.

The option to participate in environmental and charitable projects.

The flexibility to cruise with your friends or do your own thing - the choice is yours.

Full refund if COVID border closures means you can't go offshore.

Pacific Rally Sponsors

Pacific Rally Sponsors

The Schengen Shuffle Island Cruising Workshop Lots of people (including me!) have dreams of buying a boat in the Mediterranean and cruising around that part of the world for a few years before sailing home to New Zealand.

But there are a few things you need to be aware of, and Schengen is one of them.

The Schengen area comprises of 26 European countries that have abolished all passport and border control at their mutual borders. This means that the entire area comprising of these countries functions are a single jurisdiction for international travel purposes with a common visa policy. This means that when you sail (or travel) between countries in Europe, your passport isn't stamped or checked, and you are only permitted to stay in the Schengen area up to 90 days in any 180 day period.

Schengen countries comprises all EU countries except Ireland, Cyprus, Croatia, Bulgaria and Romania. As a result of Brexit negotiations Gibraltar is also about to become part of the Schengen area too and Croatia may also join in the future. Schengen also includes the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla on the Moroccan coast.

New Zealand Bi-Lateral Agreement Under the Schengen rules above, New Zealand passport holders are able to spend up to three months visa-free in most European countries, and up to six months visa-free in the United Kingdom. The only European countries that require New Zealand passport holders to have a visa for a stay of less than three months are Belarus, Moldova, Russia and Ukraine.

However, New Zealand also has bilateral visa waiver agreements with the below listed individual countries in the Schengen area. These visa waiver agreements allow New Zealanders to spend up to three months in that particular country, without reference to time spent in other Schengen area countries. The European Commission has confirmed that these agreements continue to be valid. These agreements thus effectively override the Schengen area restriction (which would otherwise apply to New Zealand passport holders) of no more than 3 months out of a 6-month period in the Schengen area as a whole.

The countries with which New Zealand has bilateral visa waiver agreements are: Austria Belgium Czech Republic Denmark Finland France Germany Greece Iceland Italy Luxembourg the Netherlands Norway Portugal Spain Sweden Switzerland You can, therefore, move visa-free among the above countries for periods of up to 3 months in each country. If, however, you move to other countries in the Schengen area that do not have a bilateral visa waiver agreement with New Zealand, the restriction of no more than 3 months out of a 6-month period in the Schengen area as a whole applies.

If you have already spent 3 months in one or more of the above countries, your presence in a Schengen area country with which New Zealand does not have a bilateral visa waiver agreement may be challenged by local police or other authorities. You may also be accused of being an overstayer when you leave the Schengen area, or when you enter another country outside the Schengen area.

Despite confirmation from the European Commission that the visa waiver agreements continue to be valid, border and immigration officials in Schengen area countries are occasionally unaware of this and question New Zealanders’ rights to stay visa-free in the Schengen area for longer than 3 months. You are also advised to ensure that your passport is stamped on entry and exit at the external borders of the Schengen area. Officers at ports of entry may wave travellers through without stamping passports, but it is important to have evidence of the date of first entry into the Schengen area for any subsequent dealings with local police or other authorities. It is also advisable to retain some informal evidence of time spent in particular Schengen countries (e.g. accommodation receipts, ATM slips). You might also like to write to the embassies of the countries you are intending to visit and ask them for a letter or some confirmation that the bilateral agreement applies.

The Safe Travel website says: Schengen country border officials may adopt different interpretations of the Schengen rules or take into account other factors which might affect eligibility for entry. New Zealand travellers should be aware that border and immigration officials in Schengen area countries may occasionally be unaware of our visitor visa waiver agreements, or more commonly, may choose to apply the “90 days out of a 180 day period” rule for the Schengen area as a whole, as they do for passport holders from non-visa waiver countries. The decision to apply this rule over the visa waiver rests solely with local border and immigration authorities. Consequently, neither the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade nor our New Zealand Embassies or High Commissions overseas can provide New Zealand travellers with a blanket assurance of how entry and length of stay decisions will be applied by Schengen area countries, nor can we intervene to overturn a decision.

We recommend therefore that you ensure your passport is stamped on first entry into the Schengen area. Officers at initial ports of entry may wave travellers through without stamping passports but it is important to have evidence in your passport of the date of first entry into the Schengen area for any subsequent dealings with border, immigration or other local authorities. The same applies to exiting the Schengen area for the last time.

We also strongly advise travellers to retain informal evidence of time spent in each Schengen country, such as accommodation and travel receipts and tickets, ATM receipts, boarding passes etc., as the onus is on the traveller to prove length of stay in a particular country or the Schengen area as a whole.

You can read more here about how Helen Shrewsbury got on with her Schengen experience.

Check out the Safe Travel website for more information.

The difficulty with this is that it can be hard to find anywhere that will stamp your passport or for you to do official border clearances, particularly if you are on a boat.

The Schengen Shuffle If you don't have a New Zealand passport and you'd like to spend longer than three months at a time cruising in the Schengen area then you will need to develop strategies to stay within these limits.

This could mean spending some time outside of the EU Schengen area – more easily done in the Mediterranean than the Atlantic and northern EU coasts. Options include: Morocco, Tunisia, Croatia, Montenegro, Albania and Turkey.

It could also mean planning shorter cruises and leaving your boat in different places while you fly out to different countries and come back again three months later.

Tax Your vessel can stay in the Schengen area for up to 18 months before it is liable to pay EU VAT. (You can also get an extension for up to two years). If you're purchasing a boat in the Med, then it is possible it is already tax paid, but it is important to check this and have proof. If you are non-tax paid then the vessel will be given a Temporary Admission (TA) and you'll have a transit log which needs to be kept with the vessel while it is in that country. The transit log needs to be stamped when leaving the country and anew one obtained when entering a new port of entry.

The boat's TA clock can be restarted by exiting the EU, obtaining proof of doing so (such as a marina receipt), and then re-entering the EU. This can be as soon as 24 hours after you've departed.

Remember too if you are sailing a boat home to NZ you have duty and GST to pay when you come in to New Zealand. You can find more information about how that works on our Cruising Workshop on Tax. Registration Your vessel needs to be registered to a 'flag state' and I'd highly recommend you register it in New Zealand unless you have some other reason for not wanting to do so. You can read more about registering a vessel on this workshop. Make sure that if you are changing the country of registration that you also get a NZ MMSI number issued too. More info in our workshop here.

Remember that tax paid and country of registration are two completely different things.

Your Workshop Tasks to complete if you are going to buy a boat in Europe: 1. If you don't have a New Zealand passport but you are eligible to have one, then apply! This passport will definitely give you more options when travelling. Even better if you can get a European passport!

2. Get in contact with the NZ based Embassies of the countries you are planning to visit and ask them for some documentation confirming the bilateral agreement. Hopefully this will help if you are questioned when you are arriving or departing from a country.

3. If you are planning on sailing back to New Zealand, make sure you do your sums on the duty and tax you'll need to pay when you arrive home.

4. Ensure your MMSI number matches your flag state. You will need a technician to help you change the MMSI number in your electronics. Read this workshop to learn how to update your MMSI number.

5. If you are going to be a NZ flagged vessel, you can buy your ensign and other courtesy flags from Bato Flags. Let them know you are a member to get a great deal.

Packing for the Pacific So you've been invited to crew to the Pacific or to visit your friends who are sailing in the Pacific Rally congratulations! You are in for some fun adventures. Here is what you should pack to make sure you have everything you'll need for an awesome trip.

A Soft Bag Suitcases are hard to stow on a boat, so pack all your gear in a soft bag that can be squished down to fit in to a small locker or put down the end of your bunk by your feet. Something that is waterproof is good if you've got a dinghy ride to get to the boat, and wheels are handy for long walks along marina piers.

A day pack A backpack is great as it gives you both hands free when climbing in and out of the dinghy and keeps your things off the dinghy floor. Put your hat, insect repellant, drink bottle, sunglasses, phone/camera, sulu, towel and anything else you need for adventures ashore.

Polarised sunglasses & a hat These make seeing coral heads through the water MUCH easier.

SCUBA/Snorkelling gear Take your own mask, snorkel, wetsuit and fins and spend as much time exploring under water as you can! Octacle suit lube is great to help you slip in to your wetsuit easily. Buy online here.

Modest Clothing Dress modestly when visiting an Island village.

Women should cover their shoulders and knees, and men should also wear a sulu. You can buy them when you arrive. Don't wear anything on your head - including sunglasses & a hat.

Some tidy clothes are good to take too in case you go to a resort for dinner.

A Headlamp It gets dark early in the tropics, so having a headlamp in your day-pack is a great idea for finding the boat at night, or if you're up checking the anchor or on night watch on a passage. I love my LED Lenser headlamp. It is water resistant, rechargeable via USB, has a range of 18m, 35 hour light time, 400 lumens, bright white and a red light to preserve your night vision. Different colour outer rings available too. Retails at $129.00 but order through Island Cruising to get a great discount.

Sandals I love Keen sandals - you can wear them on the boat, in the dinghy, when jumping out on to sharp shells, and then carry on up the hill on a hike - brilliant.

Life Jacket & Harness If you are doing the passage - then you might like to take your own life jacket and harness. Carry your life jacket in your hand luggage. Members get a great discount from Safety at Sea, Cater Marine or Burnsco.

A Jacket It still rains in the tropics - so a light jacket is a great idea. If you are sailing the passage up or back you'll also need some warm clothes and your wet weather gear too. We get great rates from Helly Hansen on their sailing and other gear. Check out their website and order through Island Cruising

Documentation You need to have a passport with at least 6 months validity from the date you enter Fiji.

You also need a Vaccination certificate, travel insurance, a return ticket and complete a few online forms - contact us for more info.

Sunscreen Stay safe in the sun, we recommend Seasick Sunscreen, which gives great SPF protection, is plastic free and is coral safe. Order online here.

A drink bottle Stay hydrated! Essential to have a drink bottle when going for adventures ashore and avoiding spills in your bunk. I LOVE my new Yeti Rambler drink bottle. Plastic free and insulated - it keeps drinks chilled or hot for ages and they come in a range of awesome colours. Retail $64.99 but order through Island Cruising and get a discount.

PLB - Personal Locator Beacon These are super compact and can easily be clipped to your life jacket or kept in your jacket pocket. Great for if you go tramping too. Make sure you register your PLB online at www.beacons.org.nz. Retails at $549 but order through Island Cruising to get a discount.

Keep in Touch It is nice to be able to stay in touch with friends and family while you are at sea. Either by sending texts, emails or even making phone calls via satellite. Phone coverage is pretty good in Fiji but when you are offshore you need another option. These satellite units are small and can also be taken tramping or on NZ adventures where you might be out of phone coverage too. You can also set up tracking so your friends and family can follow your progress.

If you are planning on sailing your own boat to the Islands in the future, then why not invest in an IridiumGO? The best price is definitely through PredictWind and you can also get their weather through the Offshore App too as well as the ability to make phone calls, emails, text depending on what satellite data plan you purchase.

For crew members wanting a more basic option, a Garmin InReach Mini is another good way to keep in touch with friends. It is tiny and you can send and receive basic texts and emails. They retail at $599.00 and you purchase your satellite data plan on top of that.

Order through Island Cruising to get a discount.

Keep your gear dry!

A waterproof phone & tablet case is essential, as is a good dry bag if you are carrying any other important stuff such as a laptop, camera and even your passport.

A Good Book or a Kindle I love my kindle, you can download heaps of books to read any time, and you don't need to turn on the light to read at night.

Earplugs If you are a light sleeper, packing some earplugs will help block out the various boat & fellow crew noises. If you are the snorer - then bring some extra earplugs to give to your fellow crew members - they'll thank you for it.

Portable Power Bank This can come in handy for charging up your phone if there are limited USB ports on the boat you are going on. Ask your host about what options they are for charging electronics. Make sure you pack this in your hand luggage.

Hand Held VHF Radio If you've got your own, why not bring it along? It can certainly help to have a spare for communicating with the boat and calling for help if necessary.

Turkish Towel Turkish towels are awesome for taking to the beach. They are light-weight and fold up small to go in your back pack, they are also quick drying.

Your Camera & GoPro Take some awesome photos of your adventures.

Tag Island Cruising and #pacificrally2022 in your photos and we will share on our social media too.

Boat Share or Charter?

Hi we are Hamish & Nic, and we are dreaming of taking our three kids cruising in the Islands in the near future.

As someone who grew up sailing, salt water flows through my blood. I have built up plenty of offshore sailing miles, racing to Fiji and Noumea multiple times, as well as crew in the UK Yacht Racing Academy including multiple Fastnet races.

As time has worn on and my family has arrived, my wife Nic and I are dreaming of taking our three kids to the islands for winter. We are looking at options to achieve this dream within the next three years, however being based in Queenstown are having to consider some creative ways to make it happen.

Living in Central Otago, it doesn't make a lot of sense to own our own boat yet, but the kids are at the perfect age to go soon so we thought we'd reach out to the cruising community to see if we can broker a deal.

Perhaps there's a family who needs help to deliver their yacht one way or the other, in exchange for for some time on their boat in the islands, or possibly another family who aren't planning a trip north but would consider chartering their boat to us for the season, or even someone who might want all the Cat 1 and cruising upgrades completed in return for sharing their boat and helping us bring this dream to life?

If you, or anyone you know, is looking to take a season off and is willing to charter their boat out, or would like to join forces to share an adventure please feel free to contact me - Hamish and the Brown family directly: Hamish.nicola@gmail.com

Become a member of Island Cruising for just $95, and get a free digital subscription to Boating New Zealand!

Join online now: https://www.islandcruising.nz/register

FOR SALE Para anchor Tasman 15, - suits 11m monohull or 15m multihull.

Para anchor in water kit- 100m warp plus float line.

Heavy strop from bow to cockpit.

Carried up to the islands in waterproof cockpit locker but has never been in the water. $2000 Seabrake GP24L drogue.

Has been tested but never used in anger. $130 Abandon Ship bag plus contents Never used always carried below.

No flares in bottle.

ACR epirb goes but will need updating. $120 RFD Beaufort Lifeguard 4 person raft.

Never used, carried in waterproof cockpit locker.

Full service was due 04/2016 $200 Any questions please feel free to call 0272865393 Ross Walker ross.pamwalker@gmail.com

If you are heading up to the Pacific this year it is worth noting that both Fiji and New Caledonia require you and your crew to be fully vaccinated and also have travel insurance that covers COVID & repatriation.

Normal travel insurance policies do not cover yachties, as their cover only extends to 12NM offshore. However Topsail Insurance have a crew members policy that will cover your crew while on passage, in country and meet the requirements of the Fijian & New Caledonian officials.

You can get a quote from them online here.

Island Cruising members can also get a 10% discount on their policy. Quote discount code: ISLANDCRUISING10

2012 Leopard 39 – Owner’s version This is a superb example of a Leopard 39 owner’s version. Beautifully maintained, you will realise as soon as you step aboard how lovingly the owners have cared for their yacht.

Click here for more details

2007 Hanse 430e This epoxy-built Hanse 430e is renowned for its performance, strength and easy short-handed sailing. With many recent upgrades, this yacht is very well set up for extended cruising with no limit on the destination.

Click here for more details

2013 Dufour 445 | Soki Soki has an abundance of outstanding features, one of the key ones being its build quality and structural integrity. Dufour Yachts has been fine tuning and advancing their production techniques since 1964, and the results are obvious when inspecting the Dufour 445.

Click here for more details

Learn to dive before you go cruising!

5% Discount for Island Cruising Members

Located in the Westhaven marine village - at 132 Beaumont Street, Auckland. Global Dive specialise in providing a full range of support including a highly regarded service department for all your dive servicing needs as well as a retail store with a full range of high quality gear and rental dive equipment. Global Dive are Auckland’s specialists in underwater photography equipment and Technical diving, including CCR support and training. They run a full range of recreational and technical dive courses and conduct dive tours with an extensive knowledge of NZ dive destinations. Whatever your equipment, servicing, training or dive travel needs Global Dive can help make it happen. +64 (0)9 920 5200 info@globaldive.net www.globaldive.net

Get 10% off!

Use code: islandcruise

For Sale brand-new, never-used North Sails genoa for the boat, bought at the same time as these working sails in this photo, and of the same Norlam Tour (grey) cloth. Its dimensions are: Luff 13.85m Foot 5.2m Leech 12.05 $3000 (which is half of what a new one would cost) Also, an as-new symmetrical spinnaker. Tri radial in red, white blue, luff/leech 14m.

Asking $1,500 Contact: Alex 021 917 777 Waypoint Ocean Elite 6 Person Liferaft – Cat 1 - $2,500 Fully tested to the ISO 9650-1 Group A specs, the Waypoint ISO 9650-1 Ocean Elite liferaft is one of the best liferafts in the market today for the ocean sailor.

Purchased 2019 for Pacific Rally – never used Re-certified until Dec 2024 by Kiwi Yachting https://kiwiyachting.co.nz/.../safety/waypoint/ocean-elite/ dimensions are 28 x 50 x 70 Pick Up Gulf Harbour Contact Nick 0272964588

Hydrovane What do people say about theirs?

By Sarah Curry of Hydrovane International Marine

With our plans to sail off into the blue and explore our amazing oceans, Hydrovane was always part of the plan.

A self steering windvane system plus an emergency rudder and insurers see it as a ‘third crew member’ for double handed sailing, it’s a no-brainier right?

But, having purchased our home-on-the-water, it already came with a purpose built A-frame and solar panels, not leaving us much room on our stern for our Hydrovane?!!

We spoke to Will Curry and the team at Hydrovane who talked us through various options and reassured us that the vane would fit. So we purchased, took delivery and engaged James at G A Marine to assist us in the installation.

Firstly, a huge thank you 🙏 to Will, Richard and the team at Hydrovane for their support, reassurance, positivity and face-to-face engagement.

We are blown away by these guys in the marine industry who believe in support, aftercare and doing a job right the first time 👌 We still need to finalise the installation and will post some pictures when we finally get out on the water to test it all out! @Walkabout Gone Sailing .

www.hydrovane.com

10% discount!

Radix Nutrition is another awesome sponsor of the Pacific Rally and have provided a variety of meals and smoothies in the rally packs.

Radix makes delicious meals, ideal for when it's rough or when you need to refuel on the go. Quick, easy, nutritious, delicious. Radix meals will be provided in the Pacific Rally goody packs.

Discounts for Island Cruising members too.

Click here to order - discount code SAILNZ2022

The Buoycatcher can be used on a wide range of moorings, including many cleats, mooring balls, hoops, rings, chains and straight bar dock cleats. With multiple positioning options then the head can be used to attach ropes to low down and above head locations, such as when you are mooring against a wall at low tide.

Order online at www.boatbits.co.nz Join the Pacific Rally 2022 and go in the draw to win a Buoycatcher & a seaglass bag!

HEADS UP!

By Glenys Carr

Back in the 1980’s, I distinctly remember trying not to look too hard as we made tracks out of Mansion House Bay, Kawau Island with an almost imperceptible trail of macerated toilet paper and waste floating away in our wake.

The general thinking as I recall was that it was ‘fish food’, and ‘natural.’ I don’t remember ‘environmental impact’ being part of the vocab back then. Practically none of the boats, if any, had black water or grey water holding tanks, it wasn’t a requirement and I’m sure most boaties at the time wouldn’t have entertained the idea of sailing around the place sporting a holding tank full of sewage.

So how far have we come since then?

Changes started to happen in August of 1998 when the Resource Management (marine pollution) Regulations 1998 came into effect and with it rules about discharges and holding tanks. You can read the regulations here.

See Part 3 Control of Discharges 11 (2)(a)(b)(c)(d) In New Zealand waters you are permitted to discharge sewage from your boat however you must qualify for ALL of the following; *discharge 500 metres from the shore at mean high water springs (MHWS is the averaged highest level that spring tides reach over a period of 19 years) *discharge 500 metres from a marine farm *discharge in water more than 5 metres deep *discharge more than 200 metres from a marine reserve.

If you have Grade B treated sewage (See 12A (1)(2)) you are permitted to discharge in less than 500 metres from mean high water springs however this rule may still apply regionally. Check with the council in your region for rules around sewage discharge. To be on the safe side stay with the 500 metre from MHWS even if you have Grade B discharge.

Photo Credit: www.nrc.govt.nz

Grade B sewage treatment is achievable using a Raritan Electro Scan sewage treatment system on your boat.

It is an environmentally friendly sanitation device which utilises energised electrodes to convert salt water into a bactericide. I could find no other installation that achieves Grade B status. I think that it can be considered the gold standard. Basically the Electro Scan ensures that any sewage leaving your boat is sanitised but with no environmental impact.

If you are not treating with an Electro Scan you have no Grade B status and are therefore discharging untreated sewage.

There are many holding tank treatments available on the New Zealand market, most seem to be geared for odour removal using probiotic bio enzymes that do not harm the environment. These tank additives require good ventilation to work properly, I can personally attest to this fact! They have no disinfection properties so in effect you are still discharging raw sewage treated with a biological agent that reduces smell (not that pumping out disinfectants is all that great either).

Two products I did find that contain germicides and are used in boat toilets are Portasol (the blue one) and Raritan KO. Portasol contains quaternary ammonium, a common ingredient in disinfectants and sanitisers that kills bacteria, fungi and viruses. The other active ingredient in portasol is glutaraldahyde, found in many common disinfectants glutaraldahyde is a steriliser and disinfectant moderately toxic to marine life. You can read more about it here.

Raritan KO is a bio-active anti-bacterial holding tank treatment. It contains ethoxylated nonylphenols.

Commonly used in laundry detergents and personal hygiene products ethoxylated nonylphenols are highly toxic in marine environments. You can read more about it here.

Also Sudbury Marine toilet conditioner gets a mention because it contains a non mineral oil that impregnates and lubricates parts. Sudbury is 95% biodegradable (the other 5%?) I’m not sure what effect this product would have in the marine environment, biodegradable does not necessarily mean degradable in sea water.

Check out Sudbury online here.

I will let you be the judge on whether any of these products are safe to use and eject into our marine ecosystems.

It should be noted that it is not mandatory to have a holding tank onboard however if you do not then adherence to the rules will be problematic. I would venture that there are not too many boats in New Zealand that do not have some sort of sewage catchment aboard.

The Maritime NZ and The Ministry for the Environment publication ‘Sewage systems for recreational boats’ is an informative overview of all things holding tank and sewage system, available online here.

Holding tank pump out facilities are available on most marinas in New Zealand by request, check ahead for information. You will of course require a deck fitting to enable this! Seaview Marina in Wellington advertise a free portable pump out facility, Westhaven Marina in Auckland have sewage pump out available on some piers, Northland has facilities at Opua and Whangaroa Marinas’ to name a few. Here are the Northland Regional Council rules regarding disposal of sewage from boats.

Bamboo derived toilet tissue is enviro friendly and okay to use in a marine toilet. Like everything going down the head, keep it to an absolute minimum or collect and take off the boat.

Lastly, I must mention composting toilets! Not my cup of tea but if you are feeling adventurous check out the Boat Galley article on Composting Toilets.

And for a little light reading about vinegar and oil maintenance check out the Boat Galley article on that too.

Offshore Marine Medic

Two-day Offshore Medical Course customised to provide students with the basics required for Offshore Cruising. Course also covers a handover of the Offshore Medical Kit (CAT 1) and how to use it.

MORE DATES BEING ADDED TO THE WEBSITE SOON!!

Location: Oceania Medical, Unit 5, 23B westhaven Drive, Auckland Time: 8:30am - 4:30pm $295.00 for Island Cruising members + discount on Cat 1 Medical Kits $325.00 for non-members Register online https://www.oceaniamedical.co.nz/collections/offshore-medical-training

CrewSeeker Keen to come sailing in the South Pacific this winter? Join our CrewSeeker page!

Island Cruising Members have access our CrewSeeker page on the website where you can add yourself as crew and skippers can have a look for people when they're heading away on a passage.

There are lots of crewing opportunities to the Pacific this season, so if you are interested in being a crew member, you can fill out the application, join up to Island Cruising and get your details listed: https://www.islandcruising.nz/resources/crewseeker You'll also get access to our cruising preparation workshops and the great sponsor deals too. We will even help you write your Sailing Resumé To increase your crewing chances, it is also worth doing the Sea Survival, Offshore Medic & VHF Radio courses and other qualifications such as Boatmaster - remember you also get some great discounts with your Island Cruising membership too.

Partner Clubs

For Sale

Laurie Davidson Cavalier 45 hugely regarded New Zealand off shore cruising yacht, Pacific ready to sail away.

Cat 1 specifications, immaculately maintained with extensive improvements, constructed to Marine Survey standards, solid GRP hull, Yanmar turbo charged 110hp diesel, new 2019 low hours, still under international warranty, new rigging Sept 2021, boom furling mainsail, new heavy duty furling gib, all new hatches,new Vesper Marine AIS, new Echopilot forward facing sonar, 2 x Raymarine chart plotters with NZ, Aust, Pacific charts, radar, hydraulic auto pilot, new 2000w invertor, 5 x 105amp house batteries, 1 x 80amp start battery, 2 x Ctek battery chargers, 480w solar panels, emergency radio battery, 12v built in auto flushing water maker, EPIRB, Iridium Go sat phone, more extensive inventory on request.

Asking $300,000 View on Trademe here

Upcoming Events

Advanced Sea Survival Course A comprehensive theoretical and practical course for crew requiring an offshore, category 1 certificate.

Whangarei 25 - 26 June $360 for Island Cruising members (please use the discount code in the members newsletter) $400 for non-members. www.skippertraining.ac.nz 0800 546 9700 info@skippertraining.nz

Island Cruising NZ is proud to partner with Rocket Guides Cruising Guides for Vanuatu and New Caledonia.

Rocket Cruising Guides have expert local knowledge on Anchorages, Routes, Marine Parks, Marinas, Yacht Agents, slipways, yacht repair facilities, supermarkets, marine hardware stores, welders, fitters, sail makers, internet, mobile phones, and more.

Island Cruising NZ Members get a 10% discount on these amazing cruising resources

Why Join a Rally?

Island Cruising have been running yacht rallies in the Pacific since the 1980's, and over that time we have helped hundreds of yachties achieve their sailing dreams. Rallies are fun, you get to meet the people who are heading your way and make new friends with sailors who share your sense of adventure. You can choose to cruise with others, or head off and do your own thing. There is no pressure to stay together if you prefer to sail independently.

Island Cruising helps you get prepared to go offshore. Our online cruising preparation workshops give you tips & tasks each week to help you tick off the requirements for Cat 1, getting you, your boat and your crew ready for the voyage ahead. We arrange Sea Survival and Marine Medic courses. We also help with the ever changing rules and regulations of the places you are visiting and the paperwork involved. Our rally guides are packed with local knowledge and advice to help make your voyage a success.

We can help find crew if you need some extra pairs of hands, or if you need your boat delivered without you on board, we can help connect you with people who can make this happen.

Safety is important to us, we provide weather information, trackers, radio scheds, liaise with the Rescue Coordination Centre, and are there for support and back up if things don't go to plan.

We know the locals- so if you have any issues while you are away we can help you get the support you need.

We give you advice on the local customs and regulations so you can make meaningful connections with the people you meet.

We've got amazing sponsors who include some incredible discounts on all the gear you need to go offshore, as well as providing special goodies and giveaways in your rally packs and social events along the way.

In short, Island Cruising is here to help make your voyage safe, fun and enjoyable and we are here to assist you achieve your sailing goals and adventures, the way you want to do it.

Become a member of Island Cruising for just $95 a year. You can join on our website: www.islandcruising.nz

Are you Offshore Ready?

Island Cruising NZ members receive weekly emails with tips and suggestions on how to go about getting prepared for a long coastal or offshore voyage. There are webinars, videos, templates, downloads, and in person get togethers.

Suitable for boat owners or crew members, experienced sailors or beginners alike You can start any time, and work through the topics at your own pace. Join in any time. Just $95.00 per year and take advantage of our great sponsors deals too!

Workshop topics include: EPIRBs Getting organised - a system for storing all

VHF/AIS

the information for your Passage Plan, Safety

Communications

Manual, Maintenance log, Important

Man Over Board

Documents, Boating Qualifications and more

Fire

Your vessel information - a template for

Flooding

collating all the specifications of your boat

Abandon Ship

The Cat 1 & 2 Regulations

Preparing a Grab Bag

Boat Registration

Meteorology

Reporting Incidents

Tides

Insuring your boat

Docking

VHF & MMSI

Plumbing

Meteorology - Forecasts

Electrics

Communication options at Sea

Batteries

Rig - rules for Cat 1 & 2

Charging systems

Sails for offshore - the Cruising Wardrobe

Keeping healthy

Fire Safety

Sail trim & new sails

Anchoring

Boat registration

Your Maintenance Records

Taking on crew

Provisioning

Dinghy tips

EPIRB's

Fog signals

Your sailing resumé

Biosecurity

Navigation

Seasickness

COLREGS

Coping in emergencies

Passage planning

Security

Provisioning

Skipper responsibility

Safety gear

Log keeping

Diesel engine basics

Search and Rescue

Fuel systems

Steering

Servicing winches

Heavy Weather Sailing

Checking your rig Anchoring tips Sailing at night

AND MUCH MORE!

Become a member now to join in www.islandcruising.nz

Discounts for ICNZ Members!

Pacific COVID Update The NZ border is still closed unless you are a NZ Registered vessel, with NZ crew or have an exemption. Fiji, New Caledonia, French Polynesia and hopefully Vanuatu too are now open to cruisers New Zealand

Fiji

Australia

There have been major

Fiji is open to international

The border is open to all

changes in the Air Border

travellers and sailors from

fully vaccinated persons

Order, unfortunately these

December 2021.

holding a current valid

have NOT been applied to the

visa.

Maritime Border Order, so the

And we can't wait to visit on

Any unvaccinated arrivals

current restrictions for small

the Pacific Rally!

are subject to state health

craft remain in place.

requirements.

Vanuatu There have been discussions

Vanuatu has announced that

French Polynesia

around changes to the

they will reopen certain islands

Boats with fully vaccinated

Maritime Border Order BUT no

to tourists from 1 July. Not sure

crew can enter French

changes have been made yet,

yet how this applies to the

Polynesia. If you are interested

and no indication of what

Maritime Border but we will

in sailing to French Polynesia

these changes are OR when

keep you posted! Watch this

next year, please let us know.

they will be in place.

space!

Tonga International visitors from visa

Cook Islands

Tonga's maritime border is

waiver countries can now fly in

While the Air border is

closed until further notice. (but

to NZ from 2 May 2022.

reopening, the Cook Islands

we heard a rumour that in June

Maritime border is still closed.

maybe they'll let us know

NZ - Biosecurity Reminder

People who have been in New

something... but that is just a

Remember you need to ensure

Zealand for 14 days can fly in

rumour...)

that your hull is clean and free

to the Cook Islands without

from any marine growth before

quarantine.

you arrive in New Zealand.

Samoa International borders remain

New Caledonia

closed until further notice.

Niue

The maritime border is now

The Niue border is closed to all

open to sailors as of 14 March

Join Sailors with COVID

yachts until further notice.

2022!

Immigration Issues NZ Facebook group for more

We will be seeing you in New Caledonia on the Pacific Rally.

information.

Island Cruising NZ Become a Member · Whether you own a boat already, are planning on buying one soon, have dreams of sailing offshore someday, or are considering sailing to New Zealand, preparing for a voyage requires that you, your crew and your vessel are knowledgeable, equipped and fully self-sufficient. Island Cruising NZ can help you navigate through all the preparation, administration and coordination of a long coastal or offshore voyage and welcome you to the South West Pacific.

For just NZD$95.00 per annum you will receive: Services, information and advice for long coastal and offshore cruisers and racers.

Newsletters and regular updates.

Exclusive member tips and steps to help you prepare for a long voyage.

Access to exclusive discounts from some of the best marine businesses in New Zealand and the South Pacific. ·Social events, great cruising community connections, activities and rallies.

Mentoring, training seminars and webinars.

Access to our extensive database of local knowledge and advice about sailing in the South Pacific and New Zealand.

Assistance with navigating the ever changing customs, immigration and health requirements for cruisers.

Advocacy and support when things don't go to plan.

Combined knowledge and connections with the Island Cruising community.

Crew matching service for skippers looking for crew or crew looking for a boat.

Join online at www.islandcruising.nz

Publicity, marketing & communications www.marinevoice.net

Clive Bennett clive.bennett@seaboatsbrokers.com +64 27 494 9799

81ft Luxury Caribbean Sailing Yacht

The Doug Peterson Performance Schooner was designed for long range cruising and built in Guernsey by Aqua Star. It is fully airconditioned and features 5 ensuite queen staterooms. Currently operating as a successful lifestyle charter business. This magnificent vessel was built to endure the world’s oceans and upgraded with the latest technology. On the wind she reaches speeds of 8-10 knots and off the wind can exceed 22 knots.

Purchase with option to operate your own Caribbean charter business anywhere from Grenada to the Virgin Islands. The yacht is offered with a British Virgin Island corporate limited company, for tax advantages plus an active Charter Agent. Currently receiving $24K US Dollars 8 people for one week. Owners also have a safe and secure location to haul out during the off season. If required an out of water survey can be completed in Trinidad or Martinique. View online here.

Sailing yacht Finot 53 This is a stylish comfortable cruising yacht, safe and very easy to handle with a quality finish. Zahir is from the drawing board of Jean Marie Finot who is one the premiere naval architects in the world. His Goupe Finot includes designs for both Beneteau and Oceanis.

2018 upgrade – new rigging , new Dacron mainsail, new Dacron Jib, new deck with antiskid Kiwigrip, new solar panels, new fabric Bimini and spray hood.

Full specifications can be found here.

CITY OF SAILS MARINE YACHT BROKERS – New and Used Boats For Sale – Motor Yachts – Power and Sail – Classic – Multihulls – Launches – Trailer Boats – Marine Products We are based in Auckland and offer offer a very wide selection of recreational and commercial boats of all types, both new and used.

We are full service yacht and boat brokers – with the emphasis on service. We also offer a number of marine services and products, including loan finance, and market and insurance valuations.

WE’RE SELLING BOATS – AND WE NEED NEW LISTINGS! We get results, so talk to us now about listing your boat for sale – we promote your boat through a number of websites and other outlets, including overseas as appropriate.

Phone us any time: Blair Harkness, Mobile 021 245 8809 http://www.cityofsailsmarine.co.nz

DOCKLAND 5 Marine Ltd The perfect place to carry out boat repairs & refresh before your next adventure with haul out & hardstand facilities on the beautiful Whangarei Harbour.

John Peagram Manager Mob: 0274 930 812 | Phone: 09438 8558 | Email: john@dockland5.co.nz

Open Ocean Watermakers has been manufacturing watermakers in the beautiful Bay of Islands of New Zealand since 2001. Terry Forsbrey is the owner of Open Ocean. He and his wife Ariel lived aboard their yacht for 22 years and actively cruised offshore for 12 of those years. During their time on the water, Terry discovered that high tech components in a watermaker are not only unnecessary, they are usually the first thing to break down, and most often in remote locations. When helping out other cruisers, he frequently found that by-passing these components would get their watermakers working once again. That's when he realized that a simple, reliable, and affordablewatermaker could be made.

Terry developed the early version of an engine driven model and took it cruising. He put it to the test for five years. He then returned to New Zealand to design and build a reliable watermaker without any superfluous gadgets. Thus was born a revolutionary new concept in watermakers. One that works all the time, is easy to operate, and doesn’t break the bank.

Island Cruising NZ members get a $300 discount on a new water maker from Open Ocean!

Check out their website

Island Cruising NZ Providing cruisers with support, education & connection Social Connection Running yacht rallies around New Zealand and the South Pacific Environmemt · Organising social events, activities and social media networks · Running a sustainable and environmentally · Learning about and being respectful of the cultures we visit sensitive organisation · Promoting positive social impact, community engagement and · Supporting local and global environmental long-lasting connections with the people we meet initiatives to protect the Ocean and the places we visit · Encouraging sailors to be eco-conscious and reduce their impact on the environment · Promoting Citizen Science projects aimed at ocean health Support · Being an inclusive, diverse and supportive community · Advocating for and assisting sailors in need · Advice on immigration clearances & formalities · Yacht tracking and shore crew support ·

·

Education Assisting sailors to prepare themselves, their vessel and crew for long coastal or offshore voyages · Promoting Safer Boating initiatives · Being a rich pool of knowledge, support and resources for cruisers · Encouraging upskilling and good seamanship

Collaboration · Supporting the strategic direction of Yachting New Zealand · Forming strong relationships with yacht clubs to promote longcoastal and offshore races, rallies and cruising events and activities · Promoting Safer Boating and good seamanship alongside Coastguard and Maritime New Zealand · Partnering with Down Under Rally to promote cruising in the South Pacific

Communication · Producing a regular newsletter to keep cruisers informed on the latest cruise news, upcoming events and promoting partner products & businesses. · Promoting the New Zealand Marine industry and providing a positive and mutually beneficial connection to their target market · Encouraging and welcoming international sailors to New Zealand