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!!

$150 for straying into a bus lane on Queen Street (and I still don't know where), really p###d me off. $200 for endangering a ship (and potentially the whole local environment), seems rather lopsided. We must appreciate Councils can only operate within the tools they are given but bus lane fines are automatic, arbitrary and revenue generating. Infrequent Nav and Safety infringements cost Councils (us) with no return.

Would have been probably fined under local Navigation and Safety bylaws - maximum $200.

To a large extent our sport is self policing, particularly at Club/ amateur levels. If so many admitted after they were over but kept on because they were not pinged, shows to me a complete lack of sportsmanship, a disregard for the honest ones and a two finger salute to the Race Committee . I would not like it known amongst my peers that I am a blatant cheat and if I can get away with something I will. And if you feel aggrieved, yell and put up the red flag - that is what it is for. The main problem with racing in the ditch is that there is always a favored end to the line - with about

The old Radphone calls with a bit of alcohol involved, especially to an absent partner, used to provide good entertainment.

Had a N30 for ten years with young family. A great boat and a bit of a Tardis for space. Same boat was for sale on Trade Me recently (Current Affair). Easy single hander (self tacking headsail) and I stuck an overlapper on for lighter weather. Great all rounder but the R31 would make a more solid cruiser.

Start line Bayweek last year. Gorgeous breeze, about 15 boats all stacked up after on wind, close start and then the dolphins came for a play just after gun. What next now?

Have a set of Musto which has done a Volvo - hand me up from my son. Good as gold apart the neoprene collar and ends of sleeves. And I've thrashed it since then - about 6 years more. Good gear. Simple though - more a smock with a front pocket and no bullshit stuff.

The junk at T pier was not the Golden Lotus but a charter boat. I last saw the Golden Lotus moored on a swing mooring off Bucklands Beach - back in the early 70's. Read the book as a kid and have just got an old copy of the book.

Plastic bucket with lid - chuck in soap laundry and hit wind against tide in Motuihe channel😀

Still in discussion. Dived boat last race weekend before race and no fan worm. Advised Council of this and that I was fully aware of my responsibilities in stopping spread of such pests. Again reminded them of fanworm all over marina. Reply was could I advise when boat will come out for antifoul and no mention of fanworm. Just sitting at moment - want to point out the apparent two faced Council approach - we don't like antifouling versus we don't like pests. Maybe suggest a subsidy from Council - to pull my boat out and antifoul is at best a 5 grand exercise.