syohana 37 Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 Having relocated to New Zealand a couple of years ago from the UK, I'm accustomed to being able to turn up in any harbour and just pick up a visitors mooring or pontoon berth, pay a few pounds to the harbour master and sleep comfortably or go off exploring ashore, leaving the boat in complete safety, maybe radio ahead if it might be busy. Since buying a boat here a year ago one of the biggest difficulties we've had has been finding safe visitors moorings. Our insurance doesn't cover the boat if left unattended at anchor and I don't particularly like having to keep anchor watch either. The pilot books I've found have little or no information. Most public jetties seem to be drying, limited to a very short stay and the charts and pilot books don't usually specify which jetties are public or private, or the depth of water to expect alongside. Visitors' swinging moorings seem to be non-existent, or maybe I just don't know how to find out about them? I'm sure lots of people on here who have been around longer than us have great local knowledge of jetties, marinas and moorings where visitors are welcome. It would be wonderful if you could share it. Paradise would be a pub/restaurant with private jetty, 3-4 hours sail from Panmure, where we can moor up for a good lunch! Maybe some sailing clubs offer something like this? I've browsed a few local sailing club websites and none seem to mention visitors mooring. We sail our 24 footer, 1.4m draft, out of Panmure (Tamaki River) so anywhere in Hauraki gulf, or within a couple of days sailing would be most of interest to us, might head up to BOI in summer, but maybe this topic can become a great resource where we can all collect and share information on good places to moor up throughout New Zealand? The following might be useful info if you have it but any tips you can give would be very welcome: What's the place called? Lat/long who owns the mooring/jetty/marina? Is there any charge? Do you need to book in advance or just turn up? How to contact them (phone? email? VHF channel?) Depth of water (does it dry out? safe to lean on jetty if so?) What size and number of boats can it accomodate? What is there of interest / to do nearby? Any facilities available (fresh water, diesel, food, shops?) Thanks everyone! Chris - (S&S Falcon 24 "Crumbs") Link to post Share on other sites
NZL3551 0 Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 Have a look at the RAYC Cruising book, I can't remember the name of it but any boat book place would know, it has all the information for you in it! Link to post Share on other sites
wheels 543 Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 Where in NZ are you refering too?? Link to post Share on other sites
Bimini Babe 0 Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 Yeah I think we were pretty spoiled in the UK - the visitors mooring thing is great. Haven't seen anything like that in NZ outside major ports. From my experience everyone seems a lot more relaxed about anchoring though. I know I am these days, although I do tend to worry a lot more than me Kiwi partner ("she'll be right mate!") Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 There are next to no visitor moorings, as people from the Nth Hemisphere would regard then, in NZ, it's just knot the Kiwi way. Pull into a place that has moorings and ask around the locals and often you'll find one that can be used though. There is a few in Akl Harbour, see the ACC MAROPS team, but they call them 'emergency moorings', for a reason. They are good ones though and have some pretty massive gear in them. BUT most moorings (the gear in them, knot the ground under them) will be privately owned and what state it is in could be great thru to rotten as hell. Use with caution. Pull up as much as you can and if it looks spooky it probably is, go elsewhere. The European cruising idea of hopping from mooring to mooring or marina to marina is just knot the kiwi way and most kiwis would regard that as no different than back packing from the Sheraton to the Hilton. There is no reason what so ever you should need to keep an anchor watch unless the weather is absolutely horrendous or you have a crap (the bad one, knot the good ones) anchoring system.... which leads us back to the Northern Hemp again and the reason many use moorings and marinas, they generally have sh*t undersized crap anchoring systems good for boats 1/2 the size they are on. We see it a lot, especially out of the US. Boats arrive and the anchoring system is all good........ for Issy Bay when it's gusting 10kts, outside that they are pathetically under specified for the Kiwi style of boating. We have seen 40-50fters with anchoring systems smaller than Kiwis would use on the tenders for those sizes boats. There are a lot of boats living in places on their anchor and do so quite happily. BUT Chris is quite correct in saying most, if knot all, insurance companies aren't fans of that and have time limits, often very short ones like 24 to 48hrs max. Quite impressed Chris read his policy and knows that, well done that man, obviously smarter than many other that for sure Bimini, do I see a 'harden the f**k up' call in your post. Listen to your man, he's the bloke so is right you should know that. You just stay naked in the kitchen doing the ladies work and let the blokes do the mans work Err... bye folks, I have to run to the airport, some rather pissed of women from up north is after me with a big stick I'm told. I'm on the same aircraft as the Doyles marketing team I think Link to post Share on other sites
syohana 37 Posted October 19, 2011 Author Share Posted October 19, 2011 Thanks NZL, I don't have that book so I'll get a copy as soon as I can. The pilot book we bought only seems to cover anchorages and no info about alongside moorings at all. wheels: I did put that info in the original post. Biminibabe: I'm not shy of anchoring, but the boat is too small to put a dinghy on deck and towing it is literally a real drag, plus it's a real nuisance when there are more people than the dinghy will hold, and we have no outboard. It would be brilliant to know of places where we can moor alongside. I'm sure there must be lots of places the RAYC book doesn't cover, or doesn't have much details on and it's hard to tell which ones are the best from reading a dry pilot book so I still think this topic might be good idea. To get the ball rolling I did a search of previous posts and found almost nothing, but this post from wineglass about finding an overnight mooring on Great Barrier could be useful: Wineglass Post subject: Re: Moorings on Great Barrier islandPosted: Thu Jul 29, 2010 1:50 pm See: http://nz.vicdir.com/sn122222-0-port-fi ... ub-inc.htm for details. But for an overnight there's plenty of bullet proof places to anchor. Link to post Share on other sites
PaulR 3 Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 Re-read your policy. Does it only state "anchoring". If so then, as all insurance companies and lawyers will argue, you should knot anchor. If you use two anchors, you are now technically "moored" and knot therefore at anchor. The insurance company and their lawyers look at every word carefully. You can do the same. Ask them to clarify exactly what they mean with the different terms they have used. Does the anchor watchman have to be on board, in a tender near by or within sight of the boat (from the bar windows? etc. They have imposed their tems on you and all you are seeking is their guidence, clarification and correct implementations of their "confusing terms". Have fun. Recommended reading: Bureaucrats How to Annoy Them by R T Fishall ISBN 0 09 929370 6 It would be interesting to know if they know the difference. Simmilar to "making way" but knot "under way". You could always ask to take their photo and when they say "Why?", just smile and say "You may well win the next "Bastard of the Month" competition." Link to post Share on other sites
PaulR 3 Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 Sailing a 24ft yacht. Virtually any mooring should hold you, especially if you then ask on shore if it's OK. The trick is selecting a good looking one as per KM's post. Link to post Share on other sites
syohana 37 Posted October 19, 2011 Author Share Posted October 19, 2011 Knot me: Thanks for the info on emergency moorings, could be useful. Is it generally considered acceptable here to pick up vacant private moorings if you are prepared to move on when the owner turns up? What's the etiquette there? As we're only 24ft we shouldn't exceed the capacity of many moorings. Knot me & Paul R: Anchoring is wonderful in NZ and the first thing I did after getting the boat was buy a lot more chain, but there is no shortage of good places to do it so let's keep this topic strictly to fixed moorings and alongside berths where visitors are welcome, because that seems to be really hard to find. I don't want this to become a discussion about the pros and cons or legalities of anchoring! Anything relating to anchoring now declared 'off topic!'. Link to post Share on other sites
wheels 543 Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 wheels: I did put that info in the original post. Doh!!! and so you did too. I need to read more thoroughly. Link to post Share on other sites
Bimini Babe 0 Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 Sorry Chris, but I don't see how a mooring would be any different from anchoring if you don't carry a dinghy? Link to post Share on other sites
syohana 37 Posted October 19, 2011 Author Share Posted October 19, 2011 Sorry Chris, but I don't see how a mooring would be any different from anchoring if you don't carry a dinghy? We can tow a dinghy, just prefer not to. A mooring is preferable because we would be able to leave the boat unattended and still be insured, and come back to find her in the same place we left her. Really though it's alongside berths (pontoons, marinas and jetties) I'd most like to know about. Surely there must be a place somewhere in hauraki gulf where you can visit and moor alongside overnight? Link to post Share on other sites
Grinna 2 Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 Surely there must be a place somewhere in hauraki gulf where you can visit and moor alongside overnight? Chris, I don't think you're hearing what's been said. There aren't really any piers or jetties in the Hauraki Gulf where you can moor alongside overnight. There are wharfs and jetties, but they're either public structures (short term temporary stopping is possible .. i.e. loading and unloading) or there are a small number of private jetties or pontoons. Given the enormous cost and time involved in getting a private structure in the coastal marine area through the resource management act process, I'd be very surprised if people were happy for any tom, dick or harry to tie up to their private jetty for an indefinite period. You MIGHT have better luck with moorings, but that's just not that common in the Auckland area either. In the Marlborough Sounds, yeah there are moorings, but in the Hauraki Gulf ....... nup, not really. So ... the reason that pilot books and guides don't talk about these jetties and moorings is because they're not there. Sorry. Link to post Share on other sites
Farrari 4 Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 The only moorings that come close to what you are describing is the RNZYS ones at Bon Accord Harbour, Kawau. I assume to use these you need to be a member and book in advance to use these. I can't recall seeing anything else. As the vast majority of jetties and moorings are privately owned, it would be bad etiquette to tie up without getting prior permission. This is especially the case if your intention is to leave the vessel for long periods of time unattended. There is also no guarantee of the condition of the moorings. I would much rather put my faith in an anchor system that I maintain and trust than some random mooring. In the right conditions we will leave our vessel anchored for up to 8 hours at a time unattended while we go for walks, BBQs on the beach or up to a local restaurant. If I wanted to leave my vessel unattended for longer than that, I would rent a mooring privately. I'm pretty sure my insurance company would have some words to say if I came adrift while moored up without authorisation on an unknown mooring. Private moorings always irk me somewhat. I see it as the equivalent of putting up a reserved parking sign on public property, but each to their own. Link to post Share on other sites
Bimini Babe 0 Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 You're welcome to come and use the Opua Yacht Club jetty when you get as far as the BOI - $10 a night for non-members. See http://opuacruisingclub.co.nz (shameless plug ) Link to post Share on other sites
syohana 37 Posted October 19, 2011 Author Share Posted October 19, 2011 Thanks Grinna, I guess that's an answer to the question if not the one I was hoping for. I presumed such things were just well-kept secrets. There are so many private jetties around the place, often unoccupied, that I would have thought some of them are enterprising enough to put an honesty box on the end where you can leave, eg. $50 towards maintenance in exchange for an overnight stop? It's little secrets like those which I was hoping for. Another interesting idea has occurred though... How about a mooring/berth exchange web site, perhaps attached to crew.org.nz. If we all put details of our moorings on the site (max draft, weight, length, lat & long, identification), then report in when we leave the mooring unused, eg. if we're off on a 2 week trip. Facility to report in by text message would be useful. For each day you leave your mooring available to others, you would get a 'credit' so that you can look up other unused moorings on the site and occupy them yourself. So, when when we are away from Panmure boat B from waiheke can be on our mooring enjoying the hospitality at PYBC, boat C can be on their mooring at Waiheke and we can be on boat C's berth in gulf harbour. A simple online calendar booking system would do it, probably only a couple of days work to implement. I know it's OK to let other boats use our swinging mooring for up to a maximum of six months. Private jetties would be OK, most of them are tidal and never have anything permanently moored on them anyway. Owners could add them to the system and let people stop over for lunch at high tide, gaining credits to use elsewhere themselves. Marina berths may have conditions attached by the marina so might not be possible, maybe some marinas allow it, anyone know? Do you think enough people would use this system to make it viable? Link to post Share on other sites
syohana 37 Posted October 19, 2011 Author Share Posted October 19, 2011 The only moorings that come close to what you are describing is the RNZYS ones at Bon Accord Harbour, Kawau. I assume to use these you need to be a member and book in advance to use these. I can't recall seeing anything else. You're welcome to come and use the Opua Yacht Club jetty when you get as far as the BOI - $10 a night for non-members. See http://opuacruisingclub.co.nz (shameless plug ) AWESOME!!!! I knew there had to be places where it was possible! The Opua tip especially is really great to know because towing the dinghy as far as BOI would not just be slow but unsafe if conditions blew up. This actually makes a trip up to BOI this summer look 10x more likely than it did before. Link to post Share on other sites
ab1974 1 Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 For your BOI trip Chris you could go Panmure to Gulf Harbour marina, then Gulf Harbour to Tutukaka marina - dinner at the game fishing club then to Opua. Each between 25-50NM. Would prob be more comfortable to break the GH to Toots with a stop at Kawau (Anchor) or into Marsden Cove marina at entrance to Whangarei. Each of the marinas have a bar / restaurant that will sort you out. I spent 6 years living in London and sailing on the South Coast from 2001-2006. I don't think I ever anchored (apart from some RYA courses) at any stage. Was normally a marina hop after some racing / crusing be it to Yarmouth, Cowes, Gosport, Southampton, the Hamble etc. To be honest that was the type of sailing done on the South Coast - sail during the day and tie up near the pub for dinner. Here in NZ is different as said above. Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 Hi Chris, there is a site https://activecaptain.com/ which is along the lines of your suggestion regarding a website. I know Gisborne and Napier have visiters berths available but a long way from you. I agree a data base with vacant moorings would be a boon. Link to post Share on other sites
PaulR 3 Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 Yes, drop the pick (anchor), open beers and relax. You are here to get away from commercialism and officials. Besides the dangerous job of collecting money from yachties for using a wharf is only offset because nobody wants to wear a silly uniform and be a pompus "prick" harbourmaster in every little cove. Better to row ashore and wander around and if you meet anybody at all offical, have a beer with them instead. Who needs to rush things Relax and enjoy. Having said that, with a 24ft for $50 would be near enough a whole weeks marina rental. IIRC Tutukaka charged $15 for the S34 last year overnight after the Coastal, and that included great showers and a choice of about 5 places to eat as well, all good ranging from pizzas up. Great party there last year as well. (Returning after one coastal, we never made it from the boat to eat ashore, but Mr Appleton's rum simply evaporated Honest ) Whangarei Town Basin has some yachts against the wharf, but generally much bigger ones than you. They would put you in the marina opposite, and it's just a short walk across the bridge to the city, 5 mins max. Best tip is to go alongside another boat with people onboard and ask. Link to post Share on other sites
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