Black Panther

Bp was built in nz but was registered in Vanuatu. Nothing dodgy. Previous owner used to take group's of boy scouts sailing for a minimal fee. Got decided that was chartering so he registered to be legal.

Trying not to give offence: Years ago I got my first boat to Cat 1. It was a significant expense. I only got top quality gear. A lot of it was dead after two years. I have already mentioned the medical kit. Flares also bug me. they are expensive and have way too short a shelf life. At a certain New Year's party around the end of last century (that included stealing a submarine) We fired off a bunch of expired flares - every last one of them worked just fine. I never used to carry a radio. The new boat came with a VHF, I'd probably carry a satphone now. I don't know if that meets the rules

I spoke to a NZ inspector and was seriously underwhelmed. Or, in the vernacular, he was a narrow minded dipstick. I have hasd a good friend who has been a pharmacist for 30 years put together a med kit for a fraction of the price of the "standard" one. Some other things they insist on I am unconcerned about or simply don't want. Cat 1 itself doesn't last long enough, a lot of the equipment expires way too early. I have said document regarding GST.

No , I was talking about Langkawi.

I think it was Gary who told me that if a job takes more than 15 mins you are using the wrong tool.

Langkawi, Vanuatu or Cook Islands are on my list. KM mentioned another i hadn't considered a while back but I can't remember it now. Langkawi are pretty much no questions asked, pay the money and you are registered. I'm thinking of flying over and having a bit of a holiday and coming back with a shiny new piece of paper.

That would make a big difference for me too.(BP is registered in Vanuatu)

That's for me to know and you knot to find out.

And any 15 yo with a technical bent could reprogram it. Our photographer uses a drone for house photos, he could sit outside your window with full HD video and you wouldn't know it was there.

Well I didn't say I was paranoid about it, just vaguely disconcerted as I watch the technology spread.

Am I the only vaguely disconcerted by this? The police in the US use drones and are lobbying the politicians to arm them. The US govt uses drones routinely to kill anyone they want, anywhere.

You must be good at retrieving, I could never get it in the same place twice

Not a boat, but I'm learning a lot and enjoying it http://www.thequestquotient2011.blogspot.co.nz/

Hey Dambo, empty your PM box!

It's under serious consideration. Current plan is a trip to one of the island groups next year, probably Noumea, as a shakedown for some longer stuff shortly thereafter, this would be a nice kick off.

Don't laugh, we met a 37 fter that had taken 30 days to do a 1000 mile passage. When we asked what had gone wrong they said nothing, they liked to take the sails down around 4 pm and have a prayer or two, then dinner and bed and would decide whether or not to put the sails back up the next morning. Each to their own I guess,they seemed happy enough. To me the difference between racing sand cruising isn't speed (yes my boat can go fast), it's deciding when to depart and sailing efficiently without breaking the boat or the crew. Racers can't do either (and win).

Plus I had been hammered with fish all the way from Mangonui that morning. Had fantastic four days, felt like I had a bonus extension to summer. Amazed at the difference in climate between here and the Bay.

Talked about it with the management and decided we are cruisers not racers. Will keep a watching brief to see if they do anything to accommodate a cruising fleet

Hmmmmmmmm

Regarding the results for boat ages, there is a sudden drop off at 30 years, so what happened 30 years ago that there were suddenly fewer (new) boats being bought??

Lovely!!! you'll have to raft up one day - our names match.

Excellent Outcome

Just to prove there is nothing new under the sun http://www.archive.org/stream/manualofyachtboa00kemp#page/272/mode/2up

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11398299

But you have to list the ice cream shops!!!! (Fitzroy wasn't bad)