GARRETT IS CHAMP
After three days of hard-fought racing, Sally Garrett and her Royal Akarana Yacht Club team triumphed in the 2019 NZ Women’s National Keelboat Championship. It was her first title after 20 attempts.
The all-female event attracted 13 teams.
Heading into Sunday’s final, only a handful of points separated the top seven teams, setting up a real grandstand finish to the regatta – sailed in a solid 15-20 knots of breeze.
As part of the prize, Garrett and her team were invited to the NZ Open National Keelboat Championships at the RNZYS at the end of April.
Waikawa gets green light
The marina extension to the northwest of the existing marina will provide an additional 252 berths ranging in size from 10–25m, some of which will cater for multihull vessels. Both Waikawa and Picton Marinas having operated at capacity for several years, and the growing waiting lists at both underscore the Port’s decision to extend.
Says Port Marlborough CEO Rhys Welbourn: “We are hugely excited to head into the next stage of this project, following 10 years of careful planning and considerable consultation with community partners and stakeholders. Te Ātiawa, the Marlborough Berth and Mooring Association, neighbours, community groups, customers and other stakeholders have had a lot of input.
“The North-West Extension will not only fulfil recreational demand in our marinas, but also has a wider economic benefit for the Marlborough region, pre- and post-construction. The economic impact of the marina expansion is estimated to bring an annual additional expenditure of $2.4m to the region.”
Sustainability has been a key consideration in the design.
The marina extension site is in deeper water than existing berths at Waikawa, requiring pile and panel breakwater. The breakwater panels provide space above the seabed for continual water exchange within the marina basin, improving underwater ecology while at the same time protecting vessels in the marina from wave action.
Testing of the engineering design concept has been thorough and has included physical modelling of options at the Queensland Government Hydraulics Laboratory. Other specific considerations include future sea-level rise, coastal processes, water quality and marine ecology including a kaimoana management plan; and effects on landscape, visual amenity and natural character.
Detailed design of the marina will reflect the style of the newer areas of Picton Marina (near the launching ramp) and will include a public amenity area at the northern end, where aesthetic design has been assisted by Te Ātiawa.
Ongoing operation of the marina will incorporate low energy LED lighting, use of recycled water for flushing toilets, a rubbish recycling compound and provision of charging facilities for electric cars and boats. The finished marina will ensure ongoing public access to the northern shoreline and there will be a walkway along the northern breakwater.
The first few berths are expected to be available early 2021, ahead of the America’s Cup. New berth holders can register their interest now by contacting
service@msmarinas.co.nz
A BETTER MARINA STRATEGY
Auckland boaties are being urged to stand up and make their voices heard in a bid to guarantee many of the ‘water access rights’ they currently take for granted.
The call comes from Euan Little, the deputy chair of the Auckland Marina Users Association (AMUA), who fears that plans by Auckland Council’s Panuku Development may see many of the city’s marinas negatively impacted.
“Panuku’s proposed strategy for the recreational marina assets on Council land has been a controversial issue for many years,” says Little, “and we’ve fought it since it was first floated because it would see the sale of prime waterfront land for residential/commercial development. That would severely affect the way marinas operate and even impact boaties’ access to the water. And it’s not just the marinas – boat ramps used by Joe Public are also potentially impacted.”
The Council currently owns – or has interests in – six marinas in the greater Auckland region. They are Gulf Harbour, Hobsonville’s Westpark, Half Moon Bay, Westhaven, Viaduct Harbour and the Silo Marina. But Little points out that many of the boat facilities scattered around the region are also on Council land, and if the Panuku strategy was to go ahead, these may also be compromised.
“We are talking about boat ramps, boat storage, trailer parking, dry stacks, haul-outs, maintenance and refit areas, boat sheds from Pakiri and Port Albert in the north to Whakatiwai and Clarks Beach in the south, including the islands in the Gulf and Great Barrier.
“Within this area are more than 49 boat clubs servicing the local needs of learn-to-sail and boat handling, plus boat storage and some boat ramp maintenance. They have around 15,000 members, with thousands more casual boaties who use the same facilities and do not belong to the local club.”
For the moment, though, things are on hold. At a recent Council meeting Panuku’s marina strategy was set aside following submissions from AMUA and other stakeholders. Instead, the Council’s Planning Committee has adopted a new resolution. It will:
• endorse the development of a region-wide marina strategy prioritising the Council-owned marinas including Gulf Harbour, Hobsonville (Westpark), Half Moon Bay and Westhaven.
• commence the strategy process with stakeholder and mana whenua and mataawaka engagement that identifies relevant information, needs and how urgent issues can be prioritized.
• agree that Auckland Council is a creature of statute, which adheres to the intent of empowering acts even where those acts are inconsistent with any precinct plans at individual marinas.
This motion was carried by 17 votes to 3.
Little says the AMUA is strongly advocating the establishment of a Steering Committee to oversee the development of the new regionwide strategy – one that includes all stakeholders.
“We want all non-member users to come in and tell us what they want for their recreational marina assets as well. Anglers, board sailors, kayakers – everyone – and especially those who do not belong to any boat club, marina or similar facility.
“Please contact us so that we can identify your needs and desires. This will enable us to present Council with the real facts needed to be incorporated in the new region-wide recreational marina strategy.” For more information, contact Euan Little, Deputy Chair, Auckland Marina Users Association Inc., at little@ihug.co.nz
MARITIME CHARITIES BENEFIT GRANT
Maritime groups are expected to benefit from a charitable initiative which saw $1million donated to almost 50 organisations – including Coastguard, surf life-saving and other marine charities.
The Million Dollar Mission is an initiative developed by social enterprise ‘The Trusts’ West Auckland, which redistributes the profits from the retail sales of food and beverages through its hospitality venues and off-license outlets around the region.
New Zealanders were able to vote online for the cause of their choice with each vote providing $5 to the group to help complete projects of benefit to the local community. Some 200,000 votes were cast.
The Trusts CEO Simon Wickham says maritime charities were some of the biggest winners in this year’s round of funding, with their combined donations reaching more than $168,000.
One of the charities, Coastguard Northern Region, required funding to build a new vessel suitable for the Manukau Harbour. Another recipient, the Hobsonville Yacht Club, will be able to purchase new low-maintenance boats for teaching children to sail, while the Karekare Surf Club and United North Piha Lifeguards will both invest in new clubroom infrastructures thanks to their grants.
The Million Dollar Mission is in its third year of operation and has provided $3million in funding to almost 100 community groups since it began. Wickham says the initiative is an example of how the licensing model is able to support charities while at the same time better manage the sale of alcohol.
SEALEGS SETS RECORDS
Twenty-seven Sealegs craft recently landed on Malaysia’s Langkawi Island, setting two records in the process.
Belonging to the Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM) and the Fire Department (BOMBA), the boats represent the largest assembled fleet of government-owned Sealegs anywhere in the world. Secondly, theirs was the longest trip undertaken by a fleet of amphibious craft (an achievement now registered in the Malaysian Book of Records).
The fleet took off from Melaka State and travelled more than 700km north along the East coast of Malaysia to Langkawi Island, making pre-planned stops to demonstrate the advantages of Sealegs technology for emergency response.
The Langkawi Amphibious Craft Expedition, as it was called, was organised and led by APM’s commissioner Datuk Roslan Wahab and coincided both with APM’s 67th operational anniversary and the 2019 Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA’19). The expedition’s purpose was demonstrating the capability and efficiency of amphibious craft for responding to Malaysia’s increasing number of coastal emergency situations. www.sealegs.com
Blanche Cook
Blanche and husband Ian backed their instincts when, more than 30 years ago, they established Yachting Developments, forging it into one of the world’s most respected composite specialists and one of the last family-owned superyacht yards.
Blanche was an integral member of the Yachting Developments family. Owner, mentor, mother-figure and friend, her larger-than-life presence pervaded the entire yard. She was heavily involved in New Zealand’s marine community, serving as vice chairperson of the NZ Marine Export Group, supporting the yard’s busy apprenticeship scheme and providing her support to a wide range of yachting causes, particularly the rescue and restoration of numerous classic yachts.
She was particularly involved with the rescue and restoration of numerous classic yachts, including Ranger which was restored by the team at Yachting Developments and is now regularly raced around Auckland.
John Salthouse
The Salthouse name is synonymous with New Zealand sailing and boating and John Salthouse was a leading figure.
He founded Salthouse Boatbuilders in 1956 in a makeshift tin shed at Stanley Bay on the northern shores of the Waitemata Harbour, but the business soon moved to Greenhithe where it remains to this day.
The company builds luxury and high-performance yachts and powerboats for customers worldwide. Salthouse Boatbuilders is still a family business, now run by sons Greg and Chris (Curly) Salthouse.
Mick Ashcroft
Many of New Zealand’s sailors got to the Olympics with the help of Graeme ‘Mick’ Ashcroft. He played a leading hand in securing funding for talented youngsters to help them get to overseas events, and was heavily involved with the St John’s Rotary, offering scholarships to young sailors since 1996.
But Mick’s commitment went beyond securing money and he regularly caught up with sailors and their families. He kept photos on the walls of his office of all the sailors he’d helped.
NEW BRIDGE FOR WYNYARD QUARTER
Plans are afoot to replace the Wynyard Crossing pedestrian bridge that links the city centre to the waterfront with a new, more reliable bridge.
The existing Wynyard Crossing – a critical transport connection – was installed as a temporary structure for the 2011 Rugby World Cup. It’s reaching the end of its useful life and needs frequent and costly repairs to keep it running smoothly. Auckland mayor Phil Goff says the new bridge will operate more efficiently and cater for the greater number of people who live, work and pass through Wynyard Quarter, as well as the surge of visitors expected to be spending time on the waterfront for the America’s Cup.
Panuku Development’s Allan Young says the replacement will also be more visually spectacular and larger than the current bridge. “The ‘double leaf’ design is reminiscent of modern yacht masts or the wings of a large seabird. It will be a landmark addition to an already thriving neighbourhood and will be something all Aucklanders can be proud of.”
The proposed bridge is expected to be 60% lighter to lift than a single arm design, using far less energy to operate. Maintenance can be carried out on each arm separately, adding to the efficiency of the structure. It can also be built using smaller, less intrusive cranes.
Providing resource consent is granted by mid-2019, construction will start in early 2020 and be completed at the end of the year. During construction, a temporary pontoon bridge will be in place for pedestrians to move between Te Wero Island and Viaduct Harbour.
ZEPHYR NATIONALS
Auckland’s Helgard Dannauser is the new Zephyr champ following the class Nationals held at the Tauranga Yacht and Power Boat Club in March. The regatta attracted 55 entrants from around the country, as well as an Australian Zephyr enthusiast. Though sailed in mostly light conditions the racing was competitive and produced nine different line honour winners over the four-day series.
PALMA MEDALS
Kiwi sailors claimed three medals at the recent Princess Sofia Regatta in Palma, including gold and bronze in the Finn class, to finish as the second-most successful nation at the event.
Andy Maloney won his first major regatta in the Finn class since switching from the Laser. Josh Junior was third. Alex Maloney and Molly Meech collected another silver in the 49erFX, following on from their second placing at February’s World Cup Series event in Miami.
The three medals saw New Zealand finish level with the United States as the second-most successful nations in Palma behind Great Britain, which snared eight medals.
TITANIUM MAKES HISTORY
Chris Skinner became the first person to win back-toback handicap honours when he and co-skipper Shane Bellingham won the SSANZ Round New Zealand Twohanded Race.
The pair circumnavigated the country on their Thompson 38 Titanium, taking 13 days and 22 hours to complete the four legs. They took line honours in the second and fourth legs, fighting off Damon Joliffe and Josh Tucker in Motorboat II (Elliott 10.5) who won both line and handicap in legs 1 and 3.
Titanium took control of the race on the second and longest leg from Mangonui to Stewart Island (930 nm), winning by a comfortable 22 hours on handicap. They finished 11 hours ahead of Motorboat II overall on corrected time after the final leg.
Skinner competed in the 2012 edition of the round New Zealand race on Truxton (Tiller 10.5), winning legs 2 and 4. For full results visit www.ssanz.co.nz/results/
