marinheiro

Visited a couple of their shops September last year in San Francisco. Prices have gone up alot and stock holding terrible. I guess it comes down to the maths whether to buy from them, does [purchase price + freight + GST] converted to NZD give you a better outcome. I have bought quite alot of fittings directly from Garhaeuer, good quality at a reasonable price if you can get it sent to a US address. Also had good experience buying yacht fittings from Mauripro, https://www.mauripro.com/

Checked with my cuz who you have met, he says the wharf piles are just wet at low tide, so I would expect between 3/4 and full tide you would have sufficient depth. Tide tables do not give heights for Maraetai, Matiatia and Man O War bay both showing a difference of ~2.5m between low and high on current big tides.

Alternatively to SSB can be any of the Iridium services (phone/Go/Exec) or Satellite Messengers (Spot, InReach etc). Correct that Starlink is not accepted.

Anyone's guess, RAYC cancelled AKL to Fiji 2023, and Auckland to Noumea 2024, third time lucky? No event listed on their web site at present

There is a webinar 17 December, see the registration link herein https://www.yachtingnz.org.nz/news/international-voyage-certificate-replacing-cat-1-all-you-need-know It is purely academic now, but just remember it was YNZ that chucked its toys out of the cot on inspecting cruising boats, MNZ were quite happy with how the system was running. The irony now is that yachts competing in offshore races have to get a Cat 1 certificate and an IVC, because Cat 1 no longer has any legal standing, talk about a home goal.

Where there was cell reception (before Starlink) I found Google earth a very handy check, particularly in the Yasawas where the charts are very patchy. You can stitch google earth (and I assume other sources) to your nautical charts on Open CPN

A few points you need to consider if registered offshore 1. You won't get insurance from NZ based providers eg Vero (coastal or offshore) 2. Your boat will be subject to the laws of the country whose flag you fly, makes it a bit more challenging when it is country whose language you don't speak 3. Worst case if there was another COVID type situation, you may not be able to return to NZ on the boat At the end of the day case of weighing up the pro's and con's, making sure you are fully informed and deciding what works best for you.

It was a NZ yacht named Agape, I believe one of those Taiwanese built double enders a Tayana 37 or similar. Understand they had stern gland/engine mount problems and she filled up via the stern tube. Crew taken off by a nearby cat Heard the cat that lost its mast was a pure maintenance issue, the clevis pin came out of the forestay and mast fall down!

and another who left Monday is heading for Noumea for sail repairs. Don't know about Saturday, wind will be right on the nose and there will be the left over seas from the passing low.

the easiest but maybe not the cheapest option https://www.oceaniamedical.co.nz/collections/recreation-first-aid-box/products/coastal-racing-first-aid-kit-yachting-new-zealand-cat-2

still in Bundaberg QLD?

Starlink Mini, https://www.techspot.com/news/103471-starlink-mini-299-dish-provides-100mbps-wifi-6.html runs a bit slower than the Gen 2/3 units but still very useful. Runs off a USB point so no need for any DC conversions

Do you know if any of the existing inspectors have signed up with MNZ for cruisers' Cat 1? I know of at least 1 inspector up IT's way who said no way. It is a real worry as to the level/lack of experience "new" MNZ inspectors may have, particularly as their spiel says a second fee will be charged if you "fail" the first inspection.

Is that a Gen 2 or Gen 3 antenna? The Gen 3, even without the motors has a higher power draw. We run a Gen 2, have not done the 12V conversion yet, however power draw was generally manageable on last summer's cruising, except when we were not getting much solar output. We would switch it off when not in use. Found the antenna only orientated itself on startup and rarely moved after that, it was not continually on the mover. 12V conversion on the spring job list.

There is a rather extensive set of requirements to obtain Part A including a survey, see https://www.maritimenz.govt.nz/commercial/ships/ship-registration/part-a-ship-registration/ Also the fees can be somewhat eye watering, I was charged `~$450 when I notified them of change of engine, I see "alterations" are now $613. Obviously you would have to consider how long you intended to own the boat to see if worthwhile.