(1)  A note from your  Commodore
(2) WCC Executive Meeting 13th March 2007
(3) Marcus Hansen - National Optimist Champion 2006
(3a)Throw out your old Beacon
(4)  WDC interest free loan
(5)  Centreboarders
(6)  Trailer Sailers
(7)  Keelers
(7a)Model Boat Racing
(8)  Whangarei Marina Management
(9)  Grid
(10)Navigation Notice
(11)Pontoon
(12)Change Marine VHF
(13)Whangarei Coastguard and Channel 64
(14)Life Jackets
(15)Safety notice re GPS
(16)VHF call sign
(17)National Yachting Register
(18)Donated Winch
(19)Chart Correction - Marine Reserve

 

A note from your Commodore

Hi Members

I saw the start of the Fairway Buoy race and what an impressive sight it was, with keelers and trailer yachts tacking down harbour in a good wind from the northeast.
Hopefully we will have strategic plan finalized at the next executive meeting. Parua Jetty is making good progress, and we have a new Gridmaster, Dick Strugnell Ph 021448041, thanks Dick for stepping up and taking over the grid. Many thanks to Doug Smeal for his efforts as Gridmaster.
Well, the jackpot is up to $500 and we will have three draws on Friday the 13th (in fact the jackpot was subsequently won by Marijke McRae.ED)

Enjoy your sailing

Rex Ford
Commodore  
 

Interest Free Loan

The Whangarei Cruising Club will be able to complete construction of its new clubrooms at Kissing Point on Riverside Drive thanks to a $100,000 eight year interest-free loan granted recently by the Whangarei District Council. The club needed the money to cover a shortfall in its plans to build new clubrooms at a cost of about $500,000. The rest of the project is being funded from the sale of a club property at Manganese Point ($261,000) and donations including $25,000 from the Lion Foundation. Sincere thanks to the Lion Foundation.
 

Centreboarders

An outline programme of centreboard activities at Parua Bay for the period 2006/2009 is as follows.
14 Oct 06                 Opening Day
25 - 27 Oct               Kamo High School Regatta
4/5 Nov                    NYA training (all classes)
25/26 Nov 06           Splash Travellers Series
26 Nov 06                Club Championship Day
Mar/April 2007         Teams Racing Regatta
June 2007                 Queens Birthday Weekend teams racing open regatta
April 2008                Secondary Schools nationals
Dec 2009/Jan 1010  P Class/Starling nationals
 

The year was off to a good start with nine trailer sailers and six keelers recorded as taking part in Barney's Barrel. We Know, however, that Kia Ora also took part but there is no record as to where she went or where she came but folklore has it that she covered a large amount of the harbour in the process!
Anyway, suffice to say that all who participated in this fun race enjoyed themselves. I guess there was a lesson from this race it would be the difficulty in recovering yachts in rough water. It was good to see the help given by all crews too ensure a speedy and safe recovery for all when a nasty little front passed over right at the end of the race. Well done all.
RFD races 3 and 4 were run with a new look. The races (two back-to-back) were sailed on a windward/leeward course set on the day. Furthermore, the start was conducted on the water from a patrol boat using the current Yachting NZ start system (i.e. flags and a five minute countdown). By all accounts that I have heard, all who took park enjoyed themselves. It is my intention that on-the-water starts will become the norm so that we can inject a little more variety into our sport. Not only , from time-to-time we will be able to exclude the dreaded Nook Beacon from the race course and that has to be a plus. Our thanks to Ron and Len for manning the committee boat.
Sail Tuning
Dave Parr of Calibre Sails has agreed to run a sail tuning clinic for us. The clinic will involve an onshore practical discussion on how to set up a rig for best advantage followed by individual tuition on the water in your boat. There was no response to this invitation at the deadline of 7 April but a few days later when rung in person, lo and behold at least 12 owners indicated enthusiastic support. I am loss to understand why none of you rang. I can now advise you the Clinic  will start on Sun 6 May at 1000hrs. David has indicated that we will start with a general discussion an land before taking to the water for individual coaching.
Stan Lowe would like to step down from his duties in the start box - our sincere thanks - a formal presentation in the near future.
Final results recent RFD series see Scuttlebutt
The jetty is well on the way to being dismantled. Obviously we will have to make alternative arrangements for launching and  recovery while replacement work is going on. Best estimates for completion are the end of July.

Merv Fair
                                                                          

A reasonable fleet of 19 boats (15 keelers & 4 trailer) took part in the Fairways Buoy race with an easterly 12 to 18 knot breeze and an incoming tide to deal with on the slog down the harbour. Apart from Bare Essentials who once again very quickly became a speck in the distance. It was surprising how close the majority of the fleet were together were together at One Tree Point/ Refinery. Once past here however the fleet did spread out. For further description see Scuttlebutt
For the Kawau Island race sadly only 4 boats took part They had a superb run all the way down on one tack in 10 odd knots of wiind under the full moon. It seems the boats had a very pleasant cruise back with ideal conditions.
Winter series briefing at WCC Kissing Point Friday night 4th May
Winter Series Race 1 Keelers sttart at OYC tower 1100 hrs Sunday 6th May                              

Noel Douglas
Keeler Convener
 

Another year of changes. New management - Brian Caulton and Sharon Petersson - are making the place hum and helping us with developement. There is a new pontoon in front of the office and we have been granted a resource consent to extend that a further 84 metres. We are discussing the conditions of the consent with the Regional Council who are concerned about discharges. A practical scheme to eliminate these is required and education is the preferred option. The issue of depth in the Hatea Channel is still being pursued. We and others made submissions to the two councils in their recent planning rounds. They have decided to form a working party. The NRC has purchased reading equipment. Eventually perhaps some mud will be shifted. Thanks to Briane Keene for his dogged persistence in the face of bureaucratic obstinacy. As usual a lot of our income went into dredging our "footprint". Money was also spent on replacing another block of piles at kissing Point. We expect to make a small operating profit for the year ended 30th June 2006 but not enough for major expansion. An application has gone to the District Council for loan funds for the next extension of the office pontoon. There is still strong demand for berths and we would like to expand. It would not be prudent to go much further in the town basin until the channel issue is resolved. Consideration of the Pohe Island/Waioneone Creek area as a site is underway. It is already zoned as suitable for marinas. This would be a good place to move local boats that are used regularly down the harbour and free up space in the Town Basin. This would also be beyond the Trusts resources to fund, and we will need to look at options. The trustees have asked the WCC executive to re-nominate John Gentry who retires by rotation. John knows a lot of the history, has the skill, time and interest to continue a valuable contribution. He's got a few k's in him yet. Thanks to the other trustees and management for a good year.
Nick Mulligan
Chairperson
 

News from Yachting NZ

Yachting NZ has a serious requirement for more funds if it is to achieve its ambitious new programme under the new management regime's proposal.

• To grow participation and retention in sailing and enhance development.
• Advance member's interests and grow YNZ services to members.
• Lift the visibility  of and funding potential of yachting.
• Win medals at competition.
   

To fund these ambitions, YNZ are asking all Clubs to increase funding to YNZ by 50% per senior equivalent member (SEM). An SEM is arrived at by dividing the total income of all members of the Club by the Club's senoir membership. In the WCC's case this would be $24880 divided by $105 which gives 237 SEM numbers. The proposal for this year would cost the Club $8000 ($5523 last year)
 

Grid

A Club member has recently been caught by NRC scrubbing his hull (photographed as well) on the grid, resulting in the Club being served with an Abatement Notice and the member being fined $500.
With the retirement of John Wright, Doug Smeal is the new Gridmaster - phone 4362721
Thank you John for all you've done over the years. Not only has John kept a close eye on the grid but he has always taken an interest in the property at Kissing Point - fixing things up and keeping it tidy.
 

.Northport have announced that there have been changes to buoys located off the old gun emplacements at Home Point. Position changes affect buoys 5,9,12,14 and 16. While they have not been shifted far, the positions may affect your reckoning. There are now also two yellow dan buoys with flags at 35.50.01S and 174.29.41E and at 35.50.05S and 174.29.53E outside the harbour entrance. These two dan buoys are temporary placements and have yellow flashes on at night flashing 5 times every 23 seconds.
 

Members may tie up to the pontoon for a maximum of two hours but please fly the club burgee for identification. For periods longer than two hours, and if over-nighting please contact Bill Roland 4323856.
 

Changes to the Marine VHF Service

There have been changes to international VHF marine frequencies which have necessitated a re-allocation of our own national frequencies.
Channel 88 has now gone to Channel 82 and services the Hauraki Gulf Hokianga areas.
Channel 87 has now gone to Channel 62 and services the Waiheke area.
Channel 87 has now gone to Channel 85 and services the Tutukaka and Whangaruru areas.
These changes have been made to co-ordinate New Zealands's services to international requirements.
Channel 04 and 64 are the local repeater channels for the Whangarei and Tutukaka Coastguard and local calling.
MSA Maritime Radio provides forecasts which are on VHF channel 16 then 71 for the Hauraki Gulf at 0533, 0733, 1033, 1333, 1733, 2133 hours.
Coastguard provide a Nowcasting service which is continuous on VHF channel 20 giving current wind speeds and directions, tides, forecasts and warnings.
 

When something goes wrong at sea on the Whangarei Harbour, Bream Bay and all the way out to the Mokohinaus you should be tuned into VHF channel 64. It offers trip reports, tide and weather, information on hazzards, communication with other vessels (limited) Chat channel is 06. Channel 64 is manned 24hours/7days per week. It is financed mainly by coastguard membership subs - so join.
Duty Officer 027 667 6816. Joan Livingstone - Radio Manager
 

Under 13 Life Jacket Rule being enforced in USA. Coastguard approved life jackets for all children under 13yrs aboard recreational vessels underway except when below decks or in enclosed cabin. The new rule was created to address the problem of childhood drowning while boating.
 

Maritime Safety Authority NZ Notice to Mariners NZ 30(T)/03
Certain consumer electronic-grade VHF/UHF marine antennas are causing operational degradation in the performance of GPS receivers.
 

VHF Call Sign

As of October 1998, the Coastguard Boating Education Service (CBES) became responsible for maintaining the recreational VHF Call Sign Database. The details held on the database are for Search and Rescue (SAR) and Coastguard communication purposes only. It is vital that a vessel VHF call sign details are correct in the event of an emergency situation, from the description of the vessel to the contact details of the owner. The details are also held at the National Search and Rescue Co-ordination Centre (NSRCC) in Wellington and made available to the Coastguard units nation wide in an emergency.
To check the details of a call sign, call Coastguard Boating Education free on 0800 40 80 90.
 

At the recent KORC meeting it was passed that the price of registrations be increased slightly. (No change had been made since the inception of GST!!!)
Why Register?
a) If you intend to race under the sail number on your boat, it is in the Yachting New Zealand Racing Rules that the owner needs to be registered to the Yachting New Zealand’s National Register.
b) Safety. If your boat gets washed off its mooring or is damaged at any time, you can be contacted by Police or Coastguard if your details are on the register.
The new costs:
Change of Ownership or Change of Boat Name $50.00
New Registration (previously unregistered yachts) $100.00
Personalised numbers (selected by you, provided it is not set aside as a Collectors number) $250.00
Collectors numbers (unique number up to #9999, are symmetrical or mirror image or unique in some way) $500.00
The new registration forms are now on the Yachting New Zealand website under Keelboating, Racing and Cruising. Clubs please let your members know of this change.
We have also updated the list of the National Register on the website. We have only included the boats we have recently (since 2001) updated. If your boat is not on this list then we believe we have lost contact with you. Please contact us (mail@yachtingnz.org.nz) to update your contact details to your boat.