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The big T

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Posts posted by The big T

  1. 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.

    • Upvote 2
  2. 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 Bay breakwater in anticipation of a low flying pass by a Skyhawk. The boats all parted as per schedule but smack bang in the fly zone was Classique - anchored and unattended. He had gone ashore to get his missus.

    The fly past was aborted at the last minute.

    This epitomized Mel Bolton and his actions.

    • Like 2
    • Upvote 2
  3. 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 close to it.

    Yes, SSANZ functions well and may well be the way of the future. A "virtual" club with none of the overheads.

    No Club with fixed assets, staff etc can compete with this. Still, Clubhouses are still used for briefings and prizegivings by the likes of SSANZ and Owners Associations. 

    The whole face of our sport, access to berthage, environmental concerns,  maintenance facilities, traditional cruising grounds etc etc is changing and I fear future generations will not be able to enjoy what we have had on a reasonable budget if at all as we did.

    Feel priviliged and lucky to have been able to enjoy it.

     

     

    • Upvote 5
  4. $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. 

    • Upvote 1
  5. 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 30 boats all going for it.

    The outgoing tide does not help and I would suggest a general recall would have just resulted in further chaos.

     

     

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  6. 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.

  7. 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.

  8. 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.

    • Upvote 4
  9. Was on a larger boat doing island racing last time - from memory our total sailing time was less than 6 hours for the whole regatta. A great week and I wouldn't miss it but a lot of effort in getting boat and crew up there and a big expense by owner for the time spent sailing.

     

    • Upvote 1
  10. I dive the boat myself and have done for years - this will be the next bastion to be taken from us.

    I am reasonably confident the boat is, and was clean, and was done before I knew of this, so await a response with interest. 

    Not too au fait with PrivacyAct  provisions - I know Westhaven will not provide details of boat/marina ownership to private people and would be the only party to pass this on to Council.

  11. Notice in its entirety. In my red mist phase misread notice date - have to 11 September to comply in full - have to submit plan by 11 August.

    Received by Email and copy allegedly in post. 

    Will advise of response if any.

    Some great titles for the team and the people who head it up - must be really well compensated and educated to even remember that lot.

  12. Just received notice that my yacht at Westhaven was inspected by a Council diver and that  I need to supply a pan to Council for approval to clean my boat by 11 August.

     

    My reply below.

     

    I am somewhat surprised at the contents of your recent Email advising my boat has a small amount of Fanweed on it. The boat is regularly raced and cleaned and in fact has been cleaned twice since the date of your inspection (11 June).

    Given the time delay between your inspection and the notice from you today, some 6 weeks later, I was unaware of  requirement to seek approval to clean with a plan, such  cleaning which is done by all racing yachts on a regular basis 

    The yacht is berthed adjacent to the marina pontoon which has been , and is, heavily contaminated with fanweed for many years and any migration onto my boat can only have come from there in the recent past as since April, the boat has only been raced out of Westhaven. I have not cruised in this period.

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