Boating NZ April 2020

I’ve been threatening to attend the NZ Antique & Classic Boat Show down at the South Island’s Lake Rotoiti for quite a few years – but never quite seem to get my suit together. This year, I’m pleased to report, I did manage to collect my suit – and what a treat! Throbbing V8s, gleaming mahogany, polished brass, the smell of coal-fired boilers and the attendant clouds of steam, temperamental Seagulls (not the feathered kind) – you’d be hard pressed to find a more exotic and diverse assembly of vessels anywhere in the country. I can’t decide which is more interesting: the character and history of the boats, or the history of the characters who own them. Either way, there’s no shortage of passion. I spent hours chatting to owners…

A deserved and unanimous winner which combines photographic beauty, composition, exquisite light and delicate colours. The winning photographer is Frenchman Greg Lecoeur – a former National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year winner. “The balletic rhythm of these crab-eater seals and the ethereal landscape of the pitted iceberg creates a composition that draws you into a corner of the world that few people have witnessed,” commented one judge. “A deserved and unanimous winner which combines photographic beauty, composition, exquisite light and delicate colours. Perfect poses from the seals make this a celebration of natural life and a most enduring image,” added another. The photo – titled Frozen Mobile Home – also won the top award in the Best Wide-Angle category. To shoot the picture Lecouer travelled to Antarctica on a…

A loggerhead turtle released from the Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town, South Africa a little over two years ago has made the most of her freedom, clocking up 37,000km since her release. Yoshi the turtle was fitted with a tracker when she was released, and recently turned up off Australia’s west coast. Her journey is a record – one of the longest migrations ever documented. She lived at the Cape Town aquarium for 20 years before being released back into the ocean. She was initially brought to the aquarium in 1997 following an injury to her shell – and she subsequently inspired the establishment of the facility’s intensive turtle rehabilitation programme. It treats and releases hundreds of sea turtles every year. Yoshi’s swim to Australia is possibly a return…

The Kings College team of Hamish McLaren, Oscar Little, Sam Scott and Walter Coop stormed home on the final day of the 2020 HARKEN National Secondary Schools Keelboat Championship in March to win in dominant fashion. Kings won three of the four gold fleet final races and finished second in the other to easily claim the national title. Skipper Hamish McLaren was understandably thrilled: “We were nice and relaxed out there today, full credit to the boys who worked really hard, we just stayed super-calm and sailed really well as a team. It feels cool to be national champions, we couldn’t be happier. A massive thank you to everyone at Kings who helped us get here, to HARKEN, and to the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron for putting on such…

The Cup is presented annually for the most outstanding cruise of any duration. Jim and his wife Karin were deemed worthy winners after their voyage to Auckland from the Mediterranean on their yacht Victoria. They left New Zealand (initially for Chile) in 2011. They built Victoria in Auckland and launched her in 1988. They’ve since sold her – in total she carried them some 150,000 miles. The Royal Cruising Club (RCC) was established in 1880 and is similar to the Cruising Club of America. RCC is best known for its extensive library of cruising information. It publishes (through Imray Publications) a wide range of cruising guides written or edited by club members. About 50 guides cover much of the world. Each year the club makes a number of awards at…

‘Letter of the month’ wins a Lamont wine prize pack We would love to hear your stories and thoughts on all things boating, with the ‘Letter of the month’ winning a Lamont wine prize pack* valued at $105. Send your letters/email to:editor@boatingnz.co.nz subject: ‘Letters to the editor’ or post to Boating New Zealand, P.O. Box 301063, Albany, Auckland 0752 Please make sure you include a delivery address and contact number with your letter. *Entrants must be 18 years of age or older.…