Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2020 i Boating NZ

And so we come to the end of a year many will aim to bury in the furthest recesses of their memories – a year from hell. The dear Queen once described 1992 (a particularly bad year for her family) as an “annus horribilus”. That’s Latin for a horrible year – but frankly, if we’re permitted to tweak the Latin slightly I think a “sh***y year” would be a more accurate translation for 2020. Barring the two world wars, Covid-19 has transformed the planet as never before – we will be measuring the scale of the devastation for decades and, I suspect, in ways we’ve not yet even begun to comprehend. In the small microcosm that is the global marine sector, things seem pretty bleak – bleakest among it perhaps…

Australian sailor and gold medalist Nathan Outteridge has been appointed interim President of the International Nacra 17 Class Association. He takes over from Marcus Spillane (IRL) who was recently elected as Vice President of World Sailing. Nathan is a multiple Youth World Champion, 49er Class gold and silver medalist, Moth Class World Champion, America’s Cup helmsman and current helmsman of SailGP Team Japan. He also campaigned for the Tokyo Olympics in the Nacra 17, twice finishing second at the World Championships, but was not selected to the Tokyo Olympic team by Australia. Tokyo will be the Nacra 17’s second Olympic cycle. Nathan’s primary focus will be to improve safety through better maintenance practices, preparation at regattas and testing of design features. The Nacra 17 Class remains compelling viewing for Olympic…

Facing diverse threats ranging from pollution through acidic oceans to global warming, the planet’s coral beds will hopefully receive a helping hand from the world’s first coral biobank, proposed for Port Douglas in Queensland, Australia. The conservation facility will house some 800 coral species from around the world. It has been described as a ‘Noah’s Ark’ for the planet’s coral, fitted with hundreds of tanks with temperature and light control. Designed by Sydney’s Contreras Earl Architecture, the four-storey centre mimicks a mushroom coral head. Inside, facilities include an exhibition centre and auditorium – and research laboratories over four levels. The facility would also be an interactive space so visitors can view corals and learn about the reef. The project is led by the Great Barrier Reef Legacy – a non-profit…

The Peacoq’ – says its French designer Patrick Billot – is a foiling dinghy created for recreational sailors rather than the world’s yacht racing elite. Billot’s fascination germinated after watching the America’s Cup cats in action, and he felt the ‘fun’ should be extended to all sailors – “to allow every sailing fan to get into exciting foiling sensations and feelings.” His new company – Foily – produces two double-handed models: the sailing school Peacoq’ 14, and a more high-end version fully-equipped with Harken gear. Both models, he says, have three distinct characteristics – easy sailing, stability and sensation. Built at France’s Sisco Composites (using a vacuum process) the Peacoq’ weighs in at 130kg, can be beach-launched with a standard dolly, with all appendages tucked safely away until needed. For…

Since completing her doctorate on orca (the first scientific study of the mammals in New Zealand) in 2000, she’s been hard at work doing just that. “We’ve got less than 200 New Zealand orca – a South Island population, North Island population and one that travels around both islands. And then there are the pelagic orca which are typically found way off shore, but which visit every so often,” she says, “to hunt for dolphins near our coastline. The more I learn about them – and the more time I spend with them – makes me realise just how little we know. “But we’ve got to stop using the ocean as a great toilet and get rid of the belief that you can dump everything into it and it just…

”While for many it’s the image of a middle-aged bloke out for a spot of weekend fishing on a power boat that springs to mind,” says Sharyn Forsyth, Chair of the Safer Boating Forum and Maritime NZ Deputy Director, “these days you’re just as likely to find younger men and women flocking to the water in other types of craft, with kayaks being the largest single type of recreational vessel now in use.” It’s that changing demographic – and a continuing number of people dying on the water – that saw boating safety agencies launch a new multi-media campaign in October (the start of Safer Boating Week) targeting watercraft users of all kinds to be better prepared. “With increasing numbers of new recreational boaties and the breadth of on-water activity…

MERCURY MARINE has announced an expanded partnership with Beneteau on a global scale to leverage both companies’ leadership position and offer Beneteau customers Mercury power on 2021 models. This announcement comes two years after Mercury Marine and Beneteau first announced a partnership in North America. With this partnership, Beneteau customers will be able to take advantage of even more competitive, high-performance and high-quality outboard, boat and engine packages, they said in a joint statement. Customers can order Mercury outboards on Beneteau packages immediately. Mercury-powered Beneteau boat packages will be on display at upcoming European boating events. www.MercuryMarine.com www.beneteau.com…

Ratahi’s presence on the Manukau is thanks to the vision of her new owner – Trevor Pennington. He knows the harbour intimately and believes more people need to experience its beauty, charms and history. Taking them on harbour cruises and fishing trips is an obvious solution. In the mindset of the general population, Pennington concedes, the Manukau plays second or even third fiddle to the Waitemata and Kaipara harbours – despite it being the country’s second largest harbour (after the Kaipara). He insists this reputation is unfair. “Few people bother to explore the Manukau – partly because of its fearsome bar, but mainly because of poor access. The boat ramps dotted around the harbour shoreline (there are 13) are all adversely affected by tides – the infrastructure’s inadequate and it’s…

This wasn’t the sort of remark you might expect from someone whose family – particularly whose great-grandfather – had been among the most skilful and sought-after sailors and yacht captains Britain ever produced. “What do you mean about your family being a bunch of pirates?” I asked. “Well they were,” he said emphatically. “What else would you expect of a family of East Anglian fishermen? Smugglers and pirates, the lot of them. It was the way of the world. But it’s all history anyway – gone.” The yachts Stuart’s great-grandfather skippered were the great racing yachts of yesteryear; thoroughbreds such as the Prince of Wales’ Britannia, arguably the most successful and popular racing cutter ever built, and all three Valkyries – as well as Lord Dunraven’s other magnificent vessels. But…

Apart from letting water in, we also need to let wastewater out – the drain from the sink and washbasin and the aforementioned toilet, hopefully via a holding tank system. Each of which requires three components – a skin- or through-hull fitting, a seacock to control the flow of water (in or out), and a system of hoses and clamps to get the water to or from where it needs to go. By and large these components work satisfactorily. Because they have no actively-moving parts, there is very little to go wrong. The main problems affecting them are age, exposure to seawater, solvents or UV rays (for a long period), and marine growth. Marine growth affects any component that’s constantly in the water, and owners of moored yachts and launches…

Nikon Small World recognized 88 photos out of thousands of entries from scientists and artists across the globe. Daniel Castranova, assisted by Bakary Samasa while working in the lab of Dr. Brant Weinstein at the National Institutes of Health in Maryland, took the top prize for his immaculate photo of a juvenile zebrafish. The image was taken using confocal microscopy and image-stacking. The image is particularly significant because it was taken as part of an imaging effort that helped Castranova’s team make a groundbreaking discovery – zebrafish have lymphatic vessels inside their skull that were previously thought to occur only in mammals. Their occurrence in fish, a much easier subject to raise, experiment with, and photograph, could expedite and revolutionise research related to treatments for diseases that occur in the…

A German research icebreaker has returned home after drifting 3,400km locked in Arctic ice – all part of a study to gain new information about the earth’s climate. The RV Polarstern is back in Bremerhaven, the end of a voyage known as the ‘Mosaic’ expedition to research the climate system in the central Arctic. She left Tromsø, Norway, on September 20 last year. Mosaic is short for Multidisciplinary Drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate. Orchestrated by Bremerhaven’s Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI), hundreds of scientists from 20 countries took part in the initiative, swapping places over the duration of the voyage. More than 80 research institutes were involved. Researchers were able to collect data about sea ice, the ocean, ecosystems and biogeochemistry at temperatures as low as minus 42.3o…

A near absence of wind (light nor-easter, compounded at the start by an incoming tide) saw the fleet drifting aimlessly for most of the 119-nautical mile dash. Nothing to get any adrenalin flowing – so I’ll get a brief race synopsis out of the way. Some 165 boats started this year’s race, an iconic event by any measure on the international yachting calendar, and always great fun. Fewer than 20 finished – the rest either abandoning the race entirely or motoring to the finish line. The winner was Bianca Cook’s super-slick Volvo Ocean 65 (NZ Ocean Racing) – in which she will lead an entirely Kiwi crew in the 2022–3 edition of the round-the-world race. The boat ghosted over the Russell finish line at 3:58am on Saturday, becoming the first…

Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron commodore Aaron Young wasn’t the only one. His mate and former commodore Steve Mair did the same thing, and now two other Kiwi owners have got in on the act. Four near-new Melges 40 one-design race boats have found their way downunder and are forming the basis of a new 12-metre division on Auckland Harbour. The Melges 40 was designed by Spaniard Marcelino Botin and Botin Partners Naval Architects. Five boats were built by Premier Composite Technologies in Dubai, and the new class was supposed to ‘revolutionise’ one-design racing, with a circuit of windward-leeward, owner-driver regattas around Europe set up to alternate with the TP52 circuit. But after the first boats were launched in 2017 the circuit never really got off the ground, and the…

VOLVO HAS NOW supplied 30,000 Volvo Penta Inboard Performance System (IPS) solutions across the marine sectors. The system’s innovative and unique design has forward-facing, twin counter-rotating propellers that sit below the hull for incredible ‘grip’ of the water. Individually steerable IPS drives are linked to the onboard Joystick Docking function, making docking easier. When compared to traditional inboard shaft installations, Volvo Penta IPS provides 40% longer cruising range, 20% higher top speed, up to a 30% reduction in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, 50% lower perceived noise and more onboard space. With 30,000 IPS units installed in recreational and commercial vessels since 2005, the savings in CO2 emissions have been considerable. Furthermore, Volvo Penta has started to incorporate a circular economy approach by giving a new life to IPS drivelines…

BENETEAU GRAND TRAWLER 62 THE GRAND TRAWLER 62 broadens the scope of BENETEAU’s iconic Swift Trawler line, a modern, practical, safe passagemaker with great cruising range. At a shade under 19m, the Grand Trawler 62 is a long-distance cruiser. She has a cruising range of 900 nautical miles at 8 knots with 10% fuel reserve. Fitted with two MAN i6 730hp engines, she is optimised for adventure, with reserve power to reach 20 knots when required. Designed by the Micad naval architectural office, her displacement hull was specifically developed to optimise cruising range and efficiency. Robust and quiet with high freeboard, she has modern, flowing lines and extensive open air living areas juxtaposed with enclosed spaces bathed in light from generous glazing. The Grand Trawler 62’s spacious accommodation areas are…

The event is held annually to recognise and celebrate New Zealand’s very best marinas. Gulf Harbour – based north of Auckland – is the country’s largest privately-owned marina and judges said it was a genuine credit to its management team. “Gulf Harbour Marina has a diverse offering and is well-managed. The team makes great use of what it has. Other private marinas could strive to emulate the model.” Westhaven Marina was also highly commended by judges for successfully operating an 1,800-berth marina in a very challenging environment. “There are a large number of disruptive projects underway at Westhaven, and what this team has achieved is remarkable,” said the panel. “It has high levels of customer satisfaction and the team approach is a strength.” The boatyard at Whangamata Marina was named…

Straight-grained, devoid of knots, beautiful to look at and blessed with natural oils that leave it highly resistant to warping or rotting in even the harshest saltwater environments, teak’s position as the world’s premiere decking material is well-deserved – and a big reason why it’s still held in such high esteem among boat buyers. But teak’s positive qualities also come with a range of caveats. Its high (and growing) cost, along with mounting concerns about the sustainability of the old-growth teak harvest have left boatbuilders and boaties looking increasingly to alternative decking materials. Some of these modern alternatives not only compete favourably against teak, but offer real advantages over the old gold standard. The very best teak comes from the old-growth forests of Myanmar. There, an ideal balance of soil…

Our very nice 14ft Paper Tiger had served us well for about 15 years, but it wasn’t getting enough use. Besides, I wanted a jib and a big, scary downwind sail. I check TradeMe regularly for boats (it’s a sickness) and in January 2019 I saw the perfect candidate – a 16ft Ross 490 – good for two to four people depending on the wind strength. It had a big roachy main, jib and gennaker – complete with a launch tube. But the floor was rotten. Of course I bought it – and for only the second time in 10 years I tidied the garage to create room to begin the project. Murray Ross designed the 4.9m Ross 490 while competing in the Jolly boats – he found the ‘more…

Speedwell is owned by Bob and Kerry Glen and she’s been something of a labour of love over the past few years. Rather than ordering a production boat from overseas and waiting for it to arrive, ready to go, Bob spent many hours at Hutcheson Boatbuilders in Tauranga, alongside Elliott, working on finishing his own boat. It’s not the first time: Bob built his first boat, a Pied Piper, in his 20s. After owning a Young 88 (which he also helped build) and the first Young 99 in the 1980s, he’s been without a boat for a couple of decades. Now, though he is “not retired – just too busy to go to work”, he decided the time was right to get exactly the boat he wanted. Bob originally planned…

Drawn by Bill Dixon, known for creating space and light, the big volume C390 is pitched as a family sport cruiser. Carrying its beam well forward, its hull windows – responsible for the light-filled cabins below decks – and plumb bow give it a distinctively European profile. Share Bliss is the first C390 in New Zealand. GO WITH THE FLOW A feature of the C390 is single-level living and entertaining. The cockpit and saloon merge together seamlessly, one flowing into the other when the glass bi-fold doors are opened. A large awning window further connects inside with outside, while the electrically-operated fabric sunroof completely opens the cockpit to the sky. The cockpit is set up for socialising, but also for enjoying the sunshine. The rear lounge features an electrically-operated backrest…

TICKETS TO THE 2021 Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show will be available online from December 1. Online tickets automatically go into a special draw for a Viking Kayaks’ ultimate fishing kayak package, worth over $6,500, and give a second, bonus entry into the popular Surtees/Yamaha Grand Prize draw. The 2021 Viking Kayaks’ prize package includes a fully-equipped and accessorised Profish Reload fishing kayak with Raymarine electronics and a powerful Bixpy electric motor. Tickets bought online also qualify for a Free Bonus Entry into the show’s 2021 Surtees/Yamaha Grand Prize draw worth over $200,000, doubling your chances of winning. Tickets to the Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show also make great Xmas presents or stocking fillers and all tickets bought before 5pm on December 18 go into a special draw for a…

THE MARITIME AND scientific communities have set themselves the ambitious target to map the entire ocean floor by 2030 and Volvo Penta is helping to power a novel fleet of unmanned surface robots for subsea exploration. Volvo Penta and Danfoss Editron have been selected by Grovfjord Mek Verksted (GMV) shipyard to power the world’s first fleet of autonomous robot exploration vessels for commercial use. The seafloor analysis and oceanography company – Ocean Infinity – has invested in the ‘Armada’ fleet of super-advanced unmanned vessels. The fleet will be made up of two sizes of vessels, both 100% diesel-electric. Each vessel will be able to launch separate remotely-operated underwater vehicles (ROVs). These unmanned submarine-like ROVs will reach depths of up to 6,000m and carry out surveys on pipeline routes, as well…

FOLLOWING THE TAIRUA Boat Show in August, Balex Marine has seen extremely high demand for the Balex Dock. The team has been busy installing new Balex Floating Dock systems around the country and also retrofitting Balex Automatic Boat Loaders to existing floating docks in waterways, lakes and marinas. “The Balex Dock and the recent launch of an extended product range of Balex systems able to launch and retrieve boats up to 9.5m long gets more people out on the water safely,” says Balex MD Daniel Given. Launching and retrieving a boat onto a floating dock can be tricky but the Balex Dock enables people to use a floating dock at the touch of a button. Balex Automatic Boat Loader technology is now patented in USA, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.…

With a modular deck plan, this is Sealegs’ most customisable model to date. Almost 30 have already sold in New Zealand and overseas. Three different layout options are offered in two different models. This one is the 7.5m All-Round, set up for a bit of everything: fun fishing, casual tow sports and family days on the water. As its name suggests, the 7.5m Social has an even more sociable deck plan, complete with sink, refrigerator and wraparound cockpit seating. These two variants have sold in roughly equal numbers and the 7.5m is also produced in Sealegs’ Electrosol (electric drive) versions. With the 7.5m Sealegs has upped the ante when it comes to style. The review boat has the Premier Accents package featuring fresh new colours and high-quality, water-resistant upholstery with…

Known as A-68a, the iceberg measures some 150km long by 48km wide and 200m deep. It is currently travelling through an area known as ‘Iceberg Alley’ and is now just a few hundred kilometres away from South Georgia’s southwestern shore. When it broke from the Larsen C shelf in 2017, the iceberg weighed an estimated trillion tons – the third biggest ever recorded. If it runs aground near the island, say scientists, it could remain there for a decade, disrupting not only South Georgia’s economy but also the region’s ecosystem. It might create a barrier to the resident penguin and seal populations’ foraging routes, hampering their ability to feed their young. Scientists also point out that the monster running aground near South Georgia could have some ‘positive’ impacts: it appears…

They were the builders’ utes and courier vans of the Hauraki Gulf. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, sailing cutters delivered anything they could to communities scattered around the shores of the Gulf, and on the islands within it. And returned with mail and farm products. In those days, the water was the road to these communities, and quicker and more reliable than transport across the land. The hard-working cutters soon found themselves out-paced by pocket steamers – and these took over regular routes carrying passengers or time-sensitive cargo, like milk. But for more than 50 years, the cutters were everyman’s transport option. And then, like much related to the age of sail, they faded away. Into memories, museums, paintings and romantic books. The advent of diesel engines was…

Puzzle no.277 Across 1. Old name for port side of vessel (8) 6. European fish of perch family (4) 8. Small pleasure boat operated by foot-power (6) 9. Remove cargo from vessel (6) 10. Jet ____ – small fast pleasure watercraft (4) 11. Decompression sickness that can affect divers (3,5) 12. Small marine fish of herring family (5) 14. Call _____ – these are used for identification in marine radio communication (5) 16. Arm of Mediterranean Sea between Balkan Peninsula and Italy (8) 20. Compass direction (4) 22. Surname of NZ sailor and former Olympian in photo (6) 23. Not left behind on wharf! (6) 24. Front part of ship (4) 25. Sea cows found in tropical coastal waters of Atlantic (8) Down 2. Anchor is this when cable is…