Boating NZ July 2022

It’s been slow coming, but winter seems to have finally arrived. In the South Island, ski fields opened after heavy snowfalls, and in the North Island we’ve had weeks of wet, stormy weather. For a boating magazine, prolonged bouts of bad weather pose challenges when it comes to featuring new vessels. Boatbuilders, importers and owners want to present their craft in the best possible light, so it’s not surprising they show little enthusiasm for on-water boat reviews when it’s blowing a gale and/or bucketing down with rain. Safety has to be considered as well. And from the magazine’s perspective, it’s very difficult to present a story in a visually appealing way when the boat and everything surrounding it is grey. Wind and rain make photography (and drone flying) virtually impossible,…

Hosted by the Napier Sailing Club, the 2022 Toyota Optimist & Starling National Championships proved an ideal opportunity to witness first-hand New Zealand’s next generation of sailing talent tack, gybe and luff their way closer to potential representation on the world stage. Classic Hawkes Bay sailing conditions over the Easter Weekend provided the ideal backdrop for the festival event, with 289 young sailors – plus families, support crew and volunteers – coming together to compete and celebrate youth sailing. The Napier location offered a rare opportunity to host the Optimist and Starling classes simultaneously and side-by-side in a single regatta for the first time. THE SAILING Conditions provided an ideal battleground for a final day head-to-head between two standout young sailors: Wakatere Boating Club’s William Mason and Charteris Bay Yacht…

The new foiling Candela P-8 Voyager recently debuted in Venice – it is designed to carry its passengers silently and comfortably through wake-sensitive areas, like Venice’s lagoon and canals or over delicate coral reefs, without leaving a trace. The P-8 Voyager has two to three times the range of other electric speedboats, but the foil technology’s biggest boon is to the fragile marine environment. Conventional speedboats use internal combustion engines (ICE) that burn large amounts of fossil fuel. Their hulls displace water, forming wakes that erode shorelines and damage coral reefs and other sensitive ecosystems. Other problems include oil spills, emissions, and noise pollution, known to adversely affect fish and other aquatic organisms. Candela’s electric P-8 Voyager barely leaves a trace on the water’s surface. Its hydrodynamically shaped foils leave…

Designed by Roberto Biscontini and Lorenzo Argento to create supreme luxury and refinement, the New Oceanis Yacht 60 continues Oceanis Yacht’s tradition of excellence in bluewater cruising. With a hull length of nearly 18m, the OC60 is set to deliver a stylish and sophisticated silhouette, while retaining its elegance and excellent performance. Below deck, the design offers a threecabin, three-head layout that is as attractive as ever, with impressive volume and ventilation. In addition to offering safety and comfort, the large cockpit and generous side decks provide a fantastic space for entertaining guests. A full kit of intuitive controls and navigational aids ensure easy sailing and single-handed expeditions. The Oceanis Yacht 60 features cutting-edge technology such as Beneteau Ship-Control for ease of use and the ultimate experience onboard. With a…

The 14 crew members chosen to sail on board Alinghi Red Bull Racing are all Swiss and all passionate sailors. Arnaud Psarofaghis – who’s been at the heart of the project since it started – knows them well: “Going on this adventure with friends I’ve known since childhood and people I’ve been working with for over 20 years is very exciting,” the 33-year-old Swiss sailor says. “Even if I haven’t necessarily sailed with them, this bond is a great advantage. We understand each other, which will make communication so much easier. And that’s vital, because on board, good communication is key. And off the boat too: we know when one of us is going through a rough patch, how to talk with them, and when… The only thing that counts…

When Barbara White and husband Rob commenced their circumnavigation from the UK on their elderly Oyster 406 Zoonie in 2015, they were armed with navigational tools, course certificates, and the latest communication technology. For Erling Tambs and wife Julie, who set off from Norway 87 years before them on their engineless, retired pilot cutter Teddy, preparations and equipment were wholly less robust. Nonetheless what unfolded were two remarkably similar voyages. Combining extracts from her blog, passages from Erling’s (recently republished) book The Cruise of the Teddy and an enthusiastic curiosity to learn more about the world, Barbara embarks on a journey across oceans, between cultures and through time. A Tale of Two Yachts offers an insight to lands and lives afar, while reflecting on what it means – and takes…