The big T

When did we stop sailing for fun. Its all I've done - over 65 years and still going. Entered nationals, coastals, match racing in the Stewarts in the 80's, and heaps of club events. Dinghies, trailer Sailers and keelers. Mostly my own boats. Knocked on the door in lots - never achieved. Probably sailed against Black Panther in Cherokees at Onerahi in the 70's.😊😊 No aspirations of Olympic Grandeur ever - in fact not even on the horizon back then. Have a son at top class level - 2 volvos, numerous Hobarts, World Match Racing Champ, National Keel boat Championships, Sail GP, Blah Blah

Wondering who is making the bucks?. Yacht clubs scrambling for crumbs, Marina shut down, Harbour shut down. No compensation that I can see. Where is it going?

Just received advice that no boats can enter or leave Westhaven marina for 3 days from 2pm until 7pm as the exclusion zone for Sail GP will not allow this. Now just awaiting the news we will not be able to access our boats/carparks, or our clubs during that time.

Think it was Sneaky Frog, an Elliot owned by Kermit (then a sailmaker).

Note the Lidgard sails on her. And no, I am just observant.

Try C B Norwoods - farm machinery. Kubota agents without maritime pricetag.

Oil is a natural product which weathers and disperses in time. It's just a major problem in large quantities. With slow seepage over the years, this may well be less of a problem than uniformed people make out.

Had my 14m berth with Westhaven office for 3 months for rental. Not a nibble - I assume they have a heap of new berths of their own to rent out. Did it privately.

Waterblasting has worked for me.

Why do bigger boats require thicker wire - bigger blokes need bigger wire!

If your hull is solid glass, just epoxy transducer to inside of hull making sure there are no bubbles in the bond. No box or liquid required.

Had a fair bit to do with Mr Bolton over the years. Deep Purple sums it up well - he had a yacht he could not afford to maintain let alone berth properly. Had flogged the guts out of the boat and engaged in dodgy trips to off shore island with contributing crew (not a charter!!) Was a menace around the harbour until Council let him use one of the old barge moorings - a temporary arrangement that dragged on (excuse the pun). Recollect the turn of the century dawn celebration where the wakas emerged from the mist at Okahu Bay, a no anchoring area had been established along the Okahu Ba

The flash buildings on the waterfront were, in the main, erected on a shoestring with volunteer labour, donations and support from the then land owners (eg Auckland Harbour Board). Ground rental was cheap and Clubs could focus on their reason for being. Subsequent land owners, zoning changes and changes in philosophy have forced Clubs to look for revenue to pay the commercial rate leases now charged. No club really wishes to concentrate on running a business with venue hires and outside rentals- they are forced to do so to stay alive. And some are dropping by the wayside or are clos

Not tea towels dear -- Tell Tales!!