[How many want to run away to sea?]

Hell yes, if not this year then next, it's really just about prioritizing it, & cutting away the endless entanglements of modern life!  

[Gunboat "Rainmaker" Dis-masted and abandoned on Maiden voyage]

I know I am a million miles away and not there and don't know all the facts - but tell me again why they got off?

 

I'll agree with the first part, yep you're not there!

 

[Stillwater boat ramp?]

Thanks BooBoo,

[Stillwater boat ramp?]

Hello All, is the boat ramp at Stillwater a public ramp? And does anyone have local knowledge about whether it's all tide?

Want to launch a 6 metre RIB there, and looking for any tips,

Thanks, 

[Great Weekend...]

Well done, looks good. cat's do soak up people effortlessly don't they!

good to see you guys having fun out there, 

[Cat 1 Electronics]

FFS Km we got it the first time!

Interesting choice BP that a barometer & a cloud is OK for weather, can it see that cyclone forming in the Coral Sea? And yes I know sailors for hundreds of years had nothing better but there have been some advances in the last 20 years that are not a complete waste of time & money! 

Forecasting would be the one thing I think it's worth spending time & money on, but hey call me a pussy if you like.

But I've done offshore trips in 55 knots, and I've done them in 25 knots max, & guess what, one is more fun than the other!

[Thought you guys might like to see this....]

Very very cool!

[Two reefs or three]

Three, set up the reefing lines in 1 & 2 and have some clever little system to manually tie in reef 3 if you ever need it.

[Ports Expansion]

We'll be there, time to stand up & be counted. It seems a massive conflict of interest that our "tax & spend" council, who seem to view Ports as a nice cash cow, are also responsible for deciding whether this can proceed or not.

[New to cruising - what would you have on board?]

Of course if you have red wine you will probably get bacon as soon as Crowded House hears about it anyway,  

[New to cruising - what would you have on board?]

Bacon. Preferably made by the Rat Bag that sails Crowded House but failing that any bacon. And red wine.

[Introduction - 8.5 Meter Cat Terrapin]

Yes welcome, plenty of forum members here have done a lot of miles on Tennant cats, more on the 8.5 Great Barrier Express than the Wildfire but they are pretty similar by the looks of it.

You will want a prod, but lots of people here will help with advice on all things I'm sure.

Some of it will even be helpful if you're lucky!  

[Radar question.]

Bit of thread drift but yes I agree about Raymarine, been mildly problematic & the dealer just keeps saying "that shouldn't happen" when ever I tried to discuss it with them.

Pretty poor service. 

[Open CPN ver 4.0 released]

Hey IT what is the best option for charts for this?

[Cruising with kids]

Nice BooBoo, very nice! 

[Marlbrough Sounds to BOI advice]

Ignore the Manukau & Kaipara bar crossings unless for a critical emergency. Even then they would be a last resort in my book.

The chances of getting good conditions for a bar crossing, especially if you're running for cover are very low.

Those 2 bars alone have over 400 wrecks on them, feeling lucky?

[sailing from mangonui to kerikeri inlet - tips?]

I'd vote for a night at the Cavalli's if you can & weather allows. Good anchorages & my favourite place on the NZ coast.

But Whangaroa is also nice.

Enjoy the trip, beautiful part of the country.

[The fight over Takapuna Beach continues]

I'd not support renewing the lease until the current management publish a business plan to bring the site up to spec. I suspect that without serious public funding the business case just wouldn't stack up.

 

 

Hmmmm, so the flash new yachting facility won't need any public funding then?

Do a bit of research on that one & get back to us eh?

 

Makes a new dunny block and a tidy up for the camp ground look like lunch money!

[The fight over Takapuna Beach continues]

Heavy on the irony in your posts Balgarion.

 

1 talking about democracy in action when referring to the process to date.

That's laughable.

 

2 ridiculing the state of the camp ground when it's got no lease and an axe hanging over it's head. (In a large part because of the abuse of process & lack of democracy applied to the issue.)

 

Nice to see open minded people out there debating the issues.

[The fight over Takapuna Beach continues]

Pretty well sums it up Smithy. Like you I love sailing, also belong to the Takapuna Boating Club, and yet think this whole scheme is the worst ill considered thing they could do.

Camp ground it fantastic, and fast becoming unique in todays NZ.

[timberwolf]

Sorry to hear the bad news Wolfy, these mistresses of ours give us some high highs & some really low lows!

[timberwolf]

Jesus Wolfie 6.04am? WTF? You need a lifestyle adjustment Pal,

[The fight over Takapuna Beach continues]

The section next door to the Milford site is now sold. Be a couple of crappy new townhouses there before you know it!

The loss of the Takapuna Campground is a tragedy, that place is a real asset to the City.

[The fight over Takapuna Beach continues]

I'm with you motorbike, & I live down there!

It's a waste of money, 1/2 the people that walk there are trying to get exercise anyway so we'd be doing them a favour making them walk round the Marina.

[The fight over Takapuna Beach continues]

I disagree with the marine centre at Taka entirely. I reckon the motorcamp there is a gem. It is classic Kiwiana and loved by all. The Taka boating club has heaps of space and there is enough space there for massive regattas. Don't bother with it..