Waterline February 2017

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

Leading the charge

FEBRUARY 2017

Tauranga’s Callum Gilbert (left) and Finn Butcher (Alexandra) will help lead the New Zealand charge on this year’s world cup circuit in Europe.

Photo by Jamie Troughton/Dscribe Media

02 WATERLINE

FEBRUARY 2017

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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FEBRUARY 2017

Bob’s boatshed days may be numbered Bob Murray.

On learning that the regional council is eyeing Bob’s boatshed and slipway as the future water access for the harbourmaster’s boats and jet skis, Waterline went along to the shed and contacted the current owner, Bob Murray.

He’s not ready to give it up.

“The regional council has been trying to get me out of that shed for years,” says Bob. “I’ve got a lease from the city council on that shed.

“I’ve had that shed for 30 years. The regional council have got a bombastic attitude about the whole thing. Accused me of all sorts of things over the years, they have been trying to move me out of there for a long time.

“It’s between me and the city council really.”

Meanwhile the regional council isn’t saying much at the moment, but might be more forthcoming in March.

The shed’s origins are connected to the building that is now the Harbourside restaurant; the former Tauranga Yacht and Power Boat Club.

The slipway was used to haul out their yachts, say Bob. But the slipway itself he believes is older than the shed.

The hand cranked winch is original, but he never used it, preferring to use the winch as the anchor point for a block and a cable that he connected to the Massey Ferguson tractor - that also used to be stored in the back of the shed.

Connect cable to tractor, drive off along The Strand - and the boats would be hauled out.

He extended the cradle himself when he needed the extra length for his new 30ft boat and lends it out to a few boating mates whose vessels occupy the moorings south of the railway bridge.

“I took the wheels off the old one. The tractor’s always been here,” says Bob. A bit like the land itself. It just sort of arrived.

There was no title when Bob took over the property, and the city council eventually produced a title for part of it, but the land out the back is still free parking because it was originally an illegal reclamation and ownership is moot.

“Alf Walling used to park all his trucks in here when they were building the wharf,” says Bob. “And sometime they used to come back with little bits left, and he used to dump it off here.

“That’s why there’s no title. There was no title on this. Recently the city council put a section

The old slipway and some of the rubble deposited over the decades. title on it, a section with shed valued at $250,000.

But I’m not allowed to build on it.

“I stayed here for years and didn’t pay the city council or anybody.” Bob says the area was reclaimed by Alf Walling dumping material.

It can been seen in the variety of material along the waterfront near the slip. Large blocks of brickwork, some concrete and a bunch of large rocks nearest the slip itself. The rocks were put there after some of the reclaimed land near the slip way was washed out in a storm.

“People come and steal these rocks,” says Bob. But they are the wrong material for the job.

Smaller rocks and a bit of concrete would do a better job, in Bob’s opinion.

He planted a couple of pohutukawa trees on the reclamation and mows the grass. The tree on the other side of the shed he keeps pruned because it is directly under the power lines.

With the title came a right-of-way on paper, now occupied by the Harbourside’s skip bins and the vehicle of one of the regional council’s employees.

It’s by agreement. The restaurant also uses the shed for storage. There’s a surf ski hanging from the rafters, someone else keeps a dinghy there and Bob’s runabout is on a trailer.

“I never used for commercial, I have some friends that use it. They pay for the power and the water. It’s a mates’ thing,” says Bob. “Because I have looked after that area always kept it clean, mown the grass, we’ve had a good relationship (with the city council) but Environment BOP, I can tell you some things that they have tried to do to me and it’s not very nice. It’s them getting at me.

One young fella that’s parking his car alongside that green shed which I own, works for Environment BOP. He’s parking his car there for nothing.

“People at the restaurant share the shed allow them use to excessive gear Quite a lot of boys that own boats out there they park their dinghies in the shed.

No charge just good neighbours.”

The 84 year old keeps a runabout in the shed so he can take the grandchildren fishing, but he’s found advancing arthritis has forced him to sell the launch. Bob became concerned he could no longer jump through a hatch – an incapacity that in an emergency that he feels might endanger the lives of his fishing buddies.

The Bay of Plenty regional Council General Manager Corporate Performance Mat Taylor says specific questions about the boatshed and ramp cannot be answered as they are on TCC property.

There will be a media briefing in mid March, when the BOPRC planning phase will have reached a point where it will have some things to talk about.

By Andrew Campbell

FEBRUARY 2017

04 WATERLINE

Ready to raise another generation

The Howes family at home aboard Steely Dan, from left: Holly, Oliver, Abby, David, Jasmine, Ebony.

The only remotely nautical song by Steel Dan is the last track on the album Katy Lied; Throw Back The Little Ones.

The Howes family departed Tauranga last month singing the praises of the Tauranga marine industry figures who assisted them in bringing their yacht Steely Dan up to cruising standard.

David and Holly Howes and their children plan at this stage to spend the next five years with Steely Dan as their home.

“Five years, with a get out clause if we all hate it,” says Holly. “I’ve never sailed in my life, David’s done a bit.”

Steely Dan is a Peter Joubert design from the late seventies originally intended for the Admirals Cup Series, but built in 6mm steel.

Known as a Joubert Emu 55, Steely Dan is cutter rigged, 16.8m or 55ft LOA, by 4.7m wide The hull is believed to be the work of one man, before it was bought as a bare hull and taken to Hamilton Island where it was raced, and then ended up in a paddock for ten years.

The previous owner bought in the late eighties and raised his family on board at the Pittwater, Sydney.

“It was the first boat we found that fit out requirement for a little bit individual space for everyone,” says David.

The Howes have four children, twins Oliver and Abby aged 14, Jasmine 11, and Ebony 8.

In Tauranga the Howes virtually rebuilt Steely Dan from top to bottom and end to end, in a process that has given them a great appreciation of the people in the Tauranga marine industries and how they worked in

together with them and with each other.

“Everyone without exception the individuals that we have deal with have been exceptional,” says Holly promising to promote Tauranga as a stop-over port for other yachts on the strength of their experience.

The new hard dodger is higher off the deck that the previous dodger, requiring the boom to be lifted, which required discussion between the boat builder and the rigger. The new stainless steel traveller arch has to be correctly located for the rig, more discussions.

Similarly with the new navigation displays.

Working to a budget and doing as much of the work as they could themselves, Holly says the attitude from the professionals was encouraging. They would tell them what would need to be done for any task before it was necessary to bring them back on board.

“They would tell us; do this, and this, and this; and then we will come in and do that,” says Holly.

Jim at Specialised Metal Fabricators built all the new stainless steel arch at the stern supporting the solar panels and wind generator, and the new mainsheet traveller arch. And gave them a tin of stainless steel polish as a parting gift.

They also named Craig Melsop and Diesel Workz, Elliott Guensicke at Altex Coatings, Winston Ordish-Benner at Rutherford Marine Electrical, Mike McCormick at Mike McCormick Rigging Services, Derek and Tim at Hutcheson Boat Builders.

The work took about a year and took place over two marinas. The first five months at Sulphur Point before Steely Dan was towed round to the Bridge Marina.

By the time the standing and running rigging was replaced, the motor serviced, a

leaking stern gland replaced, new navigation electronics installed, they were slightly over budget, about ten per cent, says Holly.

But they think they made savings overall by being able to do so much work themselves and through co-ordinating with the contractors.

The rebuild itself has been selective. They have kept as much interior teak as they could.

There is one head.

The decision to build a new deck house was made during the trans-Tasman delivery.

They were knocked down by a hailstorm which left a lot of little holes in the deckhouse that oozed over the next three to four days.

“There was so much moisture in there,” says David.

There was also sail damage, a leaking stern gland and the engine ran out of oil on arrival.

The plan is for the next couple of months to get used to sailing Steely Dan. David’s going to head north and then possibly sail down the Taranaki Bight through Cook Strait and back up the East Coast, but that all depends.

The Admiral’s Cup began as an effort to encourage foreign entries to Cowes Week, a largely English regatta, and it progressed to become regarded as the world championship of ocean racing.

Unlike most races the prize went to a national team of three boats at the end of a varied five race series. The Admiral’s Cup demanded consistency in order to win. One bad performance by any single boat in any of the races could ruin a whole team’s chances, which has happened.

The last Admirals Cup was raced in 2003. New Zealand won it in 1987 with Propaganda, Goldcorp, Kiwi. Australia won it in 1979 with Police Car, Impetuous, Ragamuffin.

By Andrew Campbell

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FEBRUARY 2017

Kayakers’ campaign Tauranga’s Callum Gilbert competing at the Oceania canoe slalom championships.

One’s a whitewater surgeon, precise and consistent, while the other is more a paddle-wielding gun-slinger and big-game hunter.

Despite their differences, Callum Gilbert and Finn Butcher’s canoe slalom futures are tightly entwined, ascending the same rising line onto the world stage.

The 21-year-old pair have been named once again in a strong New Zealand team for the ICF World Cup series in Europe, sealed with big finishes in February’s Oceania championships in Auckland, having just been given High Performance Sport New Zealand support for the first time.

That funding announcement - which saw Canoe Slalom New Zealand pick up $450,000 for each of the next two years - has been a major confidence booster for both paddlers, joining fellow carded Bay of Plenty athletes Luuka Jones and Mike Dawson.

“The sport is definitely on an upward trend and it’s cool to be an influence on that,” says Finn. “There are so many people who’ve put huge amounts of voluntary hours into the sport, that have helped us get to where we are.

Now the younger guys coming through can see where we’ve come from and seen how High Performance Sport is recognising us, which

hopefully keeps them in it.”

Callum from Tauranga, had an impressive international season last year, with his quest for consistency helping him make the semifinals in all five world cup races and finishing 18th at the under-23 world championships. He and Finn are flatting together in Auckland, allowing them to spend as much training time as possible on the new Vector Wero Whitewater Park course in Manukau.

“We’ve been working hard for a long time and it’s a huge effort,” says Callum. “There’s a number of people around us that have helped us achieve what we’ve achieved so having that added support makes a big difference.”

Being part of the burgeoning New Zealand team has changed the nature of the sport, especially in Europe.

“You have a good run and you’re wondering what your teammates have done, because they’re right there with you all the time.

There’s people there to push you in training… it’s really good to have them around pushing you and keeping you on track.”

Unlike Callum, Finn prefers to go out all guns blazing, which leads to equal measures of elation and frustration. He made two world cup semifinals last year and finished 15th at the under-23 world championships, although his qualification run for the latter - putting down the second-fastest time - remains a highlight.

“I’m trying to focus on improving a lot of

Photo by Jamie Troughton/Dscribe Media

different techniques and trying to get a lot faster, with less of a focus on consistency,” says the Central Otago paddler. “It can sometimes be a bit disheartening when you can’t keep laying things down but I think I’m going in the right direction. Once my speed gets to a good stage, that’s when I’ll start working on my consistency, so it’s fun. That’s the cool thing about slalom - everyone goes about their training in completely different ways and have completely different styles and at the end, you’re 0.1secs apart.”

The recently-announced national team is dominated by paddlers from the two strongholds of Bay of Plenty and Otago, with Olympians Luuka Jones and Mike Dawson leading the way, as they’ve done for much of the last decade.

“They’ve pretty much blazed a trail - they’ve shown us that you can do it and you can get there from New Zealand,” says Finn. “I’ve spent quite a lot of time training with Luuka and to be able to be there with those guys when they’re getting those results we’re striving for is inspirational.”

Most of the New Zealand team will be crossing the ditch for their next big race, next week’s Australian Open in Penrith. Other features of the team include Luuka Jones’s inclusion in the C1 ranks for the first time, along with the rise of Central Otago’s Kensa Randle into her first open team.

By Jamie Troughton

FEBRUARY 2017

06 WATERLINE

Monterey Sports Boats -

In the last issue of Waterline we featured a review on the Monterey Blackfin 217, one of the latest offerings from Pinnacle Marine in Tauranga. Just as they promised, owners Geordie and Kirsten Nicholson called me as soon as their latest model arrived, the Monterey 224FSC.

Similar in looks to the Blackfin with its award-winning design and its futuristic cockpit, the obvious change here was the inboard versus outboard engine configuration and the spacious and luxurious cuddy cabin instead of the bow rider on the Blackfin.

The inboard configuration makes for a lighter boat which is also noticeably quieter than the outboard option due to the high-tech dampening in the engine bay. It also appears to create more room in the cockpit too with a back-set that provides an uninterrupted curve that wraps around the entire beam of the boat and an extended swim platform that provides impressive amounts of room for watersports prep, sunbathing or just swimming with the

family in tranquil waters. The Mercury MerCruiser 4.5L 200hp sterndrive, based on the 4.5L 250hp sterndrive introduced by Mercury in 2014, is purposely designed for marine environments. The 4.5L 200hp sterndrive was designed and is manufactured at Mercury Marine’s world headquarters in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. The 4.5L is the first of its kind, creating new standards for acceleration and overall performance with design innovations such as a long runner scrolled intake manifold and high displacement, which produces an outstanding power-to-weight ratio.

Geordie told Waterline Magazine “this is the next generation of sterndrive technology and this is a ground-breaking new engine.

WATERLINE 07

FEBRUARY 2017

s - stylish and innovative

This is a great power source that provides features, benefits and technology that make boating more enjoyable and worry-free. This engine was purpose-built for marine use and it delivers Mercury’s proven performance, durability and ease of service.” The 4.5L delivers maximum fuel efficiency and exceptionally quiet operation. Its newly designed rear-facing throttle body, anti-whistle throttle plate, engine cover and mounts, lightweight flywheel, fuel supply module, and structural oil pan work together to deliver superior sound quality and smoothness from idle all the way through the power band for a better boating experience. The 4.5L V-6 also offers Adaptive Speed Control (ASC), which

automatically maintains the set rpm point regardless of load or condition changes, such as tight turns, tow sports and lower speeds on plane. Mercury Marine built the ultimate anti-corrosion protection system into the 4.5L V-6, using durable cast-iron componentry wherever the engine encounters seawater, and corrosion-resistant aluminium and composites everywhere else. Digital rather than analogue sensors are used throughout.

As with the Blackfin we tested, the boat offers versatile, hybrid functionality from fishing to water sports to cruising. The interior’s abundance of fiberglass surfaces complimented by white leatherette give a feeling of absolute luxury. This is the perfect vessel

for boaties seeking an inboard-powered boat that meets the needs of family boating with a 5-star finish. If you are prepared to spend a little more for comfort when you are out on the water then look no further than the Monterey range at Pinnacle Marine. Whilst the inboard configuration was my pick, as Geordie explained it depends on your own personal preferences and the applications in which you are most likely to use your boat. Fortunately the new Monterey range is available in the colour, size and specification you want including the latest outboard and inboard engines options – these boats are built to order and delivered within a matter of just a few months.

By Matt Batchelor

FEBRUARY 2017

08 WATERLINE

GPS Log

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FEBRUARY 2017

Russ Hawkins says the reef is continuing to thrive.

Rena appeals this month The Appeal against the Rena decision will be heard in the environment court this month and is set down for four weeks starting from March 6.

Three appeals are to be heard against the independent hearing panel decision to accede to the Rena owners and insurers request to leave the remainder of the wreck on the Astrolabe Reef.

The appeals are by Ngai Te Hapu Incorporated, Te Runanga 0 Ngai Te Rangi Iwi Trust, and Nga Potiki a Tamapahore Trust.

The Rena struck Astrolabe Reef on October 5, 2011 and subsequently broke up. Much of the wreckage near the upper reef has been cleared in the years since by ongoing salvage operations, but the bulk of the aft section of the wreck now lies in deep water at the base of the reef.

The owners and insurers sought consent to leave the remainder where it lies because of the increasing danger to the salvage contractors operating at about 50m depth.

There is also a claim that removing the wreck will cause a great deal of damage to the reef, and the popular diving and fishing location will continue to be barred to the public.

Public access to the reef resumed in early April 2016 after being restricted for five years during the Rena salvage operations.

Forest & Bird and Nga Hapu o Motiti

want the exclusion zone against fishing maintained, but the request is facing legal hurdles that are yet to be decided.

Russ Hawkins is among three Mount Underwater Club members who will again be appearing as expert witnesses, because among the hordes of scientists, engineers, academics and lawyers – they are the only ones who actually look at the reef, dive it and photograph it.

“We are experienced. These guys have done a huge amount of diving there and over many, many years and prior to (Rena) as well,” says Russ.

“We’ve done a lot of dives through the underwater club and photographs, and everything is thriving out there, absolutely thriving.

“There’s been ongoing testing. It’s very hard with the photos we have taken to define what is wreck and what is reef, there’s so much growth over everything.”

Even the lost containers scattered across the sea floor are growing fish.

The GPS locations of sunken containers were sent to commercial operators so they wouldn’t entangle gear or fishing nets.

“I’ve fished on some of those places and we have got tarakihi and snapper off them, and it’s a little tiny blip in the ocean, says Russ.

“It’s all broken down it doesn’t look like a container on the sounder it’s just like a bit of crumpled structure which is what it will be.

“So that’s made a habitat for the fish, and

octopus. There’s one resident octopus I think he rides a Harley, he’s that big. We’ve let him go each time but he’s big.”

He’s of the firm opinion that continuing the salvage operation will just wreck the reef.

“I can’t see it being approved. Who’s going to pay for it? The insurers have gone way beyond what they had to do. So they could just say ‘Nah, stuff you, we have done more than we needed to’.

“It’s a bit like the Pike River Mine. If you think it’s safe, you go in.”

Russ is referring to the diving operation that will be required if the work to reduce the Rena aft section ever continues. The section is at the bottom of the reef in water 50-60m deep.

And as for protecting the re-opened reef from over fishing, Russ is among those arguing that mother nature is the reef ’s best protection.

“In fact for the next couple of days nobody is going to be going there at all, south east, two metre swells,” says Russ.

“In fact Maketu Coastguard monitored the reef under contract for 70 days, I think it was. And I think for 45 of those days of all those days they couldn’t go there themselves - and they have got a pretty decent sort of boat.”

He points to the huge downtime the salvage companies experienced as they waited for weather windows during the years it took to whittle down the bow section and tidy up

By Andrew Campbell the debris field.

10 WATERLINE

FEBRUARY 2017

CLUB NEWS

Tauranga Yacht and Power Boat Club Tauranga Yacht & Power Boat Club

Fickle weather a reminder to be prepared Greetings fellow trailer yacht and powered craft enthusiasts, apparently summer has been and we move forward to autumn. The Tauranga Yacht and Power Boat Club is still very active with the summer racing series on Wednesday evenings and the cruising division, still capturing magical moments on its regular cruises and events around the Tauranga Harbour. http://www.yacht.org.nz for events and updates.

The somewhat fickle nature of the seasons serve as a reminder to be prepared, by communicating our intentions to the coastguard when we hit the water, not when we need them! And to advise onshore friends and family of those intentions, likewise tell people that you have come ashore. Remember life jackets are essential not an option!

If you are interested in learning about trailer yacht sailing or wish to experience sailing, please do not hesitate to make contact through the TYPBC.

By Graham Vincent P R E L I M I N A RY

N OT I C E

O F

R AC E

AUCKLAND TAURANGA to

YACH T R ACE

Date: Thursday, 13 April 2017

Auckland Tauranga Yacht Race

Raced annually on Easter Thursday. Set the date aside.

Divisions and prizes for: Monohulls, Multihulls, Short-handed and Class Racing New: Cruising and No Extras divisions.

For more information contact TYPBC

Phone: 07 578 5512 Fax: 07 578 5595 Email: office@yacht.org.nz Website: www.yacht.org.nz

The annual Auckland to Tauranga Yacht race will be held on Thursday 13th April.

This is New Zealand’s oldest classic coastal race with the first race held in 1921. Boats will depart Westhaven start line from Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron at 10am on Thursday the 13th of April, with competitors competing for “The Gold Cup”.

It can take between and 10 and 18 hours (depending on wind conditions) for yachts to arrive in Tauranga.

The Tauranga Yacht and Power Boat Club host the event over Easter weekend at their spectacular venue on Sulphur Point, with a Prize-giving and a Dinner for competitors.

Entries are currently open.

See www.yacht.org.nz for more information PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY:

Proudly printed by

Perfect summer for sailing Turquoise waters. Blue skies. Perfect breeze.

It’s been an unreal start to the year at TYPBC Sailing School, and between the amazing weather and our new sailors pouring in, 2017 is looking sunny with not a cloud in sight. Our little spot in paradise, in our completely biased opinion, really is the perfect place to get out on the water and learn how to sail.

Our Sailing School started off the year with a couple week-long holiday camps in January for Learn to Sail and Green Fleet. We have since begun our regular term sailing courses running after school on week days and full day Saturdays, as well as Race Team training throughout the week. We have seen a great increase in our numbers as sailors constantly transition from Learn to Sail up into their first racing group, Green Fleet, and then they continue to move up to Open Fleet, where they travel around New Zealand to ranking regattas and represent our club and our country.

Within the summer season so far, our numbers for each of these groups has increased so that we now have more kids sailing at a high performance level than we have for years, which is really amazing to see.

In fact, a group of seven sailors recently went down to Picton to represent the club in a ranking regatta, with our top sailor Max Scott finishing 14th out of 120 Optis. We also had Lachlan Dillon finish 21st and Andrew Stratton finish 34th in the Optimist class. Joel Kennedy of the Starling Fleet had an amazing regatta as well, finishing 6th overall. Great job to everyone who went down there. We now have two sailors who are qualified to make the NZ Optimist Team, which means that we have been seeing some really great consistent results from our sailors over the last year.

Congratulations to all of our sailors on their successes.

Our race program has showed some incredible success and progress over the past couple years. All of this culminates in our upcoming nationals, where we will have eight sailors in Optis and seven sailors in Starlings going to compete in the mid-April regatta.

Good luck to all of our competitors who will be representing TYPBC.

All of these amazing results start with just a simple Learn to Sail course. We are actually starting up a new course on Saturday, March 8 for kids who want to learn to sail. We have recently added the option for you to choose to sail a half day or a full day. The half day course runs for 5 weeks and costs $170, and the full day course also runs for 5 weeks and costs $300. With the full course, you will receive a certificate from Yachting New Zealand for your Level 1 of sailing, and learn all the basics of sailing as well as how to stay safe on the water.

Sailing is an incredible sport because it gets your kids out on the water, active, and playing with other kids while learning a ton at the same time. Sailing is also a sport that will help you build valuable skills for later in life, such as teamwork, communication, and problem solving skills.

Another reason sailing is a great sport is that it’s never too late to learn! We have just started an Adult Learn to Sail course this past Sunday, Feb 19 for parents of kids who want to learn more, or really just for anyone who wants to hop in a boat and learn something fun and new. We also have a Level Two course for adults if you already know a bit about sailing and want a refresher, or if you’ve taken a previous course with us before and want to learn more about sailing on dinghies. Our adult courses are run on the Topaz, which is a perfect beginner single-handed dinghy. It’s not too late to sign up. We offer the option that you only pay for the dates you can come for, we just ask that you pay for all of them in advance. Our Level One course runs on Sundays from 9:30am-12:30pm and our Level Two runs from 1pm-4pm.

Email us or check out our website for more information.

Come down to Sulphur Point and check us out, our friendly coaches and office staff will be more than happy to give you more information.

Contact: Head Coach & Race Coach - Maria Ferrario: head.coach@yacht.org.nz ph: 210 705 454 Head Learn to Sail Coach - Kirsten Moratz: lts.coach@yacht.org.nz ph: 021 216 7522

By Kirsten Moratz

WATERLINE 11

FEBRUARY 2017

CLUB NEWS

Sailability

Sailing opportunities for all everyone

Sailability is now active in Tauranga, offering disabled people to opportunity to learn to sail.

It is 40 years since the first Round North Island was raced out of Devonport Yacht Club. This year all competitors will be wearing red socks on the start line in memory of Sir Peter Blake, who won that first race in 1977 with Graham Eder on “Gernontius”.

Out of 25 boats, there are 2 special boats – Guarantee from Wellington and Truxton from Tauranga.

While these two boat race around North Island they are also carrying a special message – Sailing Opportunities for All – It’s a vision of Sailability in New Zealand.

Sailability is a not for profit, volunteer-based organisation aimed at enriching the lives of people of all abilities, especially those with physical and intellectual disabilities. Sailability is providing opportunities for people with disabilities to experience the freedom that sailing offers, says Sailability Tauranga Charitable Trust patron Ralph Roberts.

“There is a real need to raise considerable funds to help all Sailability Organisations provide the necessary facilities and resources for this increasing demand.”

Ralph says the positive feedback from participants, volunteers, carers and people in the wider community shows that there is a growing demand for the fantastic opportunity Sailability creates for people with disabilities within our community.

“The extraordinary support from Geoff Herd and Wil Horn to Sailability will allow us to set up – Sailability Round North Island Campaign which will help spread the word, raise funds and bring changes to sailing for people with disabilities in New Zealand,” says Ralph.

“Donations received through this campaign will help with the setting up necessary resources. It will offset the operational costs and will help us to run the sailing programmes effectively and efficiently.

Geoff Herd and Phil Gurnsey from The Guarantee Racing are excited to be able to compete in the SSANZ 2017 Two Handed Round North Island Race, and to support and represent Sailability.

“We’re passionate about sailing, and would like to help people with disabilities be able to experience the thrill and freedom that sailing provides,” says Geoff, owner and skipper of Guarantee “Our aim is to promote and raising awareness about Sailability work at the same time help raise funds to be able to proivde more people with disabilities to be able to get out on the water and enjoy a wonderful life time sport.”

The pair are excited about the epic SSANZ 2017 race.

“We are also excited about being a part of it in order to help Sailability raise much-needed funds and promote their work to the wider community as we sail all the way round the North Island,” says Geoff.

The money raised by this campaign will enable Sailability to continue their work creating opportunities in sailing for people with disabilities.

Wil Horn, skipper of Truxton, is passionate about sailing and always provides opportunities for anyone who want to learn. He believes, there is a purpose and a value to everyone, no matter what their age, gender or disability.

“Disability is a matter of perception. If you can do just one thing well, you’re needed by someone.

“We’re passionate about sailing, and would like to help people with disabilities be able to experience the thrill and freedom that sailing provides.

“Ian and I know about the work of Sailability and we are very supportive of the organisation goal and objectives. So when I heard that Geoff wants to set this campaign in support of Sailability, I was so pleased to be asked to be part of this campaign” says Wil. “Our aim is to promote and raising awareness about Sailability work at the same time help raise funds to be able to provide more people with disabilities to be able to get out on the water and enjoy a wonderful life time sport.”

Everyone can check how far Sailability message goes Round North Island by following Gaurantee and Truxton as they are carrying trackers so everyone can check the boats progress on http://yb.tl/ssanz2017 as they keep turning left around the North Island.

By Sas Pearce

12 WATERLINE

FEBRUARY 2017

CLUB NEWS

Omokoroa Boat Club

Omokoroa duck race looms Our newly painted Optimists and the new sails supplied

by Burnsco make them look smart but the dinghies seem to sail a lot faster.

Thank you Burnsco and Phil Cox our Commodore who arranged the deal. We have also had some fun with our Adult Sailors group sailing Sunbursts and Hartley trailer Yachts on Anniversary Day. Coming up in March are the well-attended Club Fishing Competitions. The Annual Rowing Races and Duck Race are on April 2, 2017.

Rowing Races for Males Females and Juniors, shields and plaques up for grabs as well as cash prizes. Registration at the Club after March 5.

The Sixth Annual Duck race will benefit Omokoroa Point School and the Club’s Junior Sailing Activity, “numbered Ducks” for sale via the School or at the Club after the March 5.

After a series of really bad weather days Sunday was a real cracker.

Hot sun, light SW breeze that veered to the NW, and calm seas.

As the Waka Ama event was taking place in the main Omokoroa channels we decided to sail in the Te Puna reach and after a briefing it was decided to sail three races, the four registered yachts and crews took off.

Registered were: Culprit with Lloyd Berendt and Murray Jamieson, Wild Thoughts with Keith Heron and Diago, Piccaninny with John Budden and Peter Catcheside, and we welcomed back Little Gem and the Miller Family assisted by the Annan family. So we had two keelers and two trailer yachts out for the day.

Race one; Course from the five knot buoy near Te Puna to West 12 and back to G mark off Te Puna.

Start was at 11.20 with Wild Thoughts calling in a rigging failure and would “catch up later”.

Piccaninny showed her Tasman 20 clean heels and took off in a light breeze leaving the keelers to follow

Wild Thoughts

as best they could. At West 11 a shortened course was agreed and now with the tide the journey to G was on. Half way back Piccaninny met Wild Thoughts heading down channel under a colourful kite.

Pic finished at 12.30 and in a battle royal Wild Thoughts was second at 12.47, Little Gem was 3rd at 12.49 and Culprit 4th at 12.50.

Race Two: Course from G to the first starboard mark off Motuhoa and back to G. It was a much closer start with all 4 yachts at full chat.

Piccaninny led initially but Wild Thoughts and Little Gem reeled her in and the race was on with Culprit not far behind.

Wild Thoughts turned first and Little Gem headed Piccaninny into the leg home however the breeze was turning fickle and ever so slowly the wee Tasman hauled in the 30’ keeler so that 100 m from the mark Piccaninny grabbed second slot , with Little Gem 3rd and Culprit 4th.

The time were, Start at 12.55, Wild Thoughts 1st at 13.52, Pic 2nd at 13,51, Little Gem 3rd at 13.52 and Culprit 4th at 13.59.

Race 3 was to be from G back to D avoiding waka! We started at 14.02 All were away in a bunch and soon Wild Thoughts took off with Little Gem, Culprit and Pic in her wake. Due to wind and tide it was a feast day for the larger yachts and after missing the waka WT finished 1st at 14.28, Little Gem 2nd at 14 33, Culprit 3rd at 14.38 and Piccaninny 4th at 14.39.

Great to be out on the harbour and good sailing all and especially the crew on Little Gem.

By John Budden

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CLUB NEWS

BOPSAT

Secondary schools team sailing competitions finish with the Nationals in April.

Team sailing fleet growing Successful grant applications will help the 420 fleet available for schools sailing will be expanding this year, says Bay of Plenty Sailing Academy Trust chairman Stuart Pedersen.

“We’ve just got grants approved from Lion Foundations and TECT to pay for three quarters of two new 420s for team sailing, so we are going to make up the difference and go ahead. They are going to arrive about May so that will be fantastic,” says Stuart.

There will be six new or near new boats for the secondary school teams for next season.

“We’ve already got six here including two older ones. And we’ve got three over in Rotorua and we have got two down in Port Ohope for the two Whakatane Schools – they are both planning to start doing team sailing for the first time.

“Trident and Whakatane High are both planning to get teams together they have had the boats for a couple of weeks.”

The major events for the secondary schools teams sailing are the Bay of Plenty regatta in March. “That’s here for the local schools then the central North Island Regional champs at the end of March - and that’s how you qualify to go to the nationals.”

This year the nationals are being hosted by the Sandspit Yacht Club, Warkworth.

In Tauranga there are four schools sailing; Tauranga Boys’ College, Tauranga Girls’ College, Aquinas, Otumoetai College.

They are all training after school, says Stuart.

BOPSAT is also continuing with the programme of introducing sailing to pupils from Merivale, Brookfield and Greerton Village schools.

The coaching is paid for with the money the trust makes hiring out its Optis, and windsurfers.

“We have got more demand than we can supply so we have to use yacht club coaches as well,” says Stuart. “We get a concessionary rate, but we still have to find cash for that.

“When you talk to the schools they just rave about the difference it makes to the kids’ attitudes and work ethic and in the classrooms.”

The window is closing on the Acorn Foundation Sail For Life offer.

“We set that up a few years ago hoping to get a whole lot of money in there. So far it’s got about $55,000 in there and that pays us an income every year which goes towards the various charitable things we do.

“Pamela and I we pledged some money to it to match people that donate, but we put a time limit on that. We did that a couple of year ago and it closes on March 31 this year.

“We need to get the word out that anyone who would like to donate to the sail for life fund and would like to get their donation matched ie doubled, they have got until March 31.

“Sailing’s done a lot for use and we are pretty passionate about making it a more egalitarian country.” By Stuart Pedersen

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CLUB NEWS

Young Mariners

Row, row, row your boat Every two years all the mariner units get together in February for a 73km row from Cambridge to Rangiriri.

This year around 45 girls signed up for the challenge as well as a few supporters in kayaks.

The day started off at Cambridge with the fifteen brave girls from the Tauranga unit making their way down to the river at 9am in the morning, all dressed in our rowing gear, loaded up with snacks ready to get in our boats Tangaroa and Matua to begin rowing. We had no idea what to expect.

I was in Matua, a boat borrowed from the sea scouts, and one of my favourite moments was when we spent a lot of time and effort to retrieve an oar which had been tightly strapped under the seats only to find it was broken, we all laughed, a quick rush to get the spare then we were on our way.

We made our way down the river singing along to songs and carryon the mariner tradition of screams under bridges.

When we got to our lunch spot, after 3 hours of rowing, we picked a nice semi dry spot under a tree, out of the rain, and got together with some of the other crews for a catch-up.

Eventually we headed back onto the water and the rowing was a little tougher as the river was wider with less flow. As the Waikato River Explorer boat passed it created a large wake and we could feel the waves bouncing off the river bank and hitting us for the next 10 minutes.

The kayaking mums cruised up beside us and we thought they looked hot so we decided to splash them by flicking our oars. They retaliated with their water pistols.

We overnight camped at the TeRapa Equestrian Centre and enjoyed an excellent meal and lots of laughs before an early night, ready 7am breakfast and 8am river start.

After filling up on French toast and baked beans, washed down with Jillians famous milo brew, we ventured out onto the misty and wet Waikato for day two of our adventure. Our wet weather gear came in very handy. At times our boat was awash with rainwater and needed bailing out.

It was a long leg from TeRapa to Huntly, around 4 hours, and we were all relieved when the power station came into view. We pulled up into the reeds for our lunch stop, with a huge spread including home baking waiting for us onshore, thanks to our expert parent ‘caterers’ who did a fantastic job as always.

On the return to our boat we had to clamber over 10 other rafted up cutters and safety boats to get to ours, which was a chaotic but fun, then we were off on the last 12 km leg before pulling out at Rangiriri.

Due to our numb bums we needed to do quite a few stretches and move around the boat on the final leg. After another hour the Rangiriri bridge came into sight which was a huge relief.

Finally our weekend adventure had come to an end. We had blistered hands, sore backs, lost voices, sore eardrums but it was a great experience as we got to complete an impressive challenge by working as a team, while having lots of fun and hopefully we will be better rowers for it - because we are not better singers.

By Danielle Gaensicke

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CLUB NEWS

Young Mariners

Mariner musings Young Mariners had finished for the year, leaving trails of thought for holiday plans. While others planned their Christmas dinner, and organising family, a group of us were pulling together our mariner family. Lake Rerewhakaaitu was set, prepared for the 6 families to sink their pegs into.

Sailing was on the agenda for me, planning to explore every corner of the lake that my sunburst could get to. Some voyages were group events, a row of 3 little sunbursts trailing behind each other. I wanted to try solo sailing as a challenge for myself to do the job of crew and helm, so that by handling more stress and being more self dependent, I can sail in harsher conditions better.

Others took a more relaxed approach, walking stretches of the camp and swimming with friends. Kayak expeditions were essential with the light winds and little waves making it perfect for paddling alongside the sail boats. Some nights we resorted to playing with a Frisbee, everyone crowding around in a circle to play. There was also a comeback of other games, knuckle bones almost becoming a mariner staple, this time with actual knuckle bones rather than specially

chosen stones from the shore’s edge as we had to do last time.

Meal time was when everyone came back from their activities, and helped in the effort for dinner. If someone made too much food it was offered around until there was no waste. Girls rotated on dishes duty, making it the one of the loudest spots in camp, as we laughed together about our day.

Although there were a couple of minor injuries, they were sorted out quickly thanks to our doctor in the group, it was all part of the fun, making the most of our time. I fell out of boats trying to hike without hiking straps, broke a trapeze, ruined freshly coated nail Polish as I forgot as I went off on the next thing, and was left wondering where my bruises came from. We laughed until our stomachs hurt, kids and adults alike.

This was our second time camping at Lake Rerewhakaaitu at the end of the year and if everything goes well, you’ll see us back there next year. It’s a new mariners tradition, one that will keep growing from its humble roots of a couple of families getting together over the Christmas break.

KitKat to the rescue We have kicked off our 2017 season with a new safety boat thanks to a generous grant from First Sovereign Trust Limited who have covered the cost of the boat (which we have named KitKat), motor and associated safety gear.

This will allowed us to have all our boats and girls out on the water at once working on different programmes, at different levels with two safety boats in attendance. This is an amazing gift to Tauranga Young Mariners and something we are incredibly grateful for - thank you First Sovereign Trust.

We selected the Truekit inflatable as our safety boat based on a number of criteria, including it is small and easy to manoeuvre, and it has soft sides which makes it easier to pull alongside the boats to transfer girls or give assistance. As it deflates and packs into bags it means we did not need a separate trailer. It is also capable of towing our larger sailing boats if required.

On its first outing KitKat performed well in a number of rescues, including capsizes, water rescue of one of our mariners and a sunburst tow to shore.

We are looking forward to a great season of sailing as we prepare for our upcoming Easter National Regatta.

By Nadia Snegirev

FEBRUARY 2017

16 WATERLINE

CLUB NEWS

Women on Water

Warm summer sailing

Women on Water has been cranking since returning after the Christmas break.

The first sail of 2017 on January 26 was in kind summer weather - blue skies and good wind which meant the crews eased back in to sailing nicely and enjoyed a relatively calm post-Christmas sail. First over the line in the racing division was Freedom Express, followed

by Truxton and Whatever. In the cruising division it was Candela over the line first, followed by Rascal Tom then Fly Away Sam. That was followed by the second sail of

2017 on 9 February which was a bit cooler with a good wind coming from the opposite direction to normal – a South Easterly. With the course set at 67 for the five racing division boats and course 65 for the nine cruising division boats, the crews had a calm sail down the harbour and a busy wind fuelled sail back to the club. Tearing across the finish line first (again!) was Freedom Express, followed three minutes later by High Point and coming in third was Whatever. In the cruising division, Candidus took out first place, followed by Hound Dog and Frenzy.

After each of these sails the crew headed up to the Tauranga Yacht club to enjoy dinner

TYPBC Women on Water

together and hear who the wining crew were as well as getting some spot prizes. A big thanks goes out to all the sponsors of WOW which include Mills Reef, Scarlet Hair Studio, Nautilus Cafe & Restaurant, Trudi Calder Pilates, Rialto Tauranga, BloKart Heaven and many more – thanks.

At the time of writing, there are three WOW races to go for this season and the great opportunity to head to Lake Rotoiti for some sailing on the lake and Dinghy sailing out in the Tauranga harbour. If you haven’t tried out WOW before, you should check it out and lock it in for next season.

By Sophie Headley

WATERLINE 17

FEBRUARY 2017

TAURANGA MARINA SOCIETY Inc HAULOUT FACILITY

FOR BOOKINGS PLEASE CONTACT TAURANGA MARINA ON

Phone 07 578 8747

manager@taurangamarina.co.nz 35 TON TRAVELIFT QUIET & TIDY FACILITY CATAMARAN HAULOUT SECURITY FOUR SECURE MAINTENANCE SHEDS TRAVELIFT OPERATING 7 DAYS COMPETITIVE RATES

18 WATERLINE

FEBRUARY 2017

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FEBRUARY 2017

Evinrude debuts at The Boat Place Take a drive down Cross Road at Sulphur Point in Tauranga, and you could be forgiven for thinking you had stumbled across a Hollywood film set shooting the latest Robocop movie.

Take a closer look at the two futuristic looking centurions parked outside The Boat Place and you will see they are in fact Evinrude’s new second generation of E-TEC engines, that are all new from the top of their distinctive shroud to the skeg on the bottom of its sleek torpedo.

“It’s the first two-stroke block specifically designed for direct fuel injection, the result of which is up to 15 per cent better fuel consumption than the competitive four strokes,” says The Boat Place owners Nolan and Kat Stovold.

“All fly by wire, no mechanical cables, an internal oil tank for up to 60hrs boating, internal electronic power steering to keep the clutter out of the boat, and to top it off Evinrude state they’re by far the greenest outboard in the world. That’s impressive for a two stroke outboard,” says Nolan.

The engine is said to have up to 30 per cent better torque than all other engines in class.

Jaymee Diggleman, Chris Wrightwebb, David Orr, Nolan Stovold, and Bridget Cooper with two 2017 Evinrude E-TEC G2 motors. Photo: Tracy Hardy.

It also has a new automatic trim system, digital integration with single LCD display.

Significantly they have the lowest amount of maintenance compared to four stroke outboards saving you big dollars in a short and long term due to no oil and filter

changes and far less moving parts to wear.

They also have five year non-declining warranty. But these details are only a small part of Evinrude’s new revolutionary design.

The Evinrude E-TEC G2 Platform Range.

150 to 300hp.

Whitianga boat ramp strategy Thames Coromandel District Council is about to start the next step in improving two boat ramps in Whitianga, to take pressure off the ramp at the town’s wharf.

“There’s been many investigations historically and proposals into possible sites for the development of a single ‘Destination Boat Ramp,’ to help cater to the growing number of recreational and commercial fishers and boaties,” says the council’s area manager for Mercury Bay, Allan Tiplady, “The conclusion is that no one site could provide this and the Dundas Street and Robinson Road ramps were then identified as priorities for development, as part of the approved Boat Ramp Strategy.”

The Dundas St and Robinson Rd ramps are existing structures close to the town. The Whitianga Community Board allocated $635,000 towards the development and improvement of the two ramps, which allowed detailed design work to be completed.

“We’re now going back to stakeholders and residents to show the detailed

design before we prepare to lodge any resource consents,” says Allan.

They hope to be able to make a start

by Autumn 2017.

At Dundas Street the plan is to widen the ramp to create a double ramp with a centre pontoon and extend the ramp into the water by 9m to give a total length of 33m, allowing for more vessels to launch there in all tides. Vehicle and trailer parking will be supported by the adjacent existing harbour-side reserve areas.

The channel by the Dundas Street boat ramp was dug and surveyed earlier this year to measure the impact of sediment control. Starboard channel markers were installed and dredging has made it easier already for boat launching and retrieval.

Robinson ramp The plan is to widen the ramp immediately adjacent to the existing ramp. The old ramp will remain unchanged. This will users of the existing ramp to continue using it while the new ramp will facilitate launching of larger vessels.

The channel will be dredged from the ramp to the main river channel to enable all-tide use.

The future of Whitianga Wharf will be addressed in the council long-term 2018-2028 plan.

In the longer term the plan is to close the Wharf boat ramp.

Before a decision about a third ramp is made the use and demand for the upgraded Dundas Street and Robinson Road ramps, along with on-going usage of the Wharf ramp, will be monitored to assess capacity.

FEBRUARY 2017

20 WATERLINE

Is your hull clean?

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

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

ur

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

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

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

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

bo ar H a ng ura a T lifted from

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FEBRUARY 2017

More access for Matakana Dredging of the Opureora Channel will start this April, to restore alltide access between Omokoroa and Matakana Island.

The Opureora Channel is a primary accessway for boat traffic between Matakana Island and the mainland at Omokoroa, says Bay of Plenty Regional Council Project Manager Bruce Gardner.

“It’s a critical lifeline for island residents that need to access emergency services, transport goods, and conduct their work or personal business on the mainland. Over the years sediment movement in Tauranga Harbour has caused a shallowing of the channel limiting access to the Matakana Island wharf and jetty at Opureora, especially at low tide,” says Bruce.

Bay Of Plenty Regional Council has contracted Hydra-Care (NZ) Ltd of Thames to dredge the channel. Hydra-Care has wide experience in dredging projects throughout New Zealand including marine dredging and municipal waste treatment ponds, says Bruce.

Following site set-up from mid-March, dredging is scheduled to start on Monday April 3, and will continue for approximately eight weeks. Dredging work is not expected

Dredging the access channel will restore all-tide ferry access to Matakana Island.

Photo: Supplied.

to interfere with normal boat access around the jetty, wharf or channel area.

Hydra-Care will be using a cutter suction head on a long reach excavator to do the dredging. The excavator will sit on a barge that has legs to hold it in place. The dredged sand

will be pumped to the Opureora Spit through a floating welded steel pipeline. It will then be de-watered and spread in defined areas on the Spit foreshore to re-nourish the beach.

See more information and updates at www.boprc.govt.nz/opureora

By Harry Singh

22 WATERLINE

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Whangamata Ocean Sports Club - Phil Keogh CLASSIC

Alan Young, John Corbett, Nigel Hanmore and Doug Edwards on Jojo.

What a great tournament, apart from the lack of fish (I can’t do everything for the anglers). We had more than 500 anglers entered in 136 boats.

With only two marlin weighed we were a bit light on big fish. But what was exciting was three Tag & Released marlin, which is something very important to us here at WOSC, each of those anglers took home a share of the $10,000 prize pool (YEP $3333.33 each!). A huge thank you to all our sponsors who got on board again this year with over $60,000 worth of prizes.

Keep an eye on our Facebook page and website for more photos and details of next year’s tournaments.

NAUTI GIRLS WOW what a ride! These girls know how to fish and how to party! We had 450 anglers and over 200 fish weighed in. But as I mentioned it’s not all about the fishing with these girls, after the prizegiving our local band WhiteWater kicked off and the ladies danced the night away. A few were looking a little worse for were the next morning!! A huge amount of prizes from a huge range of local and national sponsors. We gave away over $30,000 worth of winners prizes and spot prizes! It was fun had by all.

Over-All Winners Classic 2017 Angler Name

Bruce Wooding

Fish Weight

Tuna

1st

2nd Bruce Casey

6.25

3rd Carl Johnstone

5.65

Snapper

1st

Carl Johnstone

4.43

2nd Carl Henderson

3.12

3rd Bill TeBrake

2.80

Kingfish

1st

13.69

2nd Quintin Beatty

13.43

3rd Sam Morton

12.59

Tony Campbell

8.78

T & R Shark 1st

Keith Booth

Stars & Stripes

Marlin

1st

Andrew Gaul

93.5

2nd Kim Schlapfer

T & R Marlin 1st

Steve Trebilco

2nd Keith Oldbury

3rd

Howard Budd

92.5 Black Betty Shantara Blue Biyou

Each of the T & R anglers walked away with $3333.33 A 3 way split of the $10,000 Tag & Release prize pool

Nauti Girls 2017

Angler Name John Dory

Kahawai

Trevally

Gurnard

Tarakihi

Snapper

Tuna Kingfish

1st 2nd 3rd 1st 2nd 3rd 1st 2nd 3rd 1st 2nd 3rd 1st 2nd 3rd 1st 2nd 3rd 1st 1st 2nd

Lisa Rose Sonya Barr Rebecca Freeman Lisa Vergottini Karma Preece Casey Van Der Merwe Lynn Fowler Wendy Fouracre Lesley Geddes Jackie Hickman Kylie Hoevergen Jackie Hickman Erin Raill Robyn Littlewood Jackie Sommerville Helen Hughes Sheryl Gault Kez McFarlane Lisa Grayling Jenny Bird Ashly Howarth

Total of 234 fish weighed in!

Fish Weight

2.52 2.25 2.12 3.09 3.04 2.94 3.32 3.13 2.93 1.23 0.98 0.96 1.75 1.46 1.32 4.35 3.85 3.75 9.21 20.18 13.04

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FEBRUARY 2017

Sulphur Point ... a short tale of dis “Once you come here, you can never leave” grinned the old codger from Edwards Engineering.

He leaned against the main gate to his workplace and watched as a small group of young boat builders struggled their machinery off a couple of ramshackle trailers hitched onto a rusty Toyota and Mr. Hutcheson’s “landcrab”, which was some sort of Morris car of dubious capabilities. The time had come to re-locate the workshop from the back of Greerton, much closer to the water.

It was about 1988. Sulphur Point beckoned some more marine activity once again, as it had done for many generations. Being located by the sea is appropriate for most marine tradespeople, and the 1980s saw a fresh influx onto Sulphur Point, of boat builders, riggers, stainless fabricators, marine engineers, sail/canvasmakers, timber merchants, electricians, chandlers, fishermen, slipway operators, painters, mechanics, upholsterers, and associated clubs, lunch-bars and restaurants. The “Spit” had recently been greatly increased in acreage, as tailings from the new Cutter Channel, and general channel dredgings were pumped between two northward-jutting rock walls over a period of a couple of years, to form a large reclamation.

The Spit was changing, but it had seen much over the preceding centuries.....

A short pre-history:

Legend records no visit to Tauranga harbour

by Kupe {925ad}, and verbal records do not mention human existence on Aotearoa in

his extensive coastal exploration. A period of time elapsed, and habitation of Aotearoa is apparent from 1280ad. Archeological surveys show no activity in this region before 1350 AD. Perhaps the drawn-out Kaharoa eruptions of 1305 - 1314 rendered our locality rather inhabitable. The massive ash layer, de-forestation and resultant acidity flowing into the harbour from the many tributaries, would have altered the availability of ready food resources for a couple of decades.

Toi-te-huatahi (Toi) and his crew were

The sulphur works above in 1901 and right in 1880’s.

Tauranga City Library.

possibly the first humans to set foot on The Spit, not long after Kaharoa had settled down. They noted the attractive geography in the backdrop, but this was not yet a sustainable region to feed and nurture his

BATTERY WAREHOUSE

whanau and crew. It needed re-growth, and replenishment. Toi moved on to settle in Whakatane. Ironically, the ash layer eventually spurned new growth like never before.

Around 1350 the voyaging Takitimu waka, and others pulled into Tauranga Harbour (Te Awanui), and the settlers were pleased to find sustainable stocks of shellfish, fish, fern-roots and abundant birds which foraged amongst the new, lush scrub.

Interestingly, around the time of human habitation, the vista from Sulphur Point (Te Pari taha o Te Awanui) was much more open.

The Harbour entrance was considerably wider, and Mt Maunganui was virtually an island. The harbour was more extensive and steep clay cliffs plunged into the sea where Dive Crescent is today.

Once the land was again arable the prominent Headland of Sulphur point provided the necessities: Elevated habitation, very close and plentiful resources, and a sheltered anchorage for canoes. Towards the mid 15th century, some fortification was becoming necessary, as attractive real estate then, tended to require some security, just as it does today.

Geological surveys indicate two significant tsunamis sweeping parts of the Bay of Plenty during the mid 15th century.

Matakana Island was re-configured somewhat, but local headlands appeared to have remained largely intact. These events probably destroyed

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discovery, treachery and industry any remaining ocean-voyaging double canoes.

A significant number of residents re-located to higher ground, such as the Papamoa hills. But stalwarts appeared to remain at Te Papa due to the readily available shellfish and seafood stocks, and freshwater attainable from the nearby Waikareao stream.

European settlement:

In 1828, The (first) European schooner “Herald” reported that Tauranga natives could muster a force of several thousand fighting men. 1000 canoes were counted on the foreshore between Te Papa pa (Sulphur Point) and Otumoetai. Upon her second visit later that same year, the crew of the Herald came across a scene of utter devastation. Te Papa pa belonged to the Ngatitapu who had made a pact with the tribes of Waharoa in order to allow the Matamata natives passage to the sea. This did not err well with the Thames tribe Ngatimaru who mustered a considerable war party and sacked Te Papa pa, dispensing 2000 lives.

Only 25 inhabitants of Te Papa escaped. Those killed were made into roasts or stews according to the caprice of their captors. It was some time before Te Papa was re-populated.

boat building, sawmilling. It was a slightly unattractive place, exposed to prevailing Westerlies and Northerlies most of the time.

Early photos of the area show a lack of trees or significant vegetation, as was the case with much of the Tauranga region. Centuries of burn-off, often in an effort to clear land for cropping, rendered the land largely clear of trees, and mostly covered in secondary scrub.

Recent times:

The most significant transformation was the massive Port company reclamation of the mid 1970’s. Within 3 years the Spit had increased in size tenfold. The Port Company built a

European influx:

In time a military redoubt, a Mission house, and a military, and Maori graveyard took residence on this coveted soil. The newly charted approach for sailing ships to the headland required passage to the East once the entrance was negotiated. Not all vessels successfully navigated this last stretch, and an early shipwreck was a trader from Valparaiso which foundered on the shallows. Her crew of Spaniards waded ashore, and, today, a row of stones just underwater a couple of metres on the South side of G pier marks where workers uncovered some of her bones during marina construction in 1979.

As settlers moved in, the spit accommodated various transient activities. Early on, a Sulphur works processed raw material barged from White Island. Various ragtag industries followed, including fish processing, slipways,

3a Landscape Road 3a Landscape Road Tauranga Tauranga

Sulphur Point today pristine 600 ton capacity slipway initially to service their Tugs, but eventually they added wharfage which accommodated 40 boats, and built a tractor-driven travel-lift from a spare wharf Hopper. Work and Safety would not tolerate such a rudimentary contraption nowadays, but this device successfully lifted hundreds of vessels under 12 ton for many years onto the hardstand for maintenance.

It was a hive of activity and undoubtedly Tauranga’s marine hub. Not to rest on its laurels, the Port Company then built the Sulphur Point Marina in 1980, and initially managed the land, with the foresight to include large ‘green’ areas. Wharfage was built down the Eastern side of the reclamation as

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

per original plans, whilst leaving space for fishing and service industries to the South.

Today, the Spit bears no resemblance to the windswept sandbar of a previous millennium.

Well-established industry chugs away around the clock. Wharf straddle-lifts thread their way through stacks of containers 24/7, and New Zealand’s largest container cranes seldom stop for a rest. During the day, marine industry workers move like ants from workshop to marina; and back, countless times. They all know each other. Many of them have for several decades. After all, it’s like the line in the song ‘Hotel California’.... “You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave.”

Very recently a group of officialdom turned a sod of sandy soil, to herald the construction of a considerable new marine precinct. Plans include wharfage haul-out facilities and re-fit premises able to cater for super-yachts, (no less). A number of local businesses have committed to space in this development, and employment opportunities in Sulphur Point will swell once again.

Only this time the travel-lift will cost vast sums, and workers will no longer have to balance on rickety planks placed on 44 gallon drums as they toil in the never-ending trade of vessel re-finishing.

Each day I drive past the symbolic anchor stone and the displayed stories at the bridge off-ramp on my way to ‘Hotel California” It’s my third “term” back at Sulphur Point in 40 years. Recently I took my time to read the embossed scripts which circle the anchor stone and they tell of the first humans to visit this (originally) windswept sandbar. Strangely, in several thousand trips over the bridge over the years, I have never seen another soul standing there taking the time to read these scripts.

Just above this is the military graveyard of Otamataha which features very early Maori and European graves. Countless fighting men of are also buried beneath these same soils in unmarked graves. Even these guys never got to leave. Hotel California indeed.

By Geoff Collins

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Keeler racing may be scuppered by new bylaw The new moving zones around cargo ships entering and departing the port may have a big impact on yacht racing on Tauranga Harbour says yacht club commodore Nick Wrinch.

“There’s a lot of good stuff in the changes but some of it is unfortunate to put it politely,” says Nick.

The moving 500m clearance zone ahead of and to 50m either side of ships in the channels is ‘pretty disastrous’ for keeler sailing, says Nick.

“We will have to work out what we can do.

“You start knocking off 500m in front of a ship and 50 metres either side, that’s a pretty big chunk of harbour that’s suddenly closed off.

“If we are sailing on a Wednesday night and we have 40 or 50 yachts out there. That’s a whole chunk of harbour. If we know a ship is coming in at that particular time we’ve got to try to keep yachts away from that channel.

“From a yacht club perspective I don’t think we are the problem.”

He says it’s a common sight to see the pilot launch moving in ahead of incoming shipping making sure there is no one fishing in the entrance, and he believes a lot of recreational sailors won’t have a clue about the new bylaw.

“So therefore they will have to keep on working in front of these ships to make sure

Photo: Murray de Lues

they have a clear zone. So that they will be policing that because I think they will probably have to.

“With all these big vessels coming in they will have to have a boat in front of it clearing the way, making sure no one is in the way and they are largely doing that now as it is.

The yacht club sailors are very mindful that they have to keep out of the ships’ way and there are rules in place disqualifying racing skippers who get in trouble with a ship, says Nick. They are proactive.

On a recent Wednesday evening there were two cruise liners and a log ship departing during the course of the club’s racing, and it all worked very well.

“We had the committee boat out there talking to people on the radio warning them the ship was turning, the ship was now moving – and everybody knew exactly what was going on because everybody was on the VHF and listening and it went fine, absolutely fine and we were able to keep out of the way and let everybody get on with it.

“But technically I don’t know if we will be able to do that now because it will be just too close, 500m off a ship specially when its being turned, is just impossible to avoid really, even with the wider channel.

“It would be very nice if they didn’t bring ships in Wednesday night between 6pm 8.30pm.”

By Andrew Campbell

FEBRUARY 2017

Third time‘s the charm For Wil Horne and Iain Gifford Truxton is the boat they are hoping will cement a podium finish in the round North Island Race starting from Auckland on March 25.

It’s their third Round North Island race, but the first in a flat-out race boat.

The previous boat Windarra was a more cruising-oriented design.

“This one is just a flat out race boat, really built for off shore racing,” says Wil. “We bought it last May and we’ve been working on her ever since really, in between races.

“It’s a pretty tough competition, we’ve place third the last two in our division, so it would be good if we could better that. A second would be pretty awesome.”

Truxton is the only Tauranga boat in the RNI race this year, and is racing against another former Tauranga race boat Squealer, in the same division.

“We’ve never actually raced against her in Truxton,” says Wil. “The boat itself has been ahead of Squealer at times in the Coastal Classic – but time will tell.”

Truxton also has a connection with another Wellington boat The Guarantee. Both are going to be sporting Sailability colours.

“We are helping to promote Sailability Tauranga, they get disabled people out on the water, get them a bit of independence.”

Modifications to Truxton for the race including an updated electronics package and modifications to the ballast system so it is easier to use. The luxury carpet on the floor that was fitted for the Round NZ remains, with the addition of a couple of camp mattresses. There will also be a full complement of freeze dried meals to choose from.

Wil is an IT consultant, ex concreter/ swimming pool builder and Iain a property

Skipper Wil Horne and crew member Iain Gifford on the Tiller 35 Truxton. Photo: Tracy Hardy. manager, former rodeo rider and Karate Instructor. Wil has been sailing since age 5 but serious racing for the past 15 years; Iain is a relative newbie but still has 8 years of hard racing under his belt.

The Round North Island two-handed race starting from the Devonport Yacht Club on February 25 is the 40th.

The concept of a two-person race around the North Island was initiated by Sir Peter Blake and Martin Foster with Devonport Yacht Club. This year’s race is the eighth under the helm of the Short Handed Sailing Association. The boats, which depart off Devonport wharf at 2pm on February 25, will stop at Mangonui, Wellington and Napier before the final leg back to Auckland.

The race is expected to take about two weeks.

Truxton is among 29 boats preparing for the start, and among nine from outside Auckland – which includes an Australian entry Wasabi.

Wasabi is the first international entry in the SSANZ event and won line honours in the two-handed Melbourne-Osaka race in 2013.

Each boat will carry a race tracker, making it easier to follow the boats progress around the North Island. For more details of the race check out the SSANZ website and the SSANZ Facebook page which has profiles of each of the competitors. Both will be updated.

By Andrew Campbell

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FEBRUARY 2017

Chess piece taken off the board Tauranga land mark scrapped

The Port of Tauranga’s number one crane recently dismantled at the northern end of the Sulphur point wharf has been a port land mark for 38 years, making it the oldest Liebherr crane still operating.

Its purchase and operation is a story in itself. In the late 1970s port development was controlled by the government departments which had already decided the North Island container terminals would be at Auckland and Wellington.

So the democratically elected Bay of Plenty Harbour Board could not buy a container crane, and it was refused government money to buy it.

But the application for permission to proceed with the purchase and operation of a heavy lift multi-purpose gantry crane was approved. And it went ahead with money raised in the community.

Crane 1 was installed at southern end of the 2km long Mount Maunganui wharf a cost of $3.9 million, and became operational in September 1979.

Former Bay of Plenty Harbour Board officer Mike Williams used to see the crane as a chess piece on a board. A lot of the time it didn’t do much, but it was there, and just by being there it sent a message not only to their Auckland competitor, but also Wellington.

Officially a Liebherr Model Super Tango Multi-purpose Crane with a maximum lift of 39 tonnes, It was used in its time to lift logs, fertilizer in clamshell grabs and containers – and marked an enduring band loyalty on behalf of the port. Every container crane since has been a Liebherr crane, and there is now a line up of eight of them along the

Sulphur Point wharf.

The crane’s politically turbulent past was all forgotten when the port privatized in 1989. Planning and construction of the Sulphur Point container terminal followed, and it opened for business in 1992.

The multi-purpose crane was barged across the harbour to become a full time container crane in 1999.

By Andrew Campbell

Changes to VHF channels A reminder to all boaties that VHF channels around the coast have changed recently. Here’s a handy list of those frequently used in the BOP-Coromandel.

Clip it out and put next to your radio as a handy reference. Sponsored by www.newsie.co.nz Station

Channel

Tauranga

01 and 62 Maketu 01 Waihi Beach

07

04 Whangamata Tairua/Pauanui 63 Whitianga

63 Rotorua 02 Great Barrier Island

01 Outer Hauraki Gulf

60 Waiheke 62

Inner Hauraki Gulf 64

Whangarei

05 Tutukaka 62

Whakatane 18

East Cape

05 Marine Distress Channel Shipping movements, Tauranga & Auckland Chat channels, ship to ship

16 12 6, 8

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FEBRUARY 2017

Exploding dive tanks

Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for a knee in Australia last year which was removed, rather violently, from its owner when a Scuba tank ‘ruptured’. Ruptured is the technical term for a catastrophic failure. And catastrophic failure means that the tank was being filled, it exploded, and removed said knee from said filling station staff member. And this was while being filled, which is different to being tested.

Tanks undergoing a hydro are subjected to a much greater pressure. So that means that sometime after being tested, and approved, the tank ruptured at a much lower pressure. Pretty scary stuff from my point of view.

As a result of that, and the following investigation, filling stations around the world have received a list of bottles that are no longer able to be filled. After a quick check of the 100 or so tanks that are waiting for their owners to collect here at Tauranga Dive, 16 of them

were found to fall under the banned order. So, following on from that logic, there are going to be quite a number of divers out there in for a nasty surprise when they collect their tanks.

One of our customers has already had 3 out of his 5 tanks marked as unfillable. Of course not as much of a surprise as it may be for me if I’m filling your tank and it explodes.

Now, scaremongering aside, we know that this isn’t common, or likely, but it is possible, it has happened, and it’s not an isolated incident.

This next bit is the technical section of this article.

Tank rupture affects cylinders made from 6351 aluminium alloy. It is not limited to any one design or cylinder, or to those from any one manufacturer.

At-risk SCUBA cylinders are cylinders manufactured from aluminium alloy 6351.

Aluminium alloy 6351 is known to be used in cylinders manufactured between 1972 and 1988 with the following specifications (but not limited to): DOT SP6498, DOT E6498, DOT E7042, DOT E8107, DOT E8364

and DOT E8422.

Ok, that’s enough of that. What it all means is that if you have an older tank, there is a chance that you will be affected. Just bring it in to Tauranga Dive and we can let you know.

We are offering an exchange program at the moment where you can get a brand new Fabre STEEL 12.2 ltr tank at 30% discount if you have been caught up with a bottle on the banned list. And that’s a pretty great deal!

Marine Insurance

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

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

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

I like my knees.

They both still function well enough that I haven’t named them good and bad yet that is. I like to include them in conversations along with the rest of my body parts, just so they don’t get any ideas of course.

Phone (07) 577 0007 Insurance Brokers Bay of Plenty

insurebayofplenty@bwrs.co.nz

FEBRUARY 2017

30 WATERLINE

CLASSIFIEDS For Sale VOLVO MTR 200 HP x1 $11,500. 130 HP $4500 or to be run in. May trade.

Ph 07 843 4392 or 027 620 9712

Dive flags help avoid confusion

12ft ALUMINIUM DINGY PLUS TRAILER. Trailer 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 Oceangoing Trailer Sailor Yacht - FREE Boat Structure Frames & Plans.

Call David Blackley 07 542 0077

For Rent 16M MARINA BERTH – for rent at Bridge Marina $600 per month. Ph 027 492 4988 MOORING TO RENT – Whangamata. Good spot, close to Marina channel. $25 p/w Ph 022 132 3671 MOORING TO RENT – Bridge Marina Tauranga, close to shore $25 week.

Call Nigel Taylor 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 - 021 511 151

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

Trades and Services BATTERIES Battery Direct Nz www.batterydirect.co.nz sales@batterydirect.co.nz 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

Yakityyak Kayak Club Sunday 5 March Rescue Practice Register to attend, 022 091 8605 or bopyakityyakkayakclub@gmail.com Sunday 19 March Waimapu River Paddling from Memorial Park, round Motuopuhi Island (Rat Island) & up through the Waimapu River.

Sunday 26 March Lake Rotoiti & the Hot Pools Sunday 1 April Tanners Point, Tuapiro Stream & Ongarere Beach Launching from Tanners Point Boat ramp, explore the Tuapiro Stream on the oncoming tide before heading back down & around to Ongare Beach for lunch.

Sunday 9 April Lake Okataina Meet at the shop 8am to car pool or meet us directly at the lake 10am.

Sunday 7 May Orakei Korako A great paddle with heaps of thermal action at Orakei Korako.

Saturday 13 May Lake Rotoehu A great beginners trip exploring this lake.

More information: Ph Estelle 022 0918 605 email: bopyakityyakkayakclub@gmail.com Omokoroa Boat Club Club Sailing – ph John Budden 5478 1180 or email: buddennz@gmail.com Sunday 5 March Kids on Keeler or Short Harbour. 10am briefing. 11am start Sunday 12 March Karewa IV 10am briefing, 11am start.

Sunday 19 March 3 short races. 9am briefing, 10am start To list your water sports event please email: julie@thesun.co.nz with Water Sports in the subject heading.

Here’s another good reason to fly a dive flag: as if there weren’t already enough!

A well-meaning citizen called the police recently, believing he could see three people in the water at the harbour entrance.

Emergency services were scrambled, police rushed to the water’s edge and a Tauranga Coastguard crew fired up a rescue vessel.

It turned out there were three people in the water… but they’d gone in deliberately. Three divers. The emergency services were stood down, the coastguard team went home to their cold dinners, while the divers climbed back into their boat and drove off.

It’s commendable that concerned citizens are keeping a close watch over our waterways and prepared to raise the alarm when they believe something is wrong.

However better identification would have saved a lot of unnecessary disruption for volunteers and professionals alike.

The situation may have been helped, had the boat in question been displaying a dive flag – a clue to concerned onlookers that those heads bobbing around in the ocean were happy and safe, not the result of boating mishap.

The dive flag of course is a major safety bonus for divers in the water, and especially important in a high traffic area such as the Tauranga harbour entrance.

So divers, do yourselves and the general public a favour, and get flagged up. It will mean a safer diving experience for you and help others figure what’s going on around them.

FEBRUARY 2017

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FEBRUARY 2017