Boating NZ August 2021

Over the last few years I’ve observed the interminable hiatus surrounding the development of Waiheke Island’s new Kennedy Point Marina with bemusement. An ongoing saga driven by objectors, detractors, nay-sayers and protesters – and I must confess I’ve not always understood their motives/methods. Things descended to a new low in recent weeks, with construction vehicles being sabotaged, building crews/security personnel being abused – and activists deliberately (illegally) entering the construction site, potentially endangering themselves. But perhaps the most cynical ploy of all came from the young lady who disrobed completely, entered the water and ‘insinuated’ her naked self against two gents in the water working on a cable. It’s hard to label this action as anything other than mischievous and provocative. Protesting is one thing – why was it necessary…

FRIGID SPEEDSTERS The event was convened by Don Weir – of the Timaru Yacht and Powerboat Club – who says Lake Tekapo racing will now become an annual event, falling under the umbrella of the existing Roaring 40s series. “This event (races 7 and 8 of the 9-round series) is usually held offshore at Timaru, but the weather at this time of the year often doesn’t cooperate – it’s too rough. So rather than cancelling the event, we elected to hold one of the two scheduled races on the lake where the conditions are a little more benign.” As it happened, the second race did take place the following day, though conditions were marginal, says Don. Held under the auspices of the New Zealand Boat Marathon Commission, the Roaring 40s…

Boating NZ met the 645CC at Tauranga. Mat Cranswick and Brady Wallace travelled up from the Extreme factory in Whakatane for the review. They were supported by a team from Tauranga’s MasterTech Marine, which launched a very impressive Extreme 915 we would use as photo boat. Extreme Boats is a perennial boat show award winner, testament to its build quality, attention to detail, specification level and innovation. The company listens to its customers, continuously refining and improving its designs to reflect owner feedback. And crucially for boat show awards success, Extreme pay close attention to the judging criteria. Unsurprisingly, the 645CC attracted considerable attention at the boat ramp. She’s a handsome vessel and packed to the gunwales with technology and features. Even the aluminium trailer is special, an Alloy-Tech, override-braked,…

Walking on land is not as effortless as sliding splendidly along under sail, or sitting at ease on your launch’s skipper’s chair. So it’s a good idea for cruising yachts and launches to have a pair (or two) of wheels aboard. But how to stow them while at sea? Where to find good models? Though folding bikes have become a common part of a cruising yacht’s inventory, they haven’t always been efficient or handy. For one thing, just about every bicycle I’ve seen on boats was rusted. Badly. Rust-dust and boat interiors don’t go well together. Also, bikes on boats have tended to be tricky to unfold, or awkward to ride, with their small wheels providing less gyroscopic stability. The new generation of folding bikes addresses these concerns. And what’s…

Flybridge cruisers offer three levels of living space and commanding views from the helm, but for the more adventurous there has to be a sturdy hull beneath, something that 60 years of building boats (18 years building Maritimos) has taught founder Bill Barry-Cotter and now his son Tom. Barry-Cotter’s been crafting luxury motor yachts for decades, so there’s vast experience and a successful methodology that goes into every Maritimo, a fact noticed by the more discerning cruiser keen to tackle the 36,000 nautical miles of Australia’s remote coastline. Given these credentials, it’s no surprise that Australia is home to some of the world’s finest long-range, cruising motor yachts. The M55 was launched at Australia’s Sanctuary Cove Boat Show in May – another sibling to the five-boat flybridge range of M51,…

The story and fortunes of ‘the Squaddie’, as it is affectionately known, have been tied to the quest for the America’s Cup ever since the first Kiwi tilt at the trophy, off the waters of Fremantle, Western Australia, in 1986–87. But the club has a much longer and broader history than that. While it may have celebrated its 150th birthday this year by defending its precious cup on the waters of the Waitematā, it has been the home of many other triumphs and disappointments, hard-fought campaigns, classic yachts, close racing, good times and shenanigans. Yachting writer Ivor Wilkins, editor of the club’s magazine Breeze, has brought together the century and a half of the club’s history in a book to be released in September, and this month the club will…