Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2020 i Boating NZ

The best place to get a sense of the inactivity is the English Channel, now home to a growing fleet of idle cruisers. But as the old adage goes, when one door shuts another opens. With commendable entrepreneurial flair local resident Paul Derham has begun offering boat tours to anyone interested in getting a closer look at the fleet. A cruise ship veteran of some 27 years, Derham knows the industry and the ships well – he’s the perfect tour guide. He now runs two ferries from Mudeford in England’s Dorset region, and has adapted his normal schedule (no doubt also suffering from the impact of Covid-19) to include the 2.5-hour ‘cruise ship tour’. It appears to have become a raging success. This recent image shows some of the world’s…

You might have the flashest yacht in the marina, but to really impress your guests you’ll need to present your wine collection in a stylish manner. Canadian company CellArt has the perfect solution. The Montreal-based company positions itself as creating wine storage solutions that also function as pieces of art. Consider, for example, the Les Dessous de Flacons – a mesmerising wine coaster set intended for the grand connoisseur and refined aesthete. This set includes three organically-shaped coaster plates: one designed for a 750ml bottle, one for a Magnum and one for a three-litre bottle. Each plate is made of rich black walnut, English oak or mahogany wood – selected by the artisan and inlaid with black ebony. Each is emblazoned with a brass coin featuring CellArt’s iconic Phoenix emblem.…

Built by Taiwan’s Queen Long Marine Ltd, the 15m M49 is an extension of the Salthouse’s highly-regarded M44 – already a popular seller for Hylas. The company’s motor yacht range now comprises three models – the M44, M49 and M58. In addition to conventional recreational use, applications for the M44 include customs and police patrol, commercial fishing and game fishing. The M49 was developed for an existing owner wanting a larger model with more room in the aft lounge, an increased capacity for water toys such as kayaks and paddleboards, and enhanced dinghy stowage. Its lengthened aft cockpit adds 1.4m to the LOA and 0.81m to the waterline. In addition to its performance and handling advantages, the M49 offers many options for customisation – among them larger guest accommodations, a…

THIS FOLD-DOWN TARGA top model will appeal to owners with specific garaging requirements and a fondness for an ‘open-air’ feeling that’s impossible to enjoy inside a hardtop. Available in sterndrive and outboard configurations, the new CAD-designed and CNC-moulded 7.9m Vanquish shares its hull and deck with the successful 741 Offshore hardtop model – one of Tristram’s most successful and popular models, alongside Tristram’s 701 and 821. Comfortable overnighting can be enjoyed aboard the 741 Vanquish, since an easy to use clears-and-canvas system fully encloses the targa top. The Vanquish features a sliding and lockable cabin door, along with large underfloor, under-seat and under-bunk storage cavities. Cooking facilities are standard and fridge options are available. Tristram Marine is already taking orders for its all-new 741 Vanquish. Contact the team at Tristram…

MERCURY MARINE HAS UNVEILED its Bravo Four S forward-facing drive with Smart Tow controls – a new drive system for MerCruiser engines that helps craft perfect wakes for wakesurfing, wakeboarding and other tow sports. Digital controls that coordinate ballast, surf tabs and propulsion settings under a single and intuitive user interface make it easier than ever before. Mercury SmartCraft digital technologies, including an upgraded Smart Tow system, come standard with the Bravo Four S drive. These controls allow customisation of the tow sports experience with just a few taps on a Mercury VesselView touchscreen display. The driver can simply select the desired tow sports activity and the Smart Tow system will display the appropriate controls to dial in the perfect launch acceleration, towing speed and wake characteristics. Other advantages of…

PRESTIGE HAS LAUNCHED its all-new X-Line range of motoryachts, with the X70 as flagship. With the X70, the first model of this innovative line, Prestige presents a radically new way to live at sea. In partnership with the Garroni Design studio, it reinvents space and movement on board, while offering a yacht of spectacular quality boasting the latest technology for exceptionally smooth cruising. Precision and high-quality standards have been constants throughout the creative process, from the X70’s conception to her launch in July. The X70 is equipped with Volvo penta IPS 1200 or IPS 1350 engines. It will be displayed at the 2020 Cannes Yachting Festival. www.prestige-yachts.com…

The Sanctuary Cove Boating Festival, scheduled to take place from November 13 to 15, is shaping up to be a bumper event following the launch of exhibitor bookings a few weeks ago. More than 60 prominent marine brands have already secured prime positions, including Riviera, Maritimo, Princess Yachts Australia, Horizon Yachts Australia, Integrity Motor Yachts, Whitehaven Motor Yachts, Beneteau, Clipper Motor Yachts, Fleming Motor Yachts, Hampton Motor Yachts, Fairline Motor Yachts, Alaska, e-Yachts and Lagoon – to name a few. A host of big names in the fishing and trailer boat segment have also confirmed their attendance with Australian Marine Centre, Game and Leisure Boats, Nautique Central, Surf Coast Marine, Cobalt Boats, Hurricane, Sailfish Catamarans, Nitro Marine, Whittley Marine Group, Magbay Yachts and Northside Marine planning displays throughout the Marine…

Volvo Penta and Danish boatbuilder, Tuco Marine Group, have partnered up to create a high-speed firefighting vessel for the Greater Copenhagen Fire Department. A tough, full-cabin, multi-response vessel, it will respond to emergency calls in the Harbour of Copenhagen and surrounding areas, navigating the city’s canals to deliver a fast and effective fire response. The 15m vessel is capable of 29 knots, propelled by two Volvo Penta IPS450 units. With the compact IPS units there is more space in the cabin for a reclined patient, 10 seated passengers, a defibrillator and O2 equipment, as well as first-aid supplies. For firefighting, HBR 1 Copenhagen is also equipped with a pump, water cannon, two-tonne crane and diving platform. Below deck, in the storage room, there is 180m of fire hose, along with…

Sailors either love Dick Newick’s (1926 – 2013) shapely trimaran designs, or they’re oblivious to them. With their amas (floats) shaped like a genie’s slippers and wing decks resembling a seabird in flight, Newick’s ground-breaking 1970/80s designs are an acquired taste. But there’s no arguing that they fulfil his ethos of design simplicity, safe seagoing performance, aesthetics and speed under sail. The young Newick designed and built kayaks in New Jersey, selling the designs to friends and schoolmates. He did a stint in the US Navy and an engineering degree in California before going sailing and kayaking in the US, Europe and the Caribbean. While running a charter operation in St Croix, he designed and built his first multihull – a 12m day-charter trimaran and the die was set. “People…

At the time, a hardtop version of the boat was nearing completion, but with Covid getting in the way the new model wasn’t ready until July. A second lockdown in Auckland further interfered with our plans and when we finally spent a day on board in early September, Xceed had already been in her owner’s hands for a couple of months. Darryl Beynon and his new boat have history. While Xceed was being built he was working in the same Whangarei facility fabricating CAM aluminium trailers. These high-quality custom trailers are standard with Offshore Boats but can also be found under the boats of other manufacturers. Already familiar with the 650 Pro Dive, which had also been built on site, Darryl became obsessed with the new HT model, eventually deciding…

The flooring products range – from a variety of European and US manufacturers – are locally available courtesy of Blu-Sky Products NZ. The company was formed in October last year following the purchase of Featherston’s Batavian by Australian company Blu-Sky Products. Batavian has been fabricating a highly-regarded range of EVA/PE customised foam flooring for many years – products used by most leading New Zealand boatbuilders. Owner Glen Davidson (and now CEO of the new Blu-Sky Products NZ company) says the merger made perfect sense. “Blu-Sky (Australia) distributes a very wide range of marine flooring products and I’d been exploring the possibility of becoming the New Zealand agent for them. Conversely, Blu-Sky was already the SeaDek distributor for Australia, so the ‘marriage’ seemed perfectly logical, allowing us to create Australasia’s largest…

Built in Baltimore in West Cork in 1926, the 56-foot ketch Ilen holds a special place in Ireland’s maritime heritage – she’s the country’s only surviving vessel of her kind. Her survival is to be cherished – but her recent resumption of cargo deliveries is also widely-regarded as supporting a new, global eco-trading trend – a sustainable alternative to powered vessels. Designed by Limerick’s Conor O’Brien (1880-1952), she was built for and delivered to the Falkland Islands where she braved those harsh, demanding latitudes for 70 years – ferrying passengers, cargo, mail and livestock between the islands. A BOAT BUILT IN IRELAND FOR THE FALKLANDS? It seems a little improbable, but it all began with O’Brien’s visit to that remote outpost between the two world wars. He became the first…

This photo of a goby hiding in soft coral – titled Red Carpet – was among the winners of the recent Ocean Art Safe Under the Sea underwater photography contest, organised by the Underwater Photography Guide in the US. Despite the adversity we all face today, the organisers noted, the Safe Under the Sea contest brought people from around the world together to share the beauty of our oceans, and help the World Health Organistion (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in their fight to improve the health of the planet and its people. The Underwater Photography Guide was able to donate 25% of the proceeds, translating to thousands of dollars, to WHO and CDC in their fight against Covid-19. Yatwai So took the shot of…

Once the world’s longest-serving aircraft carrier, Britain’s HMS Hermes has come to an ignoble end. She’s lying on an Indian beach being broken up for scrap, her steel destined for motorbike production. Though she was considered the Royal Navy’s flagship during the Falklands war in the early 80s, that role was a brief starburst in a career beset by problems. It didn’t even start well. Construction began in 1944 but WWII ended before she was completed, so the work ground to a halt. The forlorn hull sat in the dockyard in Barrow-in-Furness until 1953, when it was launched unceremoniously to make way for other shipbuilding projects. The unfortunate carrier carried a cruel nickname – HMS Elephant. Though the build was finally completed in 1957 she only began active service two…

The Opua Business Association (OBA) in the Bay of Islands is sending a fleet of Optis to the Va’vau Bluewater School in Neiafu, Tonga to introduce the joy of sailing to the region’s youngsters. Championed by Seapower’s Bruce Fuller (a long-time OBA member), the initial idea would see OBA members obtaining and refurbishing old sailing dinghies, branding them with company logos and sending them to Neiafu. But the project really got traction when Kerikeri Cruising Club upgraded its learn-to-sail boats and gifted seven Opti hulls to OBA. These boats needed significant work, but with help from the Bay of Islands Boatyard team the hulls were sanded and painted. Keen local yachtie Jeff Knewstubb (Stubbie) donated his time to reassemble the boats. All the local sailmakers (North Sails, Doyle Sails and…

Sporting masses of space, on deck and below, it’s the perfect fit for Ownaship, which was seeking a versatile, spacious, easily-handled vessel that would have wide appeal. The Fountaine Pajot MY 40 certainly fits the bill. Make no mistake, this is a big 40-footer! That impression is inescapable dockside and reinforced on the water, where there’s acres of entertainment-ready cockpit and a huge saloon, not to mention a flybridge big enough for tennis. A hydraulic swim platform is good for fishing (bait table included), swimming, launching and transporting the tender. The teak-soled cockpit is laid out for relaxing with a full-width lounger and teak grate-style table that stows away in the generous storage locker under the floor. The cockpit is covered by the upper deck and can be fully enclosed…

Based on a common engineering platform, the VX and GP Series WaveRunners have received a complete redesign above the waterline, with an all-new deck, improved aesthetics, enhanced riding characteristics, increased storage and a range of industry-first features and technologies. The new deck design provides improved ergonomics with deeper, wider and self-draining footwells, plus a new seat profile that is 38mm narrower, delivering improved knee and foot grip and enhanced rider comfort. Storage has been increased throughout the line-up, with a new, much larger watertight glovebox that comes with a built-in LED light, a dedicated area for your smartphone, a USB port and a 12-volt power outlet for increased usability and functionality. The expanded front storage hatch includes an area for a cooler bag and a larger opening for easier access.…

MARITIMO’S FLAGSHIP M64 and M70 flybridge motoryacht models have recorded over $100 million worth of sales since their world premieres in 2015 and 2016. The milestone was reached in September after a wave of deliveries of the latest 2020 edition M64 and M70 flybridge motoryacht models to owners in Australia and the United States. They bring the total number of M70 and M64 motoryachts sold to more than 30. The latest 2020 edition M70 and M64 flybridge motoryachts come with a range of design refinements, including integrated hull-side panoramic windows with ports and an optional targa design. Maritimo attributes the performance and efficiency of these models to an evolutionary approach to hull design with straight shaft-drive propulsion. The interiors boast new master stateroom layouts, mood lighting schemes and the latest…

BUILDING ON THE SUCCESS of the original Balex Automatic Boat loader system, Balex Marine has now developed a range of products to suit every trailer boat. Balex Sport – based on the original Balex system – consists of one set of patented 160cc HYDRA4 Adaptive Drive Units, a 1600W HYDRA4 12V power unit and a waterproof, floating Balex remote. It’s perfect for boats weighing up to 2.5 tonnes. Balex Pro features heavy-duty 250cc HYDRA4 Adaptive Drive Units providing 56% more drive force than the original Balex system. The Pro is also equipped with the new long-range, waterproof, floating Balex remote. Balex Pro is ideal for commercial vessels or larger vessels weighing up to three tonnes. Balex Ultra doubles the lift and doubles the grip. With two sets of 250cc HYDRA4…

As part of a restructure and Brian Macken’s recent retirement, Power Equipment has a new management team in place. Dave Low has assumed the role of New Zealand Branch Manager, assisted by Martin Cook, recently promoted to the new position of Marine Product Manager. Nick Law will continue to look after the South Island and Lower North Island marine and industrial business, Nick Watson has joined as Power Products Sales Engineer, Anthony Duff takes on the role of Senior Diesel Technician and Kayla Guise the Customer Services support role. Office staff remain the same. Power Equipment has decided to limit retail service and cease maintenance operations. It will no longer carry out any Yanmar servicing or maintenance work, but continues to employ technical staff to support its products and dealer…

In early September Riviera hosted an online launch for the world premiere of its new 50 Sports Motor Yacht. The vessel is the latest addition to Riviera’s growing Sports Motor Yacht collection, following the popular 64 Sports Motor Yacht premiere in June this year. Riviera unveiled the 50 SMY to a worldwide audience in a live launch hosted by Riviera owner Rodney Longhurst from its Gold Coast production facility. The 50 SMY takes her cues from her popular sisterships the 72, 68 and 64 Sports Motor Yachts, which are already cruising the waters of the world. The 50 is a spacious motor yacht with extensive water sports capabilities designed for extended coastal passages or weekend escapes. It easily serves as a luxurious family-, entertaining- or adventure-yacht. The 50 SMY –…

A visionary and innovative multihull designer, Dick Newick penned over 140 boats during his career and inspired multihull enthusiasts all over the world. My own exposure to his designs was the mid-1980s while working in Boston, Massachusetts. I saw a strange-looking trimaran and read the name Moxie on her bow. I recalled that this was the boat that had won the 1980 Observer Singlehanded TransAtlantic Race. The old bloke pottering around in the cockpit was her skipper, Phil Weld, who was 65 at the time of the OSTAR win. “Come aboard and have a look,” he invited. We talked for an hour or two while he busied himself making tea and cookies. I left later that afternoon, my brain abuzz with multihull wisdom. Years later, home in New Zealand, I…

The Whiskey Project Group was formed after its acquisition of New South Wales boat manufacturer Yamba Welding and Engineering (YWE) – which itself acquired Naiad earlier this year from founder Steve Schmidt and his wife Jenny. Darren Schuback, co-founder and managing director of The Whiskey Project Group, says the acquisition of YWE and Naiad marks the coming together of great Australian and New Zealand businesses and heralds an exciting future for Australian watercraft design and manufacturing. “The new formation secures advanced maritime manufacturing capabilities, with a natural crossover of technology and skilled labour between government, specialist and leisure sectors.” The Whiskey Project’s next-generation tactical watercraft, Whiskey Alpha, was launched at the 2019 Pacific International Maritime Expo and acclaimed for its integrated technologies, fit-for-purpose design, modularity and its carbon composite hull.…

For a summer there my wife and I spent long days in a French boatbuilding yard. Every evening after work, I would peel off my dusty overalls, kiss my wife and go down to watch the sea. It became a necessary ritual, the shedding of my skin and the short walk from the boatbuilder’s yard to the shimmering waters of the Bay of Biscay. We spent our days in the yard, working on a beautiful Swan ketch named Talina, with the air filled with the whine of electric sanders and the soft banter of boatbuilders’ French. By the time I escape the place on my daily ritual, the heat of the day is radiating off every surface. Along the way to the sea, I note which brand of beer the…

In the first semi-final Norman, who was unbeaten through both of the round robins, took on Claudia Pierce. The other semi-final was an all Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron Performance Programme clash between Celia Willison (Edge Women’s Match) and Megan Thomson (2.0 Racing). Norman and Pierce had a great battle, with Norman winning the first match to continue her unbeaten run. But Pierce didn’t give it up easily, and came back to snatch the second match. The third and fourth matches were also close, but Norman won both to send her team into the final. The all-RNZYS PP semi-final saw some close racing, but it was Willison and her Edge Women’s Match team who showed their class to win the first two races, although they were both very close. The…

Upfold’s father, the late Darrell, was an entrepreneur with a passion for powerboats which certainly rubbed off on his son. By the time Upfold was attending Kelston Boys High School he’d pretty much decided on a career – “at school I was always drawings boats instead of what I was supposed to be doing.” In those days, the only way to become a boat designer was first to become a boatbuilder. At the time, John Lidgard was one of the premier wooden boatbuilders in Auckland and was located just down the road, so Upfold’s father facilitated Lidgard taking on the youngster as an apprentice. It was 1977 and while production GRP boatbuilding was in full cry, custom timber boats were still in demand. But as Upfold quickly discovered, from necessity…

Last month the Mayflower Autonomous Ship, a 15m trimaran, left Plymouth in the UK on a pioneering voyage – an unmanned transatlantic crossing powered by solar energy and artificial intelligence. Supported by an impressive consortium which includes IBM and M Subs (a Plymouth-based submarine manufacturer) the project’s led by Promare, a marine research organisation. It’s also received investment from tech heavyweights such as Rolls-Royce, Honeywell, ABB and Wartsila. The technology for safe navigation at sea uses algorithms and computer vision. While pilotless drones and driverless cars are already common, experts believe autonomous shipping is on the verge of a breakthrough. “Doing this on a ship is infinitely easier than in a car,” says Brett Phaneuf, president of M Subs and the driving force behind the Mayflower project. In principle, autonomous…

IF COLUMBUS HAD been lucky enough to own an AntiKythera Mechanism, things might have turned out so much better for him. Before the advent of GPS, as older readers will attest, bluewater cruisers used the sun, moon, planets and stars to plot their position on the oceans. The necessary tools included a chart, sextant, Nautical Almanac, Sight Reduction Tables – and maybe a calculator for the spherical trigonometry. But sailors in Columbus’ time didn’t have these tools – they didn’t even know the Earth’s circumference. Which is why he messed up so badly when figuring how far he’d have to sail from Spain to find a westabout passage to China and the East Indies. He also wasn’t aware of the small matter of the Americas… Columbus figured the journey would…

WITH A LOA OF 6.76M, the 635 carries the brand’s legendary 21o deep-vee in an all-new hull design. Haines Hunter CEO Denis Kendall says the boat evolved from customer and dealer demand and feedback. It features a moulded composite structural floor that’s bonded to the hull, creating watertight chambers for reserve buoyancy. Decks and bulkheads use a foam core sandwiched between an inner and outer skin. This technique reduces weight and improves fuel economy. The team has worked tirelessly at every stage of the project to ensure the hull design, mould construction and fit-out are millimetre-perfect. Haines Hunter invested heavily in the tooling for these new boats to ensure high-quality fit and finish, as well as durability. State-of-the-art tooling results in a 100% clean, flawless hull when it comes out…

THE CAPE50 HAS been designed and built in Australia by Steve Campbell’s Composites Constructions. Campbell is a 30-year master shipwright and dedicated ocean racer who has worked and sailed at the highest level, including America’s Cup campaigns in 1995 and 2000. The Cape50 was conceived six years ago as a motor yacht for Campbell’s own growing family. In 2018 he commissioned one of Australia’s leading naval architects to create her running surface and engineering. Composites Constructions began work on the direct female mould in January 2019, finishing the boat’s structure in December. The build utilised vinylester resin-infused technology to ensure maximum strength, the best uniformity and lightest possible weight. E-glass foam sandwich construction is used throughout, including structural bulkheads, stringers and engine mounts. The dashboard is carbon-fibre, as are the…

SEALEGS INTERNATIONAL LIMITED has announced the release of the world’s largest amphibious production boat. The Sealegs 12m Cabin RIB (or 12RC) is the cumulation of over a decade of amphibious technology development and many months of detailed boat design, with input from amphibious engineers, naval architects and Sealegs owners. With a 12m overall length, up to twin 400hp outboards, massive 940mm diameter by 500mm wide tyres and a gross weight of 7,500kg, the Sealegs 12RC is a monster craft with size, power and performance that’s unequalled in the amphibious boat market. With an extensive list of options, the Sealegs 12RC can be tailored to meet owners’ needs: up to four berths, a fully-enclosed and lockable cabin with panoramic windows, dual retractable electric sunroof, galley with stove, sink and fridge, dining…

THE MAREX 330 is a smaller version of the popular Marex 375 and envisaged as the next edition of the Marex Scandinavia. A fully-planing boat, the hull and decks are completely new. To meet different markets, the boat is available with single or twin engines and shafts or sterndrives. The cruising speed ranges from 23 to 30 knots and top speeds from 28 to 38 knots, depending on the engines. With a generous seating inside and out, the boat is great for day-cruising with friends. The 330 is warm in winter and airconditioning is an option for summer. A soft roof over the cockpit and sliding roof for the saloon open the boat to sky and optional solar panels on the roof provide up to 900 watts charging power. Below…

Napier-based Euro City is a well-established automotive dealer with the Audi, Volkswagen, Skoda and MG to its name. The company is branching out into the marine industry is the latest addition to Volpower NZ’s Volvo Penta dealer network. Euro City is also importing the global brands of Crownline and Finseeker boats. Dealer principal and owner Terry Elmsly has employed the very experienced Ian Ward to head up the marine side of the business. With a long history in the marine industry in NZ and Fiji, Ian brings extensive knowledge and experience to the team. Euro City is now stocked with parts and ready to assist with your Volvo Penta requirements. www.eurocity.co.nz www.volpower.co.nz…

Vesper’s new Cortex VHF offers a built-in smartAIS SOTDMA transponder and its remote monitoring solution, in combination with the powerful Cortex Monitoring App, provides peace of mind for skippers who are away from their vessels. Anchor Watch immediately alerts skippers should their boat move while at anchor. In addition, skippers can opt to receive alerts for changes in water depth and wind speed or direction while at anchor. Using its unique Geofence feature, Cortex will guard against theft by detecting whether a trailer boat is moved when it is supposed to be stationary, or a vessel has broken free of its mooring. In conjunction with onboard pressure sensors, Cortex can also notify you if any unwanted guests board your vessel. Cortex can report on bilge pump activation and frequency, battery…

Over the years we’ve reviewed numerous Smugglers – from the ‘baby’ rigid-hull 520 right up to the massive Strata 1100 RIB. All exhibit excellent build quality, ride comfort and versatility – every model’s a smart package that turns heads wherever it goes. The 700 extends the legacy. We headed out into the Hauraki Gulf the first Wednesday of spring in conditions that were less than ideal but based on my previous experiences with the Smuggler boats, I wasn’t unduly concerned. On board with me was another fan of the marque – Rob Salthouse, international sailor and member of the New Zealand’s Salthouse boatbuilding dynasty. Rob – a veteran of four Volvo round-the-world ocean races and six New Zealand America’s Cup campaigns – is currently back in the country as Team…

That the chef armed himself with a narwhal tusk was purely opportunistic – it happened to be decorating the doorway of a nearby fishmonger’s stall and it was the only available weapon in the heat of the attack. Still, his actions generated lots of comment from observers quick to point out that the weapon was yet another chapter in the ‘supernatural’ powers of the narwhal tusk. And to appreciate that narrative, you need to settle back into an armchair with a glass of your favourite tipple and momentarily detach yourself from reality. First, some background. Members of the whale family, narwhals grow to about 4–5m in length and are mostly found in the icy waters around Greenland and Canada. Though shy, elusive creatures, they are most well-known for the spiralled…

She reached Waikiki Yacht Club on the island of Oahu on 12 September, 86 days, 10 hours, 5 minutes and 56 seconds after leaving San Francisco, comfortably breaking Roz Savage’s 2008 record of 100 days. Describing the voyage as “the greatest psychological challenge of my life”, Lia logged some 2700nm and overcame a series of mental and physical challenges, including illness before the start, two capsizes, a shortage of food, and persistent adverse currents and winds. Despite the hardships there were also moments of joy, wonder and encounters with nature, as Lia witnessed spectacular rainbows, nighttime skies, sunsets and sunrises, while sharks, flying fish, yellowfin tuna, seabirds and squid all came close, or onto, her boat at different times. As she faced her own battles at sea, Lia also had…

Puzzle no.275 Across 7. Type of fishing lure (7) 8. This gives jet boat extra power (5) 9. ___ of trim – sails not arranged right for point of sail that boat is on (3) 10. Sailing spot at top of South Island shown in photo (6,3) 11. Becomes submerged below surface of sea (5) 13. _____ Sound – fiord on southwest end of NZ’s South Island (5) 15. _____ architect – ship designer (5) 17. Scuba enthusiast (5) 20. Thor _____, late Norwegian anthropologist known for Kon-Tiki ocean journey (9) 22. ___-kindly – this describes boat that is easy to handle (3) 23. _____ of attack – space between chord line of sail and relative direction of wind (5) 24. Tendency of boat to turn away from wind (3,4)…

For centuries Lake Como, also known as ‘Lario’, has been the destination of writers, artists, monks and soldiers. Alessandro Manzoni, one of Italy’s greatest writers, used the setting for his famous 1827 novel I promessi sposi (The Betrothed). Today, the area is home to scores of celebrities who own historic mansions around the perimeter of the lake – the Versace family, Sir Richard Branson, George Clooney and Robert ‘Batman’ Pattinson, not to mention Aussie tycoon Rupert Murdoch and dozens of footballers. Lake Como is also a paradise for boating enthusiasts, especially motorboats and workboats. The Tullio Abbate shipyard, founded by the recently-deceased racing champion of the same name, is located in nearby Tremezzina. In Laglio, a stone’s throw from Villa Oleandra (where George Clooney spends four months a year with…