Boating NZ June 2021

Yesterday, while scrolling through a few of my go-to online news sites, I stumbled across one of the most disturbing images I’ve seen in a long time: an aerial photo showing scores of bodies lining the banks of India’s Ganges River. All victims of that country’s impossibly daunting Covid struggles. The deceased are typically cremated on makeshift pyres in India – but that’s become increasingly difficult because wood is in short supply. Families have no option other than to commit the dead to the Ganges and let Nature takes its course. Somewhat ironical – given that submerging yourself in the Ganges is usually associated with spiritual cleansing and rebirth. More depressingly, it’s hard to see the situation getting better any time soon in a country of around a billion inhabitants. Perhaps because the…

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…as you’d imagine, manoeuvring her to the North Sea required exceptional care. Initially identified only as Project 817 (she will be called Viva), the vessel was built by Dutch shipyard Feadship – the yard is inland, at its Kaag Island facility. To get to the North Sea – only a few kilometres away – Feadship’s creations have to negotiate a labyrinth of narrow canals. Designed by Azure Yacht Design & Naval Architecture and De Voogt, Project 817 features a hybrid propulsion system. She is one of the biggest superyachts ever produced by the shipyard, and as you’d imagine, manoeuvring her to the North Sea required exceptional care. The operation took four days. In fact, it seems the vessel’s dimensions (beam 13.6m) were designed around the width of the canals and bridges – in…

The developers of Waiheke’s Kennedy Point Marina have welcomed a penguin expert’s recommendations following an independent review of the project’s approved plans. A seabird ecologist, Dr Leigh Bull is an authority on the penguins and has significant experience in managing construction activities near penguin burrows. She found that while the project’s plans relating to the monitoring and management of the little blue penguins during construction addressed its consent conditions, the plans could be improved. Existing penguin monitoring and construction management plans were approved by Council, but following concerns from several local interest groups for the welfare of the penguins using the rock wall at Kennedy Point, Dr Bull was engaged to review the plans and identify if they could be strengthened. “One of my key recommendations involves the preparation of a single Little…

Elusive to New Zealand sailors for many years, the prestigious Finn Gold Cup has been claimed by Kiwi Andy Maloney – the second Kiwi in 18 months to get his hands on the trophy. Maloney went into the final day in Porto (Portugal) with a narrow five-point lead but banked three solid scores to win his first world title. What made it even more special was that Josh Junior, who went in as defending champion after his historic victory in 2019, finished third. The pair have a unique relationship, working extremely closely together, and it’s clearly paying dividends. It just means the Olympic selectors now have a very difficult decision to make with only one able to compete at the Tokyo Games. Maloney finished seven points ahead of Spain’s Joan Cardona, with Junior…

Yachting New Zealand (YNZ) has been working with Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) to clarify the process skippers must undertake to best prepare their vessels before heading overseas. Under Section 21 of the Maritime Transport Act, New Zealand-registered vessels must obtain a Category 1 safety certificate before departing New Zealand. Skippers of New Zealand-registered vessels must also notify the director of MNZ of their intention to leave. This can be done using an online form (www.maritimenz.govt.nz/recreational/the-basics/going-overseas.asp), and skippers of foreign vessels are encouraged to follow this process as well. “We have been delegated by MNZ to conduct Category 1 safety inspections,” says YNZ chief executive David Abercrombie. “The inspections focus on the design, construction and condition of the vessel as well as the capability and qualifications of the skipper and crew. “The primary reason…