The Bay of Plenty & Coromandel’s own watersports news. Phone 07 578 0030

Octo

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Awe inspiring experie

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Powercats on show

Chance to get on the w

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please take one

Fiji to Vanuatu

Build up to the Tauranga Boat eXpo

02 WATERLINE

The Bay of Plenty’s own boating, fishing,

diving, yachting and watersports news.

Waterline advertising & editorial deadlines Edition Deadline November2011 14October December2011 2December

Foradvertising,callSunMedia’sspecialistmarineconsultantJo Dempsey 07 928 3041 email jo@thesun.co.nzFollow us on facebook

www.facebook.com/Waterlinemagazine

PH 07-578 0030 FAX 07-571 1116PO Box 240, Tauranga.

1 The Strand, Tauranga

email: brian@thesun.co.nz

HIGH TIDESSEPTEMBER1 Th 3:02 0 9:19 2 15:21 0 21:40 22 Fr 3:52 0 10:11 2 16:13 0.1 22:31 23 Sa 4:42 0 11:03 1.9 17:06 0.1 23:24 1.94 Su 5:34 0.1 11:58 1.9 18:01 0.2 5 Mo 0:17 1.8 6:27 0.1 12:55 1.8 18:58 0.36 Tu 1:14 1.8 7:23 0.2 13:55 1.8 19:58 0.37 We 2:12 1.7 8:22 0.3 14:55 1.7 20:59 0.48 Th 3:13 1.6 9:23 0.3 15:55 1.7 22:00 0.49 Fr 4:14 1.6 10:23 0.3 16:52 1.7 22:58 0.410 Sa 5:12 1.6 11:20 0.3 17:44 1.7 23:51 0.311 Su 6:05 1.6 12:11 0.3 18:32 1.7 12 Mo 0:40 0.3 6:54 1.7 12:58 0.3 19:16 1.713 Tu 1:25 0.3 7:38 1.7 13:41 0.3 19:58 1.814 We 2:06 0.2 8:19 1.7 14:22 0.3 20:37 1.715 Th 2:45 0.2 8:58 1.7 15:00 0.3 21:15 1.716 Fr 3:23 0.2 9:36 1.7 15:38 0.3 21:52 1.717 Sa 3:59 0.3 10:13 1.7 16:16 0.4 22:29 1.718 Su 4:36 0.3 10:52 1.7 16:56 0.4 23:07 1.619 Mo 5:15 0.3 11:32 1.6 17:38 0.4 23:47 1.620 Tu 5:57 0.3 12:16 1.6 18:24 0.5 21 We 0:32 1.6 6:43 0.4 13:05 1.6 19:14 0.522 Th 1:22 1.5 7:35 0.4 13:59 1.6 20:10 0.523 Fr 2:19 1.6 8:31 0.4 14:57 1.6 21:08 0.424 Sa 3:20 1.6 9:31 0.3 15:56 1.7 22:07 0.325 Su 4:22 1.6 10:30 0.3 16:53 1.8 23:05 0.326 Mo 5:22 1.7 11:28 0.2 17:48 1.8 27 Tu 0:01 0.2 6:19 1.8 12:23 0.1 18:42 1.928 We 0:55 0.1 7:14 1.9 13:17 0.1 19:34 229 Th 1:47 0 8:07 2 14:10 0 20:26 230 Fr 2:39 -0.1 8:59 2 15:02 0 21:18 228 Fr 1:25 0 7:47 2 13:50 0.1 20:04 1.929 Sa 2:17 -0.1 8:40 2 14:44 0.1 20:58 1.930 Su 3:08 -0.1 9:33 2 15:37 0.1 21:50 1.931 Mo 3:59 0 10:25 2 16:30 0.1 22:43 1.8

OCTOBER 1 Sa 3:29 -0.1 9:51 2 15:55 0 22:10 1.92 Su 4:20 0 10:44 1.9 16:48 0.1 23:03 1.93 Mo 5:12 0 11:39 1.9 17:43 0.2 23:57 1.84 Tu 6:05 0.1 12:34 1.8 18:40 0.2 5 We 0:53 1.7 7:00 0.2 13:32 1.8 19:38 0.36 Th 1:52 1.6 7:58 0.3 14:31 1.7 20:37 0.47 Fr 2:52 1.6 8:58 0.4 15:28 1.7 21:36 0.48 Sa 3:52 1.6 9:58 0.4 16:23 1.7 22:32 0.49 Su 4:49 1.6 10:54 0.4 17:14 1.7 23:24 0.310 Mo 5:41 1.6 11:45 0.4 18:01 1.7 11 Tu 0:12 0.3 6:28 1.6 12:31 0.4 18:45 1.712 We 0:55 0.3 7:11 1.7 13:14 0.3 19:26 1.713 Th 1:36 0.3 7:52 1.7 13:54 0.3 20:05 1.714 Fr 2:14 0.2 8:31 1.7 14:32 0.3 20:43 1.715 Sa 2:51 0.2 9:08 1.7 15:11 0.3 21:21 1.716 Su 3:27 0.2 9:46 1.7 15:49 0.4 21:58 1.617 Mo 4:05 0.2 10:24 1.7 16:29 0.4 22:37 1.618 Tu 4:44 0.3 11:04 1.7 17:12 0.4 23:18 1.6

Tauranga tide heights in metres. Bowentown: subtract 5 minutes from Tauranga (both HW and LW)

Katikati (Kauri Point): add 30 minutes to Tauranga (both HW and LW)Whitianga: High Water subtract 2 minutes from Tauranga HW tide;

Low Water add 2 minutes to Tauranga Low Water.

Every effort has been made to ensure that these times and tides are correct, no responsibility will be accepted for any inaccuracies, omissions, or misuse

or misinterpretation of the values for tides and times published. Times used in the tide predictions are in New Zealand Standard Time (NZST1).

WATERLINE 03RYA CERTIFICATION

Tauranga teacher Roy Pearson is the only person in the Bay of Plenty able to take the internationally

recognised Royal Yachting Association sail courses.

The former RNZN seamanship instructor has also been taking the Coastguard courses over recent years and says the practically oriented RYA courses complement the theory side of the Coastguard Day Skipper, Boatmaster and Coastal Skipper courses.

The RYA courses are concentrating on the practical ability rather than theoretical knowledge, says Roy.

“The coastguard course will tell you how to anchor the boat. The RYA course makes you do it, and you don’t get the certificate until you demonstrate in the exam that you are able to anchor the boat satisfactorily and in person,” says Roy.

“The two do go hand in hand because you need to know the theory, and some people learn better practically.”

It’s a ‘watch me’, ‘your turn’ approach that means most of the courses are spent afloat. The classroom is the Ocean & Earth Sail-ing Academy Birdshall 30, named Ruach.

It underpins Roy’s philosophy on sailing as the name is Hebrew for breath or wind depending on the translation.

“Sailing is about life, having fun, doing it safely - which is why I like to teach people to sail.”

With a little bit of education lives can be saved, says Roy.

He points to recent boating deaths in the region, a girl in Taupo, a teenager near Rotorua and a man on Tauranga harbour where people died, when a little bit of edu-cation might have made a difference.

“It happens all too often,” says Roy. “Then there are all the close calls that we never hear about. People go out, make mistakes, recover from it and learn. With a little bit of education it could be a bit safer.”

The RYA courses are internationally rec-ognised, and provide certification up to the level of skippering sail or motor powered yachts in international waters.

But they begin at a local level, learning basic sailing skills; steering and rope han-dling as part of a day out on the water. The Start Yachting certificate is two days sailing.

A step up is the competent crew certificate that can be presented to a skipper anywhere

and he’ll know the holder is an effective racing yacht crewmember who can handle sails and lines without getting underfoot. That takes either three weekends or five days.

The skipper’s course is a week on the boat day and night. Most of the course fee is boat hire and it prices can be negotiated if there is already a boat available.

The RYA courses are NZQA accredited and unit standards are available, enabling them to slot into a variety of educational regimes. Roy’s garage classroom was recently filled with 18 surf life guards undertaking VHF radio operator’s course.

The Department of Conservation requires any of its boat handlers to hold a NZ Coastguard’s Boatmaster’s certificate.

Peter Head at Elements Watersports can teach the RYA power boat courses.

RYA certification in Tauranga

Roy Pearson.

Phone 0800 529253 www.vikingkayaks.co.nz

The guys at Viking Kayaks are your kayak fishing experts.

You will definitely benefit from our combined 30 years in using and making fishing kayaks - we know our stuff. This means Stephen and Grant will give you the best personal advice and the right gear, so that you can be experiencing the fun of catching fish safely by next weekend! See us at the Tauranga Boat Show

04 WATERLINE TAURANGA BOAT SALES

Riviera 40- ‘Mystique’, a lady of elegance.World wide acceptance shows that the Riviera 40 is as comfortable on some of the world’s great harbours as it is around the South Pacific’s

rugged coastline.

These Aussie’s know how to build boats, this Riviera 40 flybridge is everything that you would expect, a true 40 foot on the waterline and over 46 feet overall including the generous swim board, with ample beam of just under 15 ft.

The Riviera 40 is a proven offshore game boat for the sport fisherman who enjoys posi-tive handling and a sleek comfortable ride whilst in full comfort.

The cockpit features in particular a large fish bin capable of a handling a moderate yellow fin tuna, huge underfloor stowage areas for rods, and dive gear (as well as the all important BBQ for the entertaining), further lockers under each gunwale for marina berth lines and other gear, lure and tackle stowage within the salon bulkhead aft, a visible live bait tank in the transom, and a wide door leading through the transom out onto that big duckboard .

The bridge offers complete clear visibility to the bow, and aft to the cockpit when needed to see what the crew and in particular

what your angle is doing, manoeuvrability is par excellence with two Caterpillar 455hp diesel and silky smooth electronic gearboxes ensure almost seamless changes.

She’s no slouch either offering a speedy cruise of 22-23 knots and a maximum of 27 knots, and when it comes to berthing as if twin engines wasn’t enough there’s the bow thruster providing additional confidence.

Interior is luxurious, leather abounds in the air conditioned salon which also provides additional sleeping with a pull out divan double, all complimented with the beauti-fully appointed full gloss cherry timber finish.

The galley is just two steps down, and very spacious , with an L-shaped counter that has room to prepare, a flush- two-burner ceramic element stove, a convection/microwave oven

opposite, a generous refrigerator and separate domestic freezer underneath the counter right next to the all important dishwasher, which is a standard feature. You won’t go thirsty either Mystique can provide further fresh water through her watermaking de salination system. Though it's a 'galley down' design, you are not so isolated that you can't carry on a conversation with the others in the saloon.

Entertainment isn’t overlooked either with full digital Sky TV on tap, CD, and DVD plus large surround sound system and sub woofer being available.

The master stateroom in the bow features a full island berth with ensuite access, there are hanging lockers on either side and cabinets above the berth, plus huge storage under-neath. The guest cabin on the starboard side is a special configuration, with over under bunks and an additional foldaway single berth if needed, all cabins throughout boast good natural light and headroom.

While I could write away to my hearts content on this stunning example it’s not quite the same as actually seeing the item, so here’s an invitation, if she appeals to your curiosity then please come and have a look, ....I’m sure you won’t be disappointed.

To make an appointment contact Brett Eaton Tauranga Boat Sales 0274 592 982

order nowfor summerand secure pre christmas delivery

0800 sealegs sealegs.com

WATERLINE 05TAURANGA BOAT SALES

Sulphur Point MarinaNext to Burnsco07 571 8443

thecrew@taurangaboatsales.co.nz

Tauranga Bridge Marina Mount Maunganui07 575 0512

WL1

109

kw T

gab

oat

www.taurangaboatsales.co.nz

OLiver 4000,1997, realistic vendor Wants To Upgrade to Newer/Larger Boat, Built to but not in survey, 430hp volvo TAMD 72A, Bow Thruster, Twin Station, Three Doubles & Two Single Berths, raytheon radar, raytheon & Apelco Sounders, Furuno GPS, Plotter, Potential Charter Boat. Trade up’s considered. Whitianga berth available Ian Thomas 0274 976 010 Present Offers

HiLL 13MTr ALLOy CAT, 1999, 2x yanmar 6cyls 350hp engines, previously in MSA survey 25Pax, Hydraulic steering from flybridge, two single & two double berths, 6’8” headroom, a vessel well worth the look. Huge cockpit, commercial potential or great family fishing and diving - your choice or both! Plus GST (if any) and Sulphur Point berth available. Brett Eaton 0274 592 982 Present Offers

CArey 11.5M Trawler, Launched 1973, Gardner 5LW Diesel, 70HP. Simrad electronics incl. vetus Bowthruster, GPS Plotter, radar, Depth and Autopilot. Unmatched care and presentation - no expense has been spared in equipping and maintaining the classic trawler. Must be seen to be appreciated. Finance Available. Will Look At All Trades! Own this boat today!Brian Kent 021 644 091 Present Offers

BerTrAM 31, Top example of this gamefising classic. Powered by twin 3116 Catapillars and fully game rigged including alloy tuna tower with controls, live bait tanks and much more. ideally suited for the serious fisherman who appreciates style and quality! Boat Must Be Sold- Present Offers. 12mtr Sulphur Point Berth Available.Ian Thomas 0274 976 010 Present Offers

Tauranga’s only on the water Boat Expo and Water Festival

Summer is coming, we are currently working with active buyers that may be looking for a boat like YOURS!

Talk To One of The Crew Today.

Contact: Ian Thomas 0274 976 010 Brett Eaton 0274 592 982 Brian Kent 021 644 091Email: thecrew@taurangaboatsales.co.nz

Website: www.taurangaboatsales.co.nz

On the Downtown Waterfront, TaurangaNovember 4th, 5th & 6th 2011

Two Tauranga Locations To Serve You:

06 WATERLINE TAURANGA BOAT EXPO

Visitors to the TMIA Bay Boat Expo in early November can expect to be entertained all day with displays both on

and off the water.

Demonstrations from BOP Coast Rowing ‘Have a Go’, the Coastguard, Port of Tauranga Pilot Boat, Dragon Boat racers and Paddleboats along with the adrenalin rush of powerboats, jet skis and water skiing demos are all part of the programme for the boat show and water festival being organised for the southern end of The Strand reclamation.

“The new venue provides more space for exhibitors and visitors and with direct access to Tauranga’s Downtown shopping area is an ideal opportunity for families and serious boaties to take in the wide variety of exhibits and activities on display,” says TMIA chairman Brian Kent.

On the water, Tauranga Boat Sales will have a range of pre-loved launches on display with a boat to fit every boating requirement and budget.

As well as the range of boats on display at the pontoons, there will be trailer boats on shore, with a wide range of New Zealand

builders bringing their newest lines for the weekend.

There are on-shore dealer and manu-facturer exhibits, seminars and the opportunity to get hands on with a number of interactive exhibits.

One of the major kayaking highlights

will be the Profish 400, being displayed by Viking Kayaks. This new product combines the best features from both the legendary Profish 440 and Espri Angler kayaks. Light, stable and very manageable, the latest design was finalised after hours on

the water by New Zealand’s most respected kayak fisherman – Stephen Tapp.

Discounts and advice will be readily available from the exhibitors including the likes of John Clarke from Stelth Lures who believes the quality and clarity of their lures make them the best on the market.

This year’s expo opens on Friday, Novem-ber 4 and is open from 10am to 6pm Friday and Saturday and then Sunday 10am to 4pm.

A full list of exhibitors and demonstra-tions is regularly updated on the Expo website: www.boatexpo.co.nz

The move to the new site has brought a positive response from exhibitors, says Brian.

“The Expo has grown to an extent where we had to look to the larger venue,” says Brian. “Along with visitors from the greater Bay of Plenty and Waikato regions, we are promoting the event to people from further away, who might like to make a weekend of it in Tauranga.”

The event is organised by the Tauranga Marine Industry Association and Brian says this year the committee has focused on creating a user-friendly plan that will allow people to wander through the site with Tauranga’s harbour in the background.

Boat Expo programme firming up

Tony Hawker of Challenger Boats and Brian Kent of Tauranga Boat Sales.

WATERLINE 07TAURANGA BOAT EXPO

How can I find more fish with my fishfinder? It’s the one question

asked more than any other in the Bay Marine Electronics shop.

It’s a simple question, but it can take hours to answer, says Bay Marine Electron-ics owner Rob McAllister.

“The solution seems like you need to be Einstein to understand it,” says Rob.

“We help each person as much as we can, but they have a difficult job.

“Most people’s brains are full after five minutes, and we have only scratched the surface.

“Some people bring in video cameras or voice recorders, which is a great idea.

“It’s the best way to remember how to find the biggest fish.

“Even experienced fishermen come in to talk about the latest feature on their sounders or to discuss the slightest change in sounder settings or transducer placement, and they catch more fish as a result.”

Those who haven’t yet come in to see BME and experience the best after sales

support, are encouraged to come down for a chat, says Rob.

“We are more than happy to go over the latest technology and give you some point-ers on how to use it.

“If you’re too busy to come down or are from out of town, we are holding a presen-tation at the Tauranga Boat Expo and Water Festival.”

“How to get the best from your fishfinder – is a not to be missed event for serious fish-

ermen, from kayakers to marlin hunters.” Graham Barrington from BME will be

delving into his 45 years experience, taking fishers through the basics of finding fish in the shallows, to the more advanced settings required for targeting fish in deep water.

“Afterwards you can visit our stand and play with the units we have on display.

“We’ll see you there – make sure you bring along your voice recorder or notebook.”

One simple question

By Rob McAllister

Graham Barrington from BME.

08 WATERLINE VANUATU

Vanuatu - one for the bucket list!We met Mike and Marnie from the US at Great

Barrier Island two years ago when we cruised into Katherine Bay and anchored near their 55ft Simonis catamaran Shellette and have become good friends.

In August we sailed from Fiji to Vanuatu with Mike and Marnie and their friend Mike Boggess also from the US.

Prior to leaving we had the opportunity to snorkel at The Sand Bar, Musket Cove, where we hand fed bread to the amazing schools of colourful fish.

Shellette is an impressive boat, 55x28ft, long and lean with power-ful bows and weighing in at a massive 22 ton.

Four queen size berths each with ensuite, five toilets in all. This baby was made to cruise the trades.

The crossing was smooth and uneventful; the meals Marnie sev-ered were fantastic – chicken, Fiji beef and NZ lamb. Unfortunately despite Paihia bombs, Rose still felt queasy so she passed on food during the passage.

Military grade night vision goggles (US$3500) are the new must have – they are awesome!

We could see a big white triangle of heat on the horizon; we were looking at Mt Yasur, the active volcano on the island of Tanna 93 miles away.

It certainly lives up to its name as ‘the lighthouse of the pacific’. Follow the beacon!

Friday morning, anchoring in Port Resolution, about 10 times the size of SE Bay, we were immediately greeted by children in outrigger dugout canoes.

We were invited to come ashore to ‘my brother’s birthday party’ and informed we could ‘bring the

cake’. I’m sure this brother has a birthday most days as new yachts appear.

Yes, the yacht behind us took up the invite and that afternoon headed ashore cake in hand.

We headed instead to a nearby village where the ‘Yacht Club’ was. We had missed immigration by a couple of hours, but Head Man

Stanley assured us we could come ashore no problem as we were “in his hand”.

The people of Vanuatu are Melanesian, not Polynesian, and look more like the New Guinea people.

They are very kind and hospitable, but very, very poor. We arranged with Stanley to go by Hilux ute to see Mt Yasur, the

most easily accessible active volcano in the world. What an experi-ence! Standing on the crater rim late afternoon on a mountain that is literally exploding continually, throwing rocks and lava high in the air – maybe 1000 feet from the crater floor.

The molten lava would land back in the crater (mostly) with plop, plop, plop sounds like cow pats hitting the ground.

As darkness fell it became an incredibly spectacular sight of bright red, glowing lava.

We only scrambled away once as rocks and lava headed our way.

VANUATU WATERLINE 09

An awe-inspiring experience

A guide with another party of visitors said “Don’t run – keep your eye on the rocks and just step aside.” Yeah Right! Three people have died here over the years – our driver would not leave the safety of the vehicle a little way down the mountain.

This would have to be ‘Most Awe Inspiring Experience Ever’ for both of us. Fear Factor, yes, but mesmerising as well. We wouldn’t be allowed anywhere near this kind of volcanic activity here in NZ.

On return to the village one man enquired after our trip and “How was the driving”?

“Good” I replied “very good”. To which came the response “That’s good, John is just learning, he

doesn’t have his licence yet!”Monday morning early, we piled into another ute. This time Tawa, a young 19-year-old was very proud to tell us “He

was learning this driving job, and he had his licence.” Village folk hopped on the ute also and we travelled right across the

island to Lenakel for immigration. This journey took two and a half hours each way, roads are dirt

tracks, but we managed third gear twice each way, otherwise first and second only. It is rough.

“Who looks after the roads”? I asked. “No-one,” was the reply!On return to Port Resolution and Shellette, Mike headed ashore

with battery powered De Walt grinder, resin and glass cloth to repair the village fishing boat that had hit a bommie and ripped a long gash in the bottom. At the volcano we heard of a couple of midwives volunteering on the island.

It was mentioned that there were no medical supplies in the villages, not even basic stuff, so Marnie raided Shellette’s medical chest and took a large bag ashore.

This generosity was very typical of Mike and Marnie. Winds stayed around 25 knots from the SE so a good ‘boys’ sail from Port Resolu-tion to Port Vila.

We did overnight at Dillons Bay on the Island of Erromango, arriv-ing in the dark, the night vision goggles turned night to day once again – I fell in love with those things!

In Vila we caught up with Bob and Laura Wright on Shearwater, mooring right beside them, it was great to hear of their adventures and spend time with them.

We got a van (bus) to drive us around the island of Efate – 120km total. We came to some excellent bitumen road and Paul our driver told us this was put in by NZ.

The highlight was a stop where there was a display of giant clam shells and a World War Two memorial museum.

Ernest, age 76, has a great display of remnants and spoke with real passion of his determination to keep this history alive.

The old van, however, shuddered along at 25-50km an hour in fifth gear – this was going to take all day! Then about 40km from Vila, Paul said to Mike he was “tired now, you drive”.

Mike was very happy to oblige and off we went at 100km hour. Paul settled down after the initial shock, he’d never driven this

fast in his life and started shooting his catapult (shangai) out the window at various passing objects.

We loved Vanuatu; the people honest and kind, the culture dif-ferent than that other Pacific Islands.

We’ve had another great adventure among good friends. If you get the chance to go to Vanuatu, take it, go stand on the

rim of that volcano and peer into it’s fiery belly. Awesome!By Roger Clarke

When they wave a cane knife at you, they are

being friendly.

10 WATERLINE TYPBC NEWS

Mt Maunganui Yacht Club Omokoroa Boat Club

Tauranga Yacht & Power Boat Club

Tauranga Marine Industry Association

CLUB NEWS

TYPBC Women on Water

An excellent morning was had on Sunday, Opening Day for the

2011-12 season.

Numbers were down as the Irish rugby supporters among us nursed their hangovers, but Vice Commodore, Gary Smith, standing in for Commodore Wayne Eaton, was in fine form. (Wayne is in Aussie looking at a busi-ness opportunity, apparently there is a rugby team going cheap).

The beautiful and charming Rosemary Saunders joined us for a short while (I always think the clubhouse looks so much better with Rosemary in it). Peter Burling and Blair Tuke joined us for the morning as did our new Club Manager Christine and her family.

Avid rugby supporter Roger Rushton, really got into the look of RWC at the breakfast, breaking off one of his front teeth in a vicious encounter with a slice of bread made from Australian wheat.

He went on to win that encounter. Good on ya Rog !

The sailing was superb right up until the wind died out and the rain started, a frantic drift, then more breeze but this time from the west and the sun came out again. The tower did a great job, shortening the course thanks Rose. We have seen a good influx of

new members, quite a few as a result of the Father’s Day Regatta. Several more trailer yachties plus others. Ninety percent of mem-bers took advantage of the discounted subs so it is all looking good for an enjoyable season. Yours from the back seat. Roger Clark

Japan Cup 2011Bruce Goodchap, Donovan Neill and I

are in Japan riding out the Typhoon that has forced a few days of the Japan Cup to be cancelled. The centre of the typhoon should be over us in the next few hours. All the boats are in their cradles on the hard and lashed in every direction. The low is 950mb with winds over 100 knots forecast!

We are sailing on the Beneteau First 40 “Kofu” in Seabornia, just south of Tokyo. It is an amazing place with ideal conditions for our Monday racing. Our flash new Doyle sails have sped us along to a 1, 2, 2, which has us in second to the King 40 “Karasu”. We should be back on the water on Friday and hope to reverse things.

On our arrival, we presented “Kofu” owner, Mr Nagata, with an All Blacks World Cup Jersey. He is a keen rugby man and loved it! We will try and send some photos of the typhoon if we can get some...

Brian Kent - Tauranga Boat Sales

Successful opening season

WATERLINE 11TYPBC NEWS

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By Nicole Harris

CanvasLockerW

L910

3a Landscape RoadTaurangaEmail: w.oldham@clear.net.nz

Tel: 07 576 3009Fax: 07 576 3092

Mobile: 027 627 5448

Fun Sail Days are an awesome opportunity for youngsters to experience sailing.

The Bay of Plenty Sailing Academy (BoPSAT) and Steve’s Marine Supplies (Gold Sponsor) has put together a programme which gets kids out on the water, having fun whilst experiencing sailing in a safe environment.

Based at the Tauranga Yacht and Power Boat Club, 90 Keith Allen Drive, Sulphur Point, all specialist equipment, staff and safety considerations are in place and ready to go.

These are one day on the water sessions, modelled on the suc-cessful Yachting New Zealand ‘Have A Go’ programme and are run through schools, during school time and are for groups of 12 school students.

‘Fun Sail’ Aim: to provide the opportunity for students to experience sailing for the first time and encourage children to learn to sail

Targeting: school students and youth groups throughout the Bay of Plenty

Age Range: 8-18, we operate with both Optimist and Topaz yachts, which compliment all ages

School Year: 4-13Group Size: 12 students per session. Instructor ratio 1:6 (one

school supervisor required, can be a parent or teacher)Duration: one day, 9am to 2.30pm (times can vary slightly to

suit schools)Availability: year round, Mondays to FridaysCost: $25 per student, in groups of 12Next Stage: ‘Learn to Sail’ course

Steve’s Marine ‘Learn to Sail’ programmeBoPSAT the TYPBC and Steve’s Marine, have a new 'Learn

to Sail' programme, which provides a pathway to take children through the YNZ syllabus, whilst providing time for fun and recreational sailing.

The courses will consist of either, a three day intensive course, which takes place during school holidays, or a five day after school programme, plus three Sunday morning sessions.

Students will complete their YNZ Level 1 syllabus and start their Level 2 during the 'Learn to Sail' course and then progress to the ‘Rainbow Fleet’ on Sunday mornings, where they’ll com-plete their Level 2, before they join the club's ‘Green Fleet’.

This approach provides children with the opportunity to com-plete their YNZ Level 2 at their own pace and is a perfect way for them to integrate into club sailing.

Club sailing will start with the ‘Green Fleet’, where they’ll learn racing skills before moving up into the ‘Open Fleet’.

‘Learn to Sail’ Aim: to provide the opportunity for students to learn to sail and to promote regular club sailing

Target Market: students throughout the Bay of PlentyAge Range: 8-18

School Year: 4 to 13Group Size: instructor ratio 1:6Duration: each course is either three full days or five after

school sessions, plus three sessions on Sunday mornings.Availability: after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays during

terms one and four. School holiday courses are mid-week.Qualification: Yachting New Zealand Level 1 & Level 2.

Optional NCEA Credits.Cost: $195 per student, including; boat and kit hire, Tauranga

Yacht & Power Boat Club junior membership and YNZ Log-book. Price includes GST and covers both YNZ Level’s 1-2.

School Holiday Course: Course 1, October 10, 13 and 14Course 2, October 17, 20 and 21After School Course: Course 3, Tuesday afternoons starting on October 25Course 4, Thursday afternoons starting on October 27Next Stage: joining in with the ‘Rainbow Fleet’ on Sunday

mornings, transitioning into the club’s ‘Green Fleet’ on Sunday afternoons and then into the ‘Open Racing Fleet’. Opti boat and kit hire, for participating in club sailing, is available at just $25 per day.

Further information: contact Roy WalmsleyPhone 07 541 2341 Email – roy@BoPSAT.comWebsite – www.BoPSAT.comAt less than $200 for YNZ level’s 1-2, boat hire and club mem-

bership, there’s never been a better time to learn to sail, so let’s get out and tell all your friends.

BoPSAT has recently receive a grant from TECT for six Learn to Windsurf boards and we'll be doing the same for board sailing, just as soon as the boards arrive, watch this space for the TECT Windsurfing Programme, coming soon.

Excitement under sail for children

12 WATERLINE TYPBC NEWS

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Arrange to leave work early, find a sitter for the kids,

inform partner that you’ll be home late.

Get yourselves sorted girls, ‘cos it’s WOW time..…YOUR time!

It all starts on Thursday 3 November…see you then!

Shake off your winter blues Put on your white soled, non-slip

shoes Slap on a jacket and sunnies

And come sailing with some other WOW bunnies!

Generously sponsored by Mills Reef Winery, the women’s sail-ing division (aka WOW) of the Tauranga Yacht and Power Boat Club brings you the 2011-2012 WOW Summer Series comprising 9 evening sails fortnightly on a Thursday. WOW has been operat-ing since 2001 with last year being its biggest yet with close to 120 women sailing on up to 20 yachts each WOW night. WOW aims to give women of any age and from all walks of life the opportunity to actually participate in the sport of sailing which New Zealand has become famous for. Our oldest crew was 83 years old so it’s never too late to try!

Thanks to the generosity of boat owners from both TYPBC and the Mount Yacht Club we are able to

offer the opportunity for complete beginners to actively participate and learn the art of sailing from experienced skippers willing to teach and inspire newcomers.

Some of you may have sailed as a child with parents or in dinghies; some may be mothers of children learning to sail or race in the Centreboard Division of TYPBC, or even the Sea Scouts, Tauranga Mariners, or TS Chatham Navy Cadets – all part of the BOP Sail-ing Centre. Others may already own a yacht but lack the confi-dence, boatmanship or knowledge of how to sail. Maybe you’re not encouraged to participate or you think it’s a man’s domain. Deep down you’ve always wanted to have a go but the opportunity has never presented itself. Well ladies, this is your time! Be brave, take the first step onto a yacht and join lots of keen ‘sailorettes’ in a won-derful evening of fun and fresh air!

Here’s how it all happens!

BATTERYWAREHOUSE

Race 1 3rd November

Race 2 17th November

Race 3 1st December

Race 4 15th December

Race 5 26th January

Race 6 9th February

Race 7 23rd February

Race 8 8th March

Race 9 22nd March

WOW Calendar for 2011-2012 Season 1. Costs FREE to TYPBC members Day member - $15 per sail or

prepay $90 to cover all 9 sails – saving up to $45

Other YNZ affiliated club members $5 per sail or prepay $45 to cover all 9 sails.

2. Go online to the club website – www.yacht.org.nz – and read the WOW handbook to learn all you need to know about WOW.

Let’s go sailing, girls!

Megan Harris and the Whatever babes like to dress up.

Super Severance girls prefer sailing to cruising.

WATERLINE 13TYPBC NEWS

Having an extensively stocked shop is one thing, having staff with extensive experience and expertise is another ... because we love boating as much as you do.

MARINE SUPPLIES

BOAT SUPPLIES WATER SPORTS FISHING GEAR ACCESSORIES

Shop online at www.stevesmarine.co.nz

18 Cross Road, Sulphur PointPhone: 5789593Email: info@stevesmarine.co.nz

3. Print and complete the Individual Safety Declaration form. Bring along on your first time.

4. Register by Tuesday prior to each WOW sail – either text or phone Delwyn on 021 244-2040 or email wow.tauranga@gmail.com giving your full name, age, contact mobile/home phone and any expe-rience or boat preference that you have.

5. Get yourself to the TYPBC at Sulphur Point, Tauranga by 5.15pm on the night and complete the Individual Safety Decla-ration form (if not done already), pay the fee then you’ll be told which boat you’ve been allocated to for the night.

6. Get to your boat by 5.30pm to be ready to start at your designated start time.

As the WOW season approaches the women who like to race will be forming their teams and organizing a boat to race in the Racing Division and they are often looking for new crew, preferably with some sailing experience. However, they are usually willing to take beginners who are keen to learn and can commit to every race so if you think that sounds like you, please email us as soon as possible and we’ll try to find a position for you. If you prefer a more relaxing sail then the Cruis-

ing Division is the best way to learn the knowledge and skills of sailing without the added pressure of racing. All new partici-pants are allocated to the cruising division boats unless racing is requested.

After the sail we encourage everyone to come to the club for prize giving, spot prizes, raffles and to purchase WOW merchandise. We have some great looking shirts for sale this year at a reasonable price too. It’s a great time to get to know your skipper and crew. An affordable buffet meal is available and the bar is open so come join us for a night of sailing and fun with lots of other like-minded women.

We’d like to thank our other generous sponsors who help make our WOW nights so much more enjoyable by providing our spot prize vouchers, so please support them when you can. They are – Aussie Butcher Tauranga, Synergy Vitality Spa, Healthy Inspirations, Mount Melllick, Cambrian Meats, Le Chat Noir, and Pacific Landscapes & Gardening.

Remember everyone MUST register by Tuesday before each WOW night to avoid disappointment. For more information please contact Megan on 578-7105 or email wow.tauranga@gmail.com.

Get to know your skipper and crew

Anne Burton and the Rigmarole team take their racing seriously.

Lise Mackie aboard Ballistic enjoying the fresh air.

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14 WATERLINE OBC NEWS

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Another month’s gone by and our sub committees are busy organising for the upcoming summer season.

Unfortunately, we are postponing the official opening of the new extension until after the world cup is over, however, a grand-stand and big screen will be set up for your RWC entertainment, and of course, the bar.

I would like to say a huge thank you to our club captain Sean McPherson and his band of ‘Merrymen’, who on a voluntary basis have undertaken the many tasks to finish off the final stages of the new extension.

September 14 sees the final quiz night for the year. I would like to thank Geoff Gripton and Ranald Ducat for their enormous effort in making this once again a successful and fun event. With summer just around the corner, and daylight saving only weeks away, I look forward to seeing you all down at our little piece of paradise.

Introducing LexLex and Sue moved to Omokoroa about eight or nine years ago

as their family had all grown up and moved away (they have all moved closer to them again now there are ‘eight grandchildren and a grand dog’) and they joined the Omokoroa Boat Club almost straight away.

Lex had been on the committee of the M.O.S. Club in Mount Maunganui. He reckons “we don’t know how lucky we are”, OBC is the best there is.

He and Phil have been managing the bar (Fee!) and he can still think back to the day when he and Phil “hung their necks out” and employed Fee!

Thinking that some of the ‘fellas and fellesses’ might not think she was the one for the job.

Well enough said about that. Lex reckons he has done his share of organising fishing competitions for OBC and like he said to Kevin Blincoe, who he took over from ‘how would I know how to do it, I have never even been to a fishing comp before’. How-ever, this year the new team is going to inject some new ideas and Lex is only to keen to help again, but there is nothing like a bit of new blood, guts and scales! (Get it?) When it comes to fishing comps, if you have got any ideas about the fishing comp email, Lex at lex.bacon@harcourts.co.nz

Anyway he hopes to have another good term in the commit-tee as Vice Commodore. He knows it’s a tough job as you can’t please everyone all the time (sometimes you can’t win) – funny that! Maybe they should start teaching that at school again and see what happens.

Building ReportAll the painting has been completed. Carpet, vinyl and all the

toilets have been installed. The toilet for the disabled is now in as well as the baby changing table. We need to install paper holders, soap dispensers and other bits and pieces.

All the lighting has been finished, exit railings are in place and we are in the process of making the new entrance more attractive. You will probably have noticed some fool has put a few piles in front of the clubrooms. It has been suggested we might sell these prime mooring spots for those that have trailer boats. How-ever, I have it on record that the poles are a guiding passageway from the road to the club rooms with the ramp complying with disabled regulations. The photo shows Ken Blackett and Hugh Reynolds making important decisions on the spot. Thanks guys for the great skateboard ramp. We have ordered framing for tables on the deck. They will be the same design as the existing

heavy durable ones but half the size. They will seat eight people, but have the advantage of being able to be joined together if require. Four of these have been ordered.

The club has asked Barry Farr to design an attractive and pro-tective entrance over the double doors in the new entrance.

The new extension has been hired out twice during the week and a few club members are finding their way through and enjoy-ing the peace and quiet.

Sailing and rescue boat news Last Sunday saw a small, but dedicated team tidy up the cen-

treboards and rudders of the Optimist fleet. A big thank you to them. Also they finished four of the hulls, leaving two to go for a finish coat of paint.

Now the job is getting all the fittings back on the hulls dead ahead, through the pitch-black night, the captain sees a light on a collision course with his ship.

He sends a signal: ‘Change your course ten degrees east.’ ‘Change yours ten degrees west,’ comes the reply.The captain responds, ‘I’m a United States Navy captain!

Change your course, sir!”“I’m a seaman second class,” the next message reads. “Change your course, sir.”The captain is furious. “I’m a battleship! I’m not changing

course!”“I’m a lighthouse. Your call.”

A note from OBC Kitchen CommitteeIt was fun to see so much snow around the different parts of

our country. The hearty ‘winter’ menu provided at the club restaurant went down well to lift spirits on the cold days we had. Now at last we can enjoy slightly warmer weather with spring on its way, inspiring us to get out and about more and enjoy the sunshine on the deck at our club. The kitchen committee has been working hard to make sure the members’ needs are being met in the restaurant. We have now signed off on a new one year contract for the caterers and are looking forward to working with David and his team in the kitchen. Watch out for our Fathers’ Day treats when you bring your dads or husbands down to the club for a meal on Sunday, September 4.

The club is appreciative of the generous grant from TECT which goes a long way to completing our new building project.

Sailing ReportSailing report is:- All Optimists painted and ready to go thanks

to all our helpers we made it in three weeks with only three mornings taken up. Well done all!

We are talking to the harbour master about having a general boat safety meeting / lecture in the Club for harbour users as well as getting approval to let off flares on 5/11/2011 as most of us never have! (Could be a start to fireworks night)

Otherwise we are ready to go and hope all the OTHER yachties and power boat owners will attend and also join the sailors when they trip to Karewa and Motiti! John Budden

We need more boats in the senior fleet.We are a relaxed easy going lot, so why not come and join in

the fun. Just turn up on the day.MembershipThe Junior membership is only $30 per junior (see the junior

programme).A club membership application form is attached.This ensures junior sailing can continue at a fair and reasonable

price. Will be seeing you all soon. Alan R

Ready for the upcoming season

WATERLINE 15MMYC NEWSM

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By Carol Andrews

TV at the Mercs

Conditions were ‘light’ with most of the action happening at sea

level and below as penguins and star fish became victims of the

vicious tidal flow.

Also falling foul of the wicked funnel of water rushing out the harbour was the MMYC fleet returning from ‘A’ buoy!

The ride out there was just the ticket if you’d had a hard Saturday night.

There was lots of sun, easy seas and long tacks.

The return journey was the same and for those crews that were shorthanded or had learners onboard, flying a kite was

relatively easy. Not negotiable was testing how many ways a kite could be flown.

The fleet made colourful dots all over the water after rounding ‘A’ only to be herded up at the entrance as they strug-gled against the tide.

Many different tactics were used in an attempt to reach the Maori Warrior.

Jet Stream tried sideways sailing. Jamima looked like she was going to make it at one point only to be swept back sailing the other sideways direction.

Hanse Free, Marbles and Otway created a blockade, rafting up to see if their joint strength could set them free – but alas!

Howzat tried creating its own ‘hot air’ to fill her sails and Windarra said ‘Gidday’ to

that red channel marker several times.Union Jack thought they had crawled up

over Wizzard at one stage and after a vic-tory laugh were seen sliding backwards.

There was a lot of backwards sailing for an hour, or two in some cases, but finally most of the fleet made it through.

Union Jack’s crew had the smiles restored as they crossed the line first in ‘B’ division and with only one skipper onboard! Congratulations.

Bernie and Chrissie suffered criticism regarding the choice of course at the club rooms after the race – the noisiest protest coming from Code Zero.

I wonder if Roy got dinner on Sunday night.

Park up at race nine

The Legends Regatta and the Final of the World Cup on TV on Labour Weekend,

you can have them both while enjoying the beautiful surroundings of the ‘Merc’s.

The Mount Yacht Club has plans to have a satellite dish, decoder and TV for the yachties taking part in The Legends Regatta to enjoy.

What could be better than sitting down watching the grand final on TV with a nice cold one, scallops, fresh fish and cray-fish – heaven is at the Mercs this Labour Weekend, are you going to be there?

The club has ordered special weather for the Legends, with a comfortable spinnaker run both ways and a 15 knot sea breeze for the afternoon’s race around the island and sunny warm weather all weekend.

Participants are reminded about the rules on the island as we do not want a repeat of last year’s lighting of a fire on the beach. The owners of the island have treated our regatta very well over the years and we want it to stay that way.

There are heath regulations regarding the dumping of sewage and MAF regulations on number/size of fish, shellfish that can be caught and gathered, which must and will be adhered to.

Please make sure your yacht’s safety and first-aid is ready if the worst should it happen, and have a great weekend.

The organising committee is hoping for another memorable event. Entry forms and instructions are available at www.mmyc.org.nz

The Mount Yacht Club would like to thank the following sponsors for support-ing ‘The Legends Regatta’, PowerCo, Mills Reef Winery, Steve’s Marine, Dave Peet Jewellery, Electrical Works, Blokart New Zealand, Wild Kiwi clothing, Sewhot Monograms, Bridge Marina Travel Lift and Mediaworks – Radio

New menuMount Ocean Sports Club’s new

owners, Michael and Sheryl Gulliver, have revitalised the restaurant’s menu.

While both have great cooking skills,

Michael has 20 years experience, starting with training in Auckland before heading overseas.

He spent five years in England honing his skills before moving to Italy’s fine res-taurants, then to the USA where patrons enjoyed his fine cooking.

Michael and Sheryl have owned three cafe’s in Mount Maunganui before coming to MOSC.

One of the biggest differences will be attitude and focus on member’s needs, functions and service to the public at the Dairy.

The Dairy will have big changes, coming shortly, in time for the holiday season.

The new menu for members and guests includes a greater range of snack food until 5.30pm each day and the new revitalised menu introduced by Michael and his team.

The catering menu now includes a new range of platters, finger food as well as buffet meals for all your weddings and other celebrations held at the Mount Ocean Sports Club.

Michael plans to use his skills to meet all your catering needs for both large and small functions with the menu to match your requirements, banquet to finger food.

The upstairs lounge area can be hired for meetings and functions by contacting MOSC manager, Nicola, email: moun-toceansports@ihug.co.nz or phone 07 575 5388 Fax: 07 575 5387

16 WATERLINE GEMC0

With spring here for now, it’s time to think about those little jobs that

have been put off because the boat hasn’t had much

use in recent months.

Specialty Epoxies manufacturer GemCo has just opened its new factory in Enterprise Drive Papamoa where there is a range of user friendly resins and putties, in packaging for small, medium and larger jobs.

Mix ratios are 1:1 and are like the major-ity of GemCo products, quick curing and solvent free. The putties come in a range medium, medium fast and fast cures, as do the resins.

The quantities start at 500ml and go up from there depending on the product range. Local manufacturer GemCo Ltd has built a new factory at 60 Enterprise Drive in Papamoa.

The new factory will help GemCo’s plans to expand manufacturing of its specialised epoxy products for both the NZ market and export, says the owner Tim Elder.

With nearly 30 years laboratory experience with some of the big names in the paints and resins industry behind him, Tim Elder brought a depth of technical experience when he started Gem Co some years back.

He’s developed a products list that makes GemCo a name in industrial and commer-cial market places in several industries.

This range includes conveniently packaged quick curing epoxy resins, coatings, adhe-sives, and putties for repair jobs on boats.

Also included in the marine field is GemCo’s user- friendly, high performance ablative antifouling. This has given excellent results for commercial charter fishing opera-tions, yachts, and launches locally for the last 10 years.

GemCo antifouling is free of commonly

used tin based poisons and has a low toxic-ity, low odour solvent system.

Wherever possible, GemCo products are formulated solvent free, water based, or where solvents are required, the lowest toxicity products suitable have been used.

GemCo products are developed in New Zealand for use in marine, industrial and commercial applications where high per-formance is a requirement.

Versatility and high performance are key features of GemCo epoxies.

Some have low tem-perature cure, chemical and abrasion resist-ance, and will tolerate damp and poorly pre-pared surfaces. Others have very fast cure.

GemCo paint removers avoid toxic materials commonly used in these products.The paint remov-ers will remove most paints including two pack paints.

“Most resins are 2:1

though I do have some that are 1:1,” says Tim.

“I try and keep mixture ratios simple, and 1:1 works for me.”

They are also in a range of setting speeds, from minutes to overnight, or they can be used seasonally.

The putties are pre-mixed, doing away with the requirement to first mix the resin and then add the fillers.

For more information visit www.gemco.net.nz

Easy use epoxy for boaties

Gemco new premises at Enterprise Drive, Papamoa.

Tim Elder of GemCo.

WATERLINE 17VOODOO

Tauranga boatbuilder Dave Pachoud had two recent launchings on display at the recent Auckland

Boatshow, both of them Roger Hill designed powercats.

Voodoo was launched in early September, sparking a scramble to have the boat ready and in Auckland for the show which ran from September 15-18.

With Voodoo making 40 knots in trials and possessing a cruising speed in the early to mid 30s, travel was not expected to be a problem.

It was just the 1001 tiny details that needed to be sorted to have the boat in show condition.

Voodoo is expected to be based in Auckland, says Dave. It sleeps nine, and is powered by twin C15 850hp Caterpillar engines through a Seafury surface drive.

At 40 knots on trials the surface drive’s characteristic rooster tail was longer than the hull.

Surface drive propellers are semi sub-merged. It is a design that considerably reduces hull drag making higher speeds possible with less horse power.

Building took 11 months. The hulls are epoxy composite over male moulds.

The paint is a Volkswagen colour chosen by the owner and applied by BOP Marine Painters, says Dave. AGV Upholstery did the interior.

The 17.6 m Voodoo was on show with Kukai, a 14m Roger Hill design, Pachoud built craft, designed to carry a helicopter on its roof.

Kukai was built for Japanese businessman Soichiro Fukutake, who combines a love of flying with a passion for boating.

In Japan he owns a production-built Lagoon powercat modified to carry a heli-

copter so he can explore the inland sea of Seto, by air as well as by sea.

He’s replicated that combination in New Zealand.

Kukai is the smallest craft in New Zealand designed and built to carry a helicopter, it has accommodation for eight, with four double cabins including the owner’s state-room and an additional single.

Kukai’s hull is wood composite with plywood core and structural inner and outer skins. The heli-deck is substantially reinforced.

Kukai’s hulls are reasonably large volume, so they are still planing hulls but are able to take the extra weight of the helicopter.

Powered by twin six-cylinder Yanmar engines that develop 500hp at 2900rpm, Kukai uses vee drives to hit a top speed of 27 knots and cruises comfortably at 20 knots.

By Andrew Campbell

Tauranga powercats on show

18 WATERLINE BIRDS OF THE BAY

I'm sure you've all heard the one about the shag on the beach ......

but which shag was it?

We have 12 sorts of shag in New Zealand, with 5 of those likely in the Bay of Plenty -black, pied, little black, little, and spotted. The first 4 are all in the same family of seabirds and would, in other countries, be called cormorants. All four are black in appearance, the pied and little with white trim.

The black shag (body 88cm long) and the pied shag (81cm) are large, long-necked birds. They are strong, deliberate flyers, often low above the water. The extended neck, somewhat rounded wings and wedge-shaped tail dis-tinguish them in flight. The pied lives up to its name with clear white underparts. Both species dive from the water surface for fish and crustaceans, secur-ing the prey with a usefully

hooked bill and then swallowing it whole. They have webbed feet. Both are birds of coastal waters, but also frequent rivers and lakes, especially the black shag.

Their feeding habits mean they some-times fall victim to fishing lines and nets. Research has proved that their feeding has

little effect on fish stocks and hopefully few fish-erpeople would today shoot these birds. The pied shag is a totally

protected native

species and the black shag partially protected. There are probably between 5000 and 10000 pairs of each species.

The birds roost in groups on logs, rocks or trees. You

will quite likely find a shaggery by nose and ear before you see it. These quiet-at-sea birds can make quite a cacophony of wheezy whistles and squawks. And of course that fresh fish diet results in large amounts of smelly guano below the roost.

Nests are half-metre platforms of sticks and seaweed some 10m above the water or land. If you find a colony in the breeding season stay a while to watch the elaborate

courtship displays. Both parents incubate the eggs and then feed

the chicks on regurgitated fish – the chicks sometimes appear

to be practising their diving moves down the parent's throat!The other largish shag in this area is the

spotted shag, a true shag, and a bird of deeper waters. It is 70cm long, brownish grey with varying amounts of white accord-ing to breeding/non/breeding plumage. Flight is more rapid, the birds often travel-ling in a 'string'.

Squawking, mewing, screaming ... however you describe the strident noises made by gulls, those calls - few would be tempted to talk of gull song - are the

characteristic sounds of coastal areas.

We have three species of gull in New Zealand. The most recognis-able is the large black-backed gull, with that band of black clear right across the 1 metre+ wingspan as it languidly flaps/glides/flaps over the water. The puzzle for some is to connect the mottled brown juveniles with their dapper black and white parents. Seeing and hearing these great lummoxes begging for food long after they are big enough to find their own is the clincher.

The smaller red-billed gull (wingspan 91-96cm) is altogether lighter and more agile. It is pearly grey and white, the adult with bright red bill and legs. There is always entertainment from a bunch of these quarrelsome birds. Scolding and heckling are other words that come to mind to describe their lovely racket.

Both gulls are opportunistic feeders. They do take small fish and shellfish, but will happily scavenge anything vaguely edible, including our food scraps. Numbers of both species grew rapidly in the days of poorly managed refuse tips and meatworks and offal-dumping ships, but dropped as humans cleaned up their act. There is now concern that the red-billed gull may be in serious decline.

Watch for the red-billed gull trembling its foot in wet sand to bring small prey to the surface. The black-backed's trick is dropping shell-fish from a height to open them. Both will steal eggs of other coastal

birds. The larger gull can be a major predator of vulnerable birds such as the NZ dotterel, eating eggs and chicks. Both species also feed and roost inland, on wet or ploughed fields or lakes.

Both breed mostly in large colonies, usually on or near the shore-line, but also inland. Does a colony of black-backs still nest on the flanks of Mt Tarawera? The breeding strategy of colonial nesting (safety in numbers), usual clutch of 2-3 eggs, parents sharing incuba-tion and caring for the fledglings for well over 5 weeks is a very successful one. Adults live for many years, though most will not make the 28 years recorded as the oldest known for both species.

Why 'gull'? It's that noise again - the name traces back to a Welsh word for 'wailing'.

And the third species? The rarer, endemic black-billed gull.

Karoro, the black-backed gull

Identifying our big shags

Please name when you see me – I am karoro, the

black-backed gull.

WATERLINE 19MARINE NEWS

The death of 55-year-old Moses Vahai while set netting on Rangataua Bay on September 21 has brought

renewed calls for wearing life jackets while boating.

Neither Moses senior nor his 19-year-old son, also named Moses, were wearing lifejackets when their dinghy was swamped by a wave coming over the transom.

The pair had been setting a net in the channel entrance beside the highway as it crosses Matapihi.

It was a good night for fishing, the conditions were calm with a light winds.

The dinghy swamped sometime before 8pm.The surviving Moses said afterwards they at first huddled together

for warmth, before his father told him to swim for the shore.Young Moses made it to shore and raised the alarm. A night search by shore parties and the TrustPower TECT Rescue

Fisherman drowns in Tauranga harbourhelicopter failed to find his father. Searchers found the dinghy in Rangataua Bay at 9pm.

Moses senior’s body was recovered near the Matapihi Railway Bridge on Thursday morning.

The Lake Taupo Yacht Club’s 50 mile race on the lake over Labour

Weekend is a chance for salt water sailors to gain fresh water

experience ahead of next Easter’s NI trailer yacht champs.

This year’s event will be a straight 50 mile race says the yacht club’s rear commodore Terry Check.

“Last year we tried something different and ran it as two stages, with the first stage down to Motuoapa, and stayed overnight there at the Motuoapa ‘yacht club’.

“Then the second day we sail back to Taupo to give a total distance of round the 50 mile.

“This year we have gone back to the old format of starting about 10am on the Saturday morning and continuing on till a cut off time near mid day Sunday, with

an ability to shorten the course if the wind drops out.

“It will be a continuous race this time, sail overnight if need be.”

The Lake Taupo Yacht Club has run the event for about seven or eight years now in varying formats to try to boost the num-bers, says Terry.

It used to be part of a tri-series with Tauranga which had a 50 mile race, and the Rotorua Yacht Squadron which raced around Lake Rotoma or Lake Rotoiti.

The Lake Taupo race has normally been just a straight 50 mile race round the lake using fixed marks, 200 metre buoys or islands as marks.

Socialising will be Sunday afternoon, starting about 2pm just in case the race has to be called by midday.

“Hopefully everybody will be finished overnight or Sunday morning, if the wind stays in,” says Kerry.

If there are a enough numbers, the yacht club will add a division 3 race on a shorter course; “So they are not stuck out in the middle of the lake on their own.”

There’s usually a fleet of about a dozen boats taking part with entries from Napier, a couple of hard core Wellington entries, A sprinkling from Rotorua and Tauranga and occasionally the odd Auckland boat.

“It would be nice to have a bigger fleet,” says Kerry.

The race is for trailer yacht/keelers – to allow for a couple of keelers they have in the club.

Full details are on website ltyc.org.nz. and there is online entry.

On December 3-4, club is hosting the Zephyr, Sunbird and Wooden Boat Regatta.

In Easter 2012 the Lake Taupo Yacht Club is running North Island trailer yacht champs in conjunction with the sports boat regatta.

Lake Taupo 50 for Labour Weekend

20 WATERLINE HARBOUR MASTER

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We frequently get asked, “So what does a harbour master do, anyway?”

Most people seem to imagine that the harbour master spends all day mucking around the harbour in a boat, enjoying the sun. The truth is, unfortunately, far from that.

A great deal of time is regrettably taken up with paperwork. But let’s have a look at what is really involved:

The Bay of Plenty Regional Council has three harbour masters located in Tauranga, Rotorua and Whakatane, as well as a regional harbour master to oversee them all.

The harbour masters organise harbour and lake patrols, intensively during the summer period, but also intermittently throughout the rest of the year. Of course, one person couldn’t possibly patrol the waters for the 12 hours a day, seven days a week that is required over summer, so suitably qualified harbour wardens assist. Co-ordinating the 30 or more patrol crew required for Tauranga harbour, the twelve Rotorua lakes and the various tricky bar harbours in the Eastern Bay of Plenty is a complex task.

Out on patrol, the crew stop anybody observed breaking the rules. Sometimes all that is required is a gentle bit of education – other times, details are taken so that an infringe-ment notice can be issued. The main problems experienced last summer were to do with speed, especially the speed of jet skiers and small boats towing biscuits.

Of course, it doesn’t stop there. The follow-up work from this involves writing warning letters or issuing of fines.

Sometimes a vehicle registration is used to track down a boat owner, and occasionally this involves a visit to discuss the offence with Police.

The key to keeping boaties on the lakes and harbours peaceful seems to be making sure that boaties all know the rules, so a great deal of the harbour masters’ time is involved with getting the message out there.

We have created a variety of educa-tional brochures, which we distribute at boat shops, camping grounds, coast-guard and any other suitable outlets.

Making sure you know the rules

Driftwood retrieval.

The Harbour master is on standby for accidents

at the port.

Boat shows are another good place for us to talk to the boating public and to spread the good word, so we attend all boat shows between Auckland and Taupo if we possibly can.

An additional way to spread the safe boating message is with the team of around 100 volunteer wardens throughout the region, who talk to boaties at the boat ramps and out on the waters. These wonderful volunteers freely give their time to help keep the harbours and lakes safe.

Educational signs at boat ramps, ski lanes, bridges and marinas are provided by the harbour masters and need to be regularly replaced, often due to vandalism.

If you see any signs around the place that need attention, please give us a call.

Still on the education theme, I write articles for boating mag-azines. At the moment, I’m penning three regular monthly columns, and often illustrating them with photos too. I find this takes up quite a lot of time one way or another.

Several times during each summer, we’ll get together with the Coastguard and Police to hold a boat ramp safety day,

where we target local boat launching ramps and talk to boaties about lifejackets, safety equipment and so on.

As you might be able to tell by now, we collaborate closely with Coastguard, Police and Maritime NZ on promoting boating safety.

We meet regularly to co-ordinate our safety cam-paigns, believing that if we are all rowing in the same direction, we can be more effective.

In addition to edu-cation, we maintain more than 500 navi-gation aids on lakes, rivers and harbours. These are the buoys and beacons that mark the naviga-tion channels. All

the major channels are fitted with solar-powered lights, so that you can use the channels safely at night. We are gradually increasing the number of channels that are lit at night – last year in Tauranga we fitted new lights to more than 30 beacons.

All the buoys and beacons are water blasted and painted every two years, to keep them bright and clearly visible. Those with lights are checked at least twice a year to make sure the lights are flashing reliably. We take seriously any

reports of navigation lights not working, and attend to them the same day if possible.

In addition, we maintain a 24-hour response for marine incidents. There is always one of us in each area on duty, ready to respond to marine emergencies.

A 24-hour log recovery operation is in place, working with whar-fies, the Port of Tauranga and log owners to retrieve any export logs dropped into the harbour.

WATERLINE 21HARBOUR MASTER

Managing marine safetyWe also pick up dangerous pieces of

driftwood found floating in the harbours, rivers or lakes.

The harbour master’s team maintains a 24-hour response in case of oil spills into the harbour. To enable a quick response, we carry out regular oil spill exercises. Did you know that all the oil spill equipment stored around the region belongs to Mari-time NZ? The deal is that MNZ supply all the fancy booms, mops, dispersant and pumps while the Regional Council supplies the manpower and skill to deploy them.

Still on the oil spill theme, the harbour master audits and approves Oil Spill Contingency Plans. Anyone who pumps fuel oil across the water’s edge, for example, onto a ship or fishing boat, needs to comply with certain safety precautions.

The same applies for cutting and welding operations (called ‘Hot Work’) on board commercial boats and ships. Approval must be sought from the harbour master and all safety precautions must be followed. Experience has shown that having a proce-dure like this helps to prevent ship fires.

Administration of the swing moorings and maintaining a moorings database is

another task delegated to the harbour masters. Keeping tabs on all the boaties who use the 500-odd swing moorings in the region is no simple task.

As required by Maritime NZ, the harbour master’s team license commercial operators. This involves travelling to visit the various river rafting operations and other adventure operators, to make sure they are complying with their own safety procedures.

Then there are the charts - the sea-going version of a road map, these are kept up to date with input from the harbour masters. Survey work is regularly undertaken to ensure that the main navigation channels are maintained at the depth stated on the charts. Any changes to buoys, beacons lights or depths are notified to both Mari-

time NZ and to Land Information NZ (LINZ), who make the navigation charts.

The harbour master manages Tauranga’s statutory pilotage obligations in conjunc-tion with the Port of Tauranga. Tauranga’s Port and Harbour Marine Safety Code is also managed by the harbour master. There are innumerable reports to write, com-plaints to respond to and emails to reply to.

And then there’s the paperwork – did I mention paperwork?

Here’s something to think about: accord-ing to Maritime NZ there are 25,000 new boaties every year. Only 10,000 of these do a Coastguard course. Where do the rest get their boating safety knowledge from?Jennifer Roberts Harbour Master – Western Bay of Plenty

22 WATERLINE CLASSI

ley. Not warranted. Will sell with or without near new 20hp Honda. $500 ono for hull and trailer. Or $8500 for the lot. 0274 996 747WING PADDLES - Brand new, used twice in demos. Rochfort,carbon shafts and blades. Pair would suit double kayak, racing or fast cruiser or will sell separately. $300 each. 0274 996 747STAND UP PADDLEBOARD - Red Air, 11ft inflatable paddleboard, with pump and take apart paddle. Brilliant accessory for yacht or launch. Only used three times for demo. Just the thing for your summer cruis-ing or messing about at the beach. Great for surfing small waves and exploring the coastline and waterways. Can be paddled standing up, kneeling or sitting; or even lying down like a surf board. Incredibly rigid when inflated, but packs down to easily stow. New these are $1349. This one, $900. 0274 996 747

LAUNCH - Steel launch 30’. View B46 Tauranga Marina. $48,000. Ph 07 843 4392 or 027 620 9712GENOA - well used but ok. Hoist 44’, foot 23’. Offers. Ph 07 552 4419HOOD MAINSIL - as new, for Davidson 31. Hoist 31’ 9”, foot 8’ 10” with slides on hoist and foot, also boom for davidson 31 9’ 8” overall. Ph 07 552 4419CODAN SSB MKII - and antenna. Offers Ph 07 552 4419.

TO RENTMOORING available to rent Te Puna.Good depth and close to wharf. Suit boat up to 30ft.Ph 548 0006.MOORING - Omokoroa. Phone 021 114 7339.MOORING TO LEASE - Tanners Point. Suit launch or multihull. Long term. ph 5490091SWING MOORING - for rent or sale at Tanners Point. Recently serv-iced. Ph 578 0230 or 027 491 5616.MOORING - Pilot Bay, suitable for 28-38’ yacht. In reasonable order. Available 10 months of the year, from 1st March to 31st December. Ph 021 960 720MOORING FOR RENT - Pilot Bay PT47 $25 per week. Phone 07 843 4392 or 027 620 9712MOORING FOR RENT - Waikaraeo Estuary. Phone 07 843 4392 or 027 620 9712

WANTEDMOORING TO BUY - Te Puna, shallow mooring fine. email simon.ifes@gmail.com. Phone 07 552 4694WANTED TO RENT: Swing mooring for 25ft yacht, also short term marina berth. Phone/text Marc, 027 200 2316.HARTLEY 16 Fibreglass trailer sailer. Ph 07 576 0207.SPINNAKER to fit a Noelex 30. Ph 06 868 8328.BIG ANCHORS - anything considered. Ph Tony 575 8264.SWING MOORING - Pilot Bay. Suitable for H28 yacht, preferably close to shore for purchase or rent. Ph 572 2205 or 021 155 1245.SWING MOORING - suit 30’ yacht, Pilot Bay or bridge marina. Ph 021 244 7117 or 07 579 8083.

STARLING FOR SALE - “CARPE DIEM” 1130, Professionally built & launched oct 1994, Built on same jig as “Helter Skelter” (1131), This yacht and fittings are in excellent condition Has been compliant with Bow Jig. Extras include Aluminium Beach Trolley, Road Cover and Spare Mast. Asking Price $3,900.00. Telephone 021 120 7060.CATAMARAN - 3yr old 11.4 mtr, Roger Simpson, Wildside, Twin 10 hp Yanmar, Diesels. 3 Queen, Size Double berth. Galley. Nav Station, Heads. Saloon. Usual instruments. Ph 07 866 5157 or email cox.wall@xtra.co.nz.WATER PUMP - 25PSI, Sureflow. As New $120. Ph 0274 333 220.FOLDING PROP - briski, 16 x 12. 25mm shaft. Right handed NZ. $500 ono. Very good condition. Ph 021 243 5555QUARTER SHARE IN VINDEX 10 METRE LAUNCH - Shaft drive, 180 hp Ford Diesel Turbo, Sleeps 6, two showers, 3 steering stations cruises 10-12 kts. This syndicate has been operating successfully for 6yrs. A great opportunity to enjoy the pleasures a launch offers whilst sharing the costs. Based at Tauranga Bridge Marina. Price $20,000 Ph 548 2314.HARTLEY TS18 - ‘Antares’ is in really good condition. Trailer has WOF. She has been beautifully built inside and out with painted wood interior and can sleep up to 4 people. Comes with Honda 5HP outboard motor with stand for easy storage. Drop keel makes her a great family boat for going to places in and around the harbour. She has had new aluminium mast and rigging by Mike McCormack and new winch and guide bars added to trailer, for easy launch and retrieval. All ready to go for 2011. Asking price $4,500 ono. Phone Ian Gray 07 578 5022 or 027 572 9439.4.95 ALUMINIUM MAST AND SAIL - plus centre board, rudder and anchor. All in V.G. condition. Open to reasonable offers. Please ring 576 0294 (has answer phone).MOORING - C6 The Strand, Town Reach, Tauranga, new survey. Upto 10.5m. $1000 spent on survey. $4000 ono. Contact 07 307 9097 or 027 307 9009.MOORING FOR SALE - Waikaraeo Estuary #5. Good position, good swing, good depth. Fully rebuilt. Suit up to 29’ boat. Phone 07 576 1309YACHT - 26’ vanderstadt centreboarder, on launching trailer in hardstand. Very nice condition. 8HP yamaha outboard, alloy s/s rig. $12,990 neg. Ph 0274 272 054.SPINNAKER FOR SALE - off Davidson 32. 11.5m-6.8m, orange/white. In good condition $600. Phone 06 868 832828FT KEELER - a well maintained gulf cruiser, sleeps 5, Yanmar diesel engine, Furling headsail. $28,000 ono. Phone, 07 864 7432.LAUNCH - Steel launch, 30’. View B46 Tauranga Marina. $48,000. Phone 07 843 4392 or 027 620 9712.HARTLEY 16 QUIKSILVER mast and sails. Offers. Ph 07 576 0207.CHEAP CHEAP COMPASS 790 KEELER, furling head sail, 14HP mitsubishi diesel, fresh water cooled. New controls, new gas cooker & grill. Must sell. New boat arriving. Bargain at $12,000. Ph 07 576 6739 or 027 417 8560.MOORING 4 RENT - Omokoroa, close to beach. $20 per week. Regis-tered mooring. Ph 07 548 0328.MOORING TO RENT - Closest mooring to wharf at Pilot Bay. Limited terms. $100 per month. Heavy mooring. Ph 575 9895 or 027 622 0451. TRAILER YACHT VENTURE 20 - good condition on trailer view at the TYPBC boat sale 8 Oct price $6000 phone 576 1165TWO SEATER POWERBOAT - Former single seat racer, converted to a 2 seater, or three with small bums. Has been run with a 30hp Yamaha, and currently with a 20hp Honda. Hull in excellent order. Very fast, fun and cheap to run. Trailer needs a bit of work, but okay for a beach trol-

FOR SALECall Finance for all marine finance 07-574 0002 or 0274 435 524 available 7 days

WATERLINE 23DIRECTORYBATTERIESBattery Warehouse Ph/Fax: 07 578 8056 25 Marsh Street, Tauranga0274 894 056Battery Direct NZFree delivery in NZwww.BatteryDirect.co.nzsales@batterydirect.co.nz0800 267 468

BOAT MAINTENANCEGemCo LtdR63 Hewletts Rd, Mount MaunganuiPh 572 2411Hutcheson BoatbuildersPh:07-578 8312Robert Page Engineering27 Glasgow Street, TaurangaPh:07 578 4171www.robertpage.co.nzMatamata Motor Trimmers & UpholsteryBoat clears, canvas work, upholsteryPh: 07 571 4421Cnr Mirrielees & Cross Roads, TaurangaOceanz Stainless EngineeringPh:07-571 413030-34 Mirrielees Road, Taurangawww.southernoceanmarine.co.nz

BOAT SALESChallenger Boats142 Newton Road, Mount MaunganuiPh 07 575 0497www.challengerboats.co.nzGulf Group Marine BrokersPh 07 579 9716email: tauranga@gulfgroup.co.nzwww.gulfgroup.co.nzHutcheson Boatbuilders07-578 8312Mastertech Marine60 Whiore Avenue, The Lakes, TaurikoTaurangaPh:579 4240www.mastertech.co.nzTauranga Boat SalesTauranga Bridge Marina: 07 575 0512Sulphur Point Marina: 07 571 8443Email: thecrew@taurangaboatsales.co.nzWebsite: www.taurangaboatsales.co.nz

CHANDLERYSteves Marine SuppliesPh: 07 578 9593 18 Cross Road, Sulphur Point, Tauranga

DELIVERIESRoss Hislop Ph: 07 543 1023, mob 0274 770078Email: hislopra@xtra.co.nz

ELECTRONICS Bay Marine Electronics Steven GillettPh: 07 577 0250www.baymarineelectronics.co.nz

FINANCEAFB Accept Finance Brokers Ph: 07 574 0002

FISHING & DIVINGBig Fish Bait and Tackle CoPh/Fax 07 575 905615 Newton St, Mount MaunganuiPh/Fax 573 4493155 Jellicoe Street, Te PukeBlue Ocean Charters LtdPh 0800 224 278www.blueocean.co.nzemail: info@blueocean.co.nzMount Dive Shop15 Newton Street, Mount Maunganui Ph: 575 4418Tauranga Marine Charters MV Manutere Brett Keller Ph: 07 552 62830274 351 353Email: fishingcharters@xtra.co.nz

INSURANCETauranga InsurancePh: 571 0405195 Devonport Rd, Tauranga

KAYAKINGCanoe & Kayak BOPPh:574 74153/5 MacDonald St, Mt MaunganuiOPEN 7 DAYS 9-5pmViking Kayaks Specialising in fishing and recreational kayaks.0800 529 253 www.vikingkayaks.co.nz

MARINATauranga Bridge MarinaPh: 07 575 8264 Fax: 07 575 8369 VHF: Ch 73 “Bridge Marina”

RIGGINGMike McCormick Ph: 578 307159 Mirrielees Rd, Tauranga

TRAILERSPrescott TrailersPh 07-573 913029 Station Rd, Te Pukewww..prescotttrailers.co.nzGreerton EngineeringPh 541 002464 Maleme StreetTAURANGAwww.greertoneng.co.nz

CLUB CONTACTSMount Maunganui Yacht ClubPh: 542 0305Omokoroa Boat ClubJohn Budden Ph: 548 1180Alan Roberts Ph: 579 1967Tauranga Game Fishing ClubKeith Allen Dr, Sulphur Point TaurangaPh: 578 6203Tauranga Marine Industry Assn.PO Box 13303 TaurangaSteve Glover www.tmia.co.nz or secretary@tmia.co.nzTga Yacht & Power Boat ClubPO Box 14352 Tauranga Ph 578 5512

24 WATERLINE FISHING

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October 1 is the start of the new trout fishing season and Eastern Region Fish and Game is marking

the new season a day early with an open day at the Ngongotaha trout hatchery.

The ‘learn how to catch more trout day’ is on Friday, September 30.

“There will be boat fishing tuition and fly casting instruction, and visitors will be shown how to de-bone, fillet and cook trout,” says Fish & Game officer Mark Sherburn.

“This is a day to celebrate a new season kicking off and provide plenty of tips because as part of managing the sports fish, we want anglers to be successful and catch plenty of fish.”

On the Saturday, Eastern Region Fish & Game officers will be quizzing more than 1000 anglers over the fish they’ve caught on lakes Rotoiti, Tarawera and Okataina – the three lakes which have

had a three month rest from boat fishing. “We patrol both by boat and at the boat ramps, asking anglers about their catches – and measure and weigh the fish.

“We look for fish tags and at the way the fins have been clipped – to work out when those fish were released, and whether they’re hatchery-bred or wild fish,” says Fish & Game officer Matt Osborne.

Anglers will also be questioned on how good their fishing has been in terms of catch rates, asking each angler how long they’ve been fishing, what methods they’ve been using, and for how long each day, to enables F&G to work out the success rate for different methods such as fly fishing or lead line trolling.

The information goes into the opening day report, a snapshot in time of how the lakes have fared over the last year.

Fish & Game officers are tipping better prospects for catching some hefty fish on opening day, compared with the start of the trout fishing season last year.

Lake Tarawera trout are already of a good size and condition thanks to a late summer and early autumn abundance of smelt, says Matt.

The most productive way to catch fish on the lakes on and around the October opening will be shallow trolling early in the morning and in the evening in low light conditions.

Deeper trolling using methods such as lead line, wire, and down-riggers are a good bet for the middle of the day when fish are found deeper.

“Lots of boat traffic which is typical at the start of the season can force fish deeper.”

There have been no changes to Eastern Fish & Game Region’s angling regulations for the new 2010-2011 season.

The area of Ruato Bay on Lake Rotoiti which has been closed will be open from October 1.

It will be off limits again from April 1 until the end of the season on September 30.

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WATERLINE 25FISHING

Management of the lower Waikato river fish stocks comes under joint government and iwi

management this spring.

New regulations which came into effect on September 22, enable Waikato-Tainui to manage non-commercial customary fishing on the lower Waikato River.

The trustees of the Waikato-Tainui Raupatu River Trust and appointed kaitiaki (customary fishing authorisers) will be able

to issue customary fishing authorisations.The regulations apply from Karapiro to

the Waikato River mouth, including the tributaries, streams and watercourses that flow into that part of the river; and the lakes, wetlands and banks of water bodies along the way.

The key fishery in the lower Waikato River is freshwater eels. Commercial fishers fish out of Port Waikato for species such as mullet and flatfish. Port Waikato is also a popular recreational fishing area.

Under the regulations, the Trust can

also recommend bylaws to the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture that may restrict fishing on the lower Waikato River in order to ensure long-term sustainability of fishstocks or for cultural reasons.

“Otherwise commercial and recreational fishing can continue undisturbed on the Waikato River,” says MAF Director-Gen-eral Wayne McNee.

The Ministry will lead compliance with the new regulations, and will also be involved with training, record keeping and administration.

Waikato-Tainui take on joint fishery management

Great prospects for lakes openingThe most productive way to catch

trout on the Rotorua lakes on and around the opening day on

October 1 will be shallow trolling (harling) early in the morning and

in the evening in low light.

Deeper trolling using methods such as lead line, wire, and downriggers are a good bet for the middle of the day when fish are found deeper.

“Lots of boat traffic, which is typical at the start of the season, can force fish deeper,” says Fish & Game officer Matt Osborne.

Jigging is generally more productive from around December when the water warms and a strong thermocline forms, up until about the end of May.

Feeding zoneOn deep inland lakes, water temperatures

tend to settle into horizontal layers of warm water and cold water separated by a mod-erating layer known as the thermocline, which is the most active feeding zone.

Some anglers go jigging from opening, however, even though there isn’t a thermo-cline present. It simply means the fish are harder to target and fishers need to work the depths a little more.

There are no changes to Eastern Fish & Game Region’s angling regulations for the new season.

Ruato Bay on Lake Rotoiti, which has been closed, will be open from October 1, but note that it will be off limits again from April 1 until the end of the season on September 30.

The annual closure period is an Eastern Region trial to see if winter shoreline catch rates can be improved by stopping the boat harvest of fish within a particular area of

the lake. It’s thought that trout congregate in Ruato Bay before they make their run toward beach areas to try and spawn.

Eastern Fish & Game officers are tipping better prospects for catching some hefty fish, compared with the start of the trout fishing season last year.

The most popular spots in the Eastern Region will be lakes Tarawera, Rotoiti and Okataina – all lakes where the fish have had a three-month rest from any boat fishing pressure.

Lake Tarawera trout are of a good size and condition thanks to a late summer and early autumn abundance of smelt.

“This provided plenty of feed and there was a huge improvement in fish quality going into the winter,” says Matt.

Collecting data“Data we’ve collected from competitions

allows us to calculate the size of two-year old hatchery fish – those most likely to be caught by anglers at the beginning of the season.”

Eastern Fish & Game is expecting the fish released in May 2010 to reach 541mm – that’s 21mm longer than last season open-ing.

Fish in the trap at Te Wairoa stream during the winter spawning runs turned up slightly shorter than last year, but heavier and in better condition. The average length

was 577mm and weight 2.51kg.Several drift dives Fish & Game officers

carried out at the Tarawera Outlet to count fish over the winter produced some pleasing results, says Matt.

They saw above average numbers of spawning trout – so the future looks bright for anglers into future seasons, he says.

Lake Rotoiti trout also look to be of a good size, again going by competition data from July.

The two-year-old trout liberated in Sep-tember 2010 should be slightly longer this year compared to the last opening.

Matt says hatchery-bred fish in Lake Rotoiti should be up in general.

“In response to the strong angler pres-sure the lake has come under in the last few years, we now liberate 28,500 fish in Rotoiti annually.”

Matt’s picking the largest early season fish to be caught in the Ohau Channel connect-ing Lake Rotoiti to Lake Rotorua.

Large brownsHe’s expecting large brown trout and well

conditioned rainbows to be caught. Fly fishing is only permitted in the channel.

Like Tarawera, Lake Rotorua also experi-enced healthy autumn smelt numbers, and fish responded with an improvement in their condition – after a couple of seasons where a lack of smelt meant trout size and condition was generally disappointing.

Fish & Game officers have taken some quite nicely conditioned rainbows from their fish trap at Ngongotaha – fish which are making spawning runs from Lake Rotorua, and anglers have also caught some good fish.

“Remember to check the regulations before fishing Rotorua streams as the upper reaches of some remain closed on October 1.”

26 WATERLINE VOYAGES

The last instalment of Catherine Simmons’ three-part story of Siola

Tau, a 15.2 metre Indonesian sailing ship which she and husband

David rebuilt from a wreck on Darwin foreshore and sailed to

Indonesia and back

Attacked by GuerillasThe first two days our from Kupang we

experienced good winds but the follow-ing two days we were battling a strong current and not much wind. When the wind eventually died completely we used “Jonathon” to bring us close to the coast to avoid the current and prevent us from going backwards.

We originally intended keeping a safe distance from East Timor as foreign vessels were still not allowed to land there, but according to reports we’d heard, the war was virtually over with only small skir-mishes occasionally in the mountains.

So there we were all sitting on the stern rail trying to keep the shaft and propel-ler underwater and observing the coast of what was once Portuguese Timor, at very close range. The scenery was rugged but beautiful, with the occasional thatched hut, and we saw several natives who obviously wondered what and who we were and who hid from us behind trees and huts.

After we had made several miles, our outboard was exhausted and so nearly were our fuel supplies. It was late afternoon and there was still no wind so we decided to anchor in a little bay over a picturesque coral reef. The depth of water made it nec-essary to anchor only 45 metres offshore. We ate supper and all sat around on the afterdeck in good spirits commenting on two or three men running high up on the mountain track with what looked like sticks or bows. Several men were also standing around a small hut with a fire going about 90 metres to our starboard side.

We were discussing the situation in Timor and wondering what was happening in Dili, about 20 miles up the coast, when an almighty explosion preceded by a flash startled us. This was followed by two more, all with loud echoes and all, we guessed, artillery fire. There was silence as we all looked to each other for an explanation. Then a rifle shot rang out form a nearby hill, prompting David to give the order to make ready to leave.

The main was hauled up and the job and staysail made ready to fly. David took the helm, leaving Alan to pull up the anchor and Nick with the headsail halyards to haul up immediately after the anchor.

A slight breeze picked up and nightfall was beginning. I stood beside David, and Louise and Marie sat on the aft rail. Just as the anchor was about to be pulled up, six rifle shots suddenly rang out – one just missing Marie and two David felt go between his and my head. I was aware of a shrill, electrifying sound whizzing past my ear but my mind was too dazed to fully comprehend what caused it. Nick dropped through the main hatch with the first shot and Alan scrambled through the forward hatch, landing on the bunk and falling into the bilge with a spray of splinters all over him.

More shots rang out in rapid succession. Luckily David grabbed me, throwing me to the deck. Louise and Marie, screaming, dived through the companionway, landing in a heap at the bottom of the stairs. David and I were flat on the deck on the port side and shots were ringing out and landing on the water beside us. I remembered thinking we must be sinking and asking David what he thought. I was too scared to move, but David persuaded me to follow him forward, sliding on my stomach, and to hurriedly disappear down the hatch to where the others were laying flat as pancakes on the floor in the forward section.

There were no shots for a few minutes and we were beginning to regain our breaths when another burst of fire broke out, resounding off the water and wood-work. We really thought they meant to kill us and any minute expected to hear people

boarding the boat. In my innocence, I never realised that bullets could go through wood – which was lucky. It was disconcert-ing to see the terrified looks on everyone’s faces.

Once again the firing ceased. We all held hands and prayed together. We couldn’t reassure each other because not one of us believed for a minute that we could possibly get out of this situation. We hoisted a white flag in the form of a pillowcase on the end of a broom through the main hatch and shone a torch on it. This only prompted more fire. Our fears mounted. I had never realised what a terrifying noise a gun made.

Cries went up each time the main-sail flapped with the slight breeze, sounding as though someone was boarding the ship.

We lay on the floor for hours. Slowly David and Nick worked out some possible means of escape and as each neces-sitated someone going on deck, it

had to be executed before 11.30pm when the moon rose. The bilge was checked and luckily there was no more water than usual.

The plan decided on was for Nick to crawl through the stowage area beneath the afterdeck, lift the aft hatch a few inches and release the main sheet to let out the mainsail, hoping this would turn the bow away from the shore and out to sea. David would creep through the forward hatch, crouch among the bowsprit timbers and use the kitchen carving knife to cut the anchor rope. While the plan was being carried out, the rest of us could only hope and pray for its success.

David cut through half the rope but the bow swung back toward the shore and he had to stop. He returned inside and we all felt very despondent as our plan had so far failed. In the next two hours we thought of everything possible but no plan seemed sen-sible. The tide was going out so we had the added problem of possibly being aground at low tide, which would have decided our fate. We badly needed an offshore breeze.

It was November 5 and I thought of our folks back home who’d probably be standing around a bonfire and letting off skyrockets; I felt sure we would never see them again.

The journey of Siola Tau

JP

continued...

WATERLINE 27SIOLA TAU

At about 10.30pm a slight breeze exerted enough pressure on the sail to push the bow out to sea once more. This was our chance – we had to go now if at all. David explained that once he had cut the rope, there would be no return and we must all do everything in our power to get away, even if in doing so we risked our lives. The alternative was to founder on the shore and be shot.

There had been no shots for a couple of hours but we could still see a fire on the shore and torches flashing occasionally. David sawed through the rope, released the end, and Siola Tau responded slowly, drifting out toward freedom. He watched a star against the rigging – the star moved slowly away.

I was controlling the tiller with a broom poked through the companionway, but without headsails we almost had no steerage and ST began to turn toward the rocky shore again. Without our knowledge, David and Nick slipped over the side, grabbed the bobstay and swam ST slowly back, missing the shore by only about 20 metres.

Gaining groundSlowly, she began to move of her own

accord as light airs filled the sails. Alan and Nick continued to pull at the bow using flippers while David came aboard and lay on the deck to steer. Foot by foot we gained ground and when we were about 180 metres out, Alan and Nick climbed back on board. Out of the shadow of the mountains we picked up a good breeze, up went the headsails and off we flew, not knowing whether we could relax yet or not.

We could see a large light out to sea. This turned out to be an Indonesian destroyer which approached us and stopped close by. Our newly regained confidence diminished as we wondered what to expect. We went about rapidly, hoping they wouldn’t follow us. After a time they continued on their way toward Dili and we, not wanting to take any further chances and counting our blessings, turned back for Kupang.

Our stomachs were in complete knots and as a result David was doubled over in pain. The others went below to sleep and together David and I steered ST until dawn. It was like a nightmare and I thought maybe I would wake up, but the reality of the previous night was only too obvious in the morning when we inspected the damage – nine holes in the main sail and two in the bow just below the waterline. Two other bullets were found in the galley.

We spent the day repairing the sail and feeling happy to be alive. We discussed the ordeal at length and we all felt that the first shots had been meant to kill us. We suspected that a slight movement by ST was all that saved us.

It wasn’t for at least two weeks that anyone could bring themselves to joke about the incident – that was when Nick suggested we send a request to Radio Australia’s nightly request session for the Fretelins, advising more target practice.

Several factors led us to believe that it was Fretelins who shot at us, one being that the men we saw wore loin-clothes and looked very primitive and another that they never shot at us while we sailed out as this would have drawn the Indonesian destroyer’s attention to their whereabouts. We can only guess as to why they shot at us.

Probably they were scared when the saw we had an Indonesian boat.

It was only two days after being shot at that we heard over Radio Australia that the Indonesians wanted the United Nations to recognise that East Timor was now Indo-nesian, and that the war was over and that everyone was contented. On our eventual arrival to Darwin, however, a group in sympathy with the Fretelins and made up of several East Timorese explained how the Fretelins still had control over a large part of East Timor. They also confirmed that Fretelins were occupying the area where we were shot at.

It took us three days to reach Kupang once more. We were very uneasy while still in East Timorese waters. We remained in Kupang Harbour only long enough to replenish our water supply from a nearby ship and then headed toward the Roti Straits, tacking out of the harbour.

Days becalmedThe following morning we had cleared

the Straits, thanks to a good westerly wind, but not before blowing out our jib and drifting 15 miles backwards during the night. However, that wind was no indica-tion of things to come.

It took another 17 days to reach Darwin, to cover the same area that had taken five days to cross on the way over. We were becalmed for many days at a time. There was no land in sight and not a ripple on the water. The boom swung back and forth,

hitting the running backstays in a most annoying manner. The mainsail was faded and had been mended many times. It just flopped careless and we wondered if it would even stand a good wind now.

The heat was unbearable and due to large quantities of water being consumed, ration-ing had to be introduced. An occasional seasnake would poke its ugly head out of the water and we saw several small sharks, making swimming the exclusive right of the brave! We mainly threw buckets of water over our heads and draped ourselves in wet towels.

ST’s hull had a huge growth of week which caused considerable drag so the three males took it in turns diving to scrub it off while the others kept watch for dreaded monsters! It was incredible the difference this made when we next got some decent wind.

Soon, food rationing also had to be introduced. This caused everyone to be discontented and there were many argu-ments. We constructed a distiller, which took many hours of thought and work, but produced only a few drops of fresh water which instantly evaporated.

Each day the situation grew worse, the water ration was reduced and we began to feel dehydrated. We were down to three cups of water a day – hardly enough to sustain one in ordinary climatic conditions let alone the tropics.

Navigation was practised each day. I took morning and afternoon sights and these showed that even if there was no wind we did at least drift a few miles.

On the afternoon of 21 November we spotted a ship on the horizon, the first since leaving Kupang. We used “Jonathon” to alter course and intercept it. It was a gigan-tic supertanker and as it glided past we frantically raised and lowered our mainsail and hoisted a distress flag. However, the sailors on deck just waved and continued on their way. We all felt like crying – I had never felt so let down in my life and at a time when we were all beginning to realise what it would be like to die of thirst in the tropics – not a very pleasant way to go I’d imagine.

Fifteen minutes later, Marie yelled from the afterdeck that the tanker was turn-ing and within half an hour we were tied alongside the 238-metre Panamax Mercury, which had left Australia with a cargo of bauxite and was bound for Italy.

Gunfire and splintering woodwork...continued

continued...

28 WATERLINE VOYAGES

The crew were Taiwanese and we will never forget their generosity. They handed down a hose with which we filled all our jerrycans and then they sent down buckets containing ice-cold drinks, 10 frozen chickens, eight loaves of bread, two cartons of cigarettes and a lighter! We spoke to the captain via one crew member who could speak English. Our position was checked and we were within two miles of where I had estimated from our noon sight. We were still 200 miles from Darwin.

There was much celebrating that evening, not to mention eating, and we even finished off our supply of Scotch now that we had a mixer. It was a relief to know we now had a plentiful supply of water and the contemplation of a few more days out there was more acceptable. The following morning we spotted a small plane and expe-

rienced a shower of rain in the afternoon, followed by a good stiff breeze to which ST responded beautifully. We were delighted to be sailing again.

On the morning of the 23rd, I was awoken by a loud and disconcerting roar. Still shaky from our experience in East Timor, I panicked but nevertheless stuck my head through the forward hatch to see what disaster was about to strike. It was a 2-seater plane belonging to the Northern Territory Navy and looking and sounding like a remnant from the First World War I sup-pose they were on the lookout for Vietnamese refugee boats. They seemed to rear up and over us from out of nowhere and seemingly just cleared our mast.

Another two days of reason-

able winds enabled us to drop anchor in Darwin Harbour late on Friday afternoon. It was touch and go whether or not the customs would come out and clear us or leave it until Monday morning. However, there was no doubt as to whether we would hit town that night and eventually did so at about 9pm after a doctor and several customs officials had trooped over ST and satisfied themselves that all was in order.

We had taken our chances, and, equipped with an inexhaustible amount of enthusi-asm, and undaunted sense of adventure and very little experience, had set out into the deep blue yonder and returned miracu-lously unscathed. We suspected that luck had a lot to do with this.

We had much to learn and the sea had taught us many valuable lessons. We had learnt to sail, often by the stars, to navigate and appreciate and respect the ways of the sea. We held definite ideas about how we’d go about a similar trip in the future and we realised the advantage of a good engine. But it was nice to know we had done it the hard way and that next time would have to be easier!

An undaunted sense of adventure

By Catherine Simmons

...continued

WATERLINE 29WINDSURFING

Organisers of the Tauranga Windsurfers Spring Racing event are hoping to hold a similar one

before the end of the year.

About 26 windsurfers competed, includ-ing six Aucklanders who came down for a day of short board slalom racing off Ferguson Park.

“It’s the first real organised racing for many years,” says organising committee member Leigh Hawes.

“The guys who regularly sail have all got families that occupy a fair bit of our time so trying to fit something in for everybody’s schedule has been a bit of work, but we managed to pull it off.

“We secured some really great sponsors. It was really a fantastic weekend for everybody concerned.”

They set out the course off Ferguson Park for short sharp racing that was nice and close to the beach for the spectators.

Everybody’s been asking when we are

going to do it again, says Leigh.“We would like to fit it in with the Auck-

land calendar and that would encourage a few of their guys to come down as well.

“There’s a lot of people kiting and they have regular competitions; Glen Bright at Assault Board Riders was one of our spon-sors.

“He came out of kiting imposed retire-ment to race and did very well.

“He’s looking at having some windsurfers in some of his racing.”

Spring racing success

30 WATERLINE NORWEST

There were once two classic game fishing boats moored off the end of

First Ave on Tauranga Harbour.

They were named Nor West and Sou East. Sou East was first in the water and was owned by designer Fred Wilkins, a pioneer game fisherman in Tauranga who was doing charters to Mayor Island.

Bill Higgins tried to persuade Fred to sell him the Sou East, but Fred wouldn’t sell, so Bill commissioned a sister ship and this was the Nor West.

Nor West had slightly different lines with more of a flare on the bow and other small improvements.

Built by Lamb Motor Boat Company in Panmure Auckland in 1951, Nor West was fitted with twin BMC diesels.

She was originally taken to Wellington and then later she was fishing the Mayor Island waters alongside the Sou East for many years.

In later years she fished the Bay of Islands and Tutukaka before returning to Tauranga under the ownership of Fred Wilkins’ nephew John Dennis who owned Nor West for about 10 years, keeping her on a mooring where she used to be, at the end of 1st Avenue and slipping her in the same shed which is now part of John Dennis’s property.

John later sold Nor West and she is back on the market with Brian Worthington from Gulf Group Marine Brokers for $185,000

The three owner vessel is still in almost original order and in presented in pristine condition.

Powered by twin Ford 6cyl 90hp diesels, it still has the old trellis Mayor Island outriggers, 2x game chairs, toilet, shower, 6x berths, 2x burner/oven, fridge, gleaming paintwork and chrome with varnish trim.

Contact Brian to purchase this beautifully restored piece of New Zealand game fishing history.

Brian Worthington Ph 07 579 9716 or tauranga@gulfgroup.co.nz

Another classic boat on market

WATERLINE 31GULF GROUP

32 WATERLINE

Riviera 37Launched 2006, GRP construction, powered by twin 370hp Volvos giving 20 knots cruise.leather and teak interior, 2 cabins with 2 single and 2 double berths, toilet, holding tank, 2 showers, fridge, 2 freezers, 2 burner hob and convection oven. Electronics include VHF, radar, autopilot, GPS, chartplotter, depthsounder, fishfinder, stereo, CD player, TV and DVD. Game rigged/chair, live bait tank, teak cockpit, hard top clears, salt water wash down, auto anchoring, inflatable and outboard. Vessel is in “as new” condition. $525,000CONTACT: Brian Worthington PHONE: 027 447 2393 Email: tauranga@gulfgroup.co.nz