Yachts, kayaks, trailer-sailers, jet-skis, cabin cruisers. Whatever floats your boat, you can sail it around here. Helen Laurent asks: should you need a licence?
PETER BLAKE set sail from Bayswater in a wooden banana-box with a mast, a square sail and a rudder hung off the box's back-end.
That was the in
1950s. Stand on that shore today and you'll see a 415-berth marina spreading into Waitemata Harbour. Across the harbour there's room - but not a lot - for another 1800 craft at Westhaven.
There are hundreds moored at Westpark, Half Moon Bay, Gulf Harbour. Thousands more are hove to in the inlets and back yards of the ``City of Sails'.
IF THE forecasters are right about a cracker summer, it will be a busy one on our waters. Not all the region's craft are powered by sail: the popularity of smaller, quicker vessels such as jet-skis, motorboats and trailer-sailers is growing.
A quick scan of online auction sites shows more motorboats are bought and sold than other vessels: 3714 compared to 731 yachts, 377 dinghies and rowboats and 612 jet-skis.
``Over the past 10 years, the number of new outboard trailer boats has been amazing,' says Mike Rose, a maritime journalist of more than 20 years.
``The steady trend has been towards motorboats since the mid-1980s. They are a lot easier to master. Sailing is a skill. These days, people don't have as much time.
``In the old days, people would take the family away sailing from Friday to Sunday. Who has time for that now? Now they want a boat that can get them there quickly.'
The Maritime Safety Authority estimates about 120,000 boats in Greater Auckland, a third of all craft in New Zealand.
Roughly one in 11 Aucklanders has a boat of some sort.
Despite the economic depression, going out on the water remains popular.
``Sales of new boats are down by 30 per cent but secondhand boats are still selling. About 25,000 to 30,000 new people get into boating every year,' says the authority's Jim Lott.
Rose predicts even more this year ``because last summer was so spectacu lar. Historically, boat sales have increased to some degree during a fine summer and the next one.
``People are invited out by friends and family. After they've been out for a wonderful day, they think it would be nice to go out whenever they like.
``That's how they get hooked.'
Hooked, lined up and sunk with another loan? Expect to pay $25,000 to $30,000 for a trailer-sailer, $27,000 to $44,000 for a 6m powerboat (see panel).
Proof there's no such thing as a free launch.
WITH THOUSANDS of newbies on the water, don't marine authorities think the time has come to test and license boat-owners? Just like owners of cars, motorbikes and guns?
The issue has added poignancy with the recent conviction of Lindsay Rowles, an Auckland man whose 8- and 5-year- old children drowned when his boat sank near Waiheke on Anzac Day last year. Rowles bought the 6.7m vessel the day before.
Experts tend to err on the side of caution. Maritime Safety Authority figures show 65 per cent of all deaths from 2000 to 2007 could have been prevented if the victims had worn life jackets; 60 per cent of deaths could have been avoided with effective communication.
``Only 10 per cent might have been avoided by having a licence and doing a training course. One case out of 150 fatalities was due to lack of knowledge of the rules,' states Lott.
The Coastguard agrees. Its Boating Education division runs knowledge and safety courses for enthusiasts of all ages and experience. Last year, it issued a record 18,000 certificates, mainly for Day Skipper, Boat Master and Marine VHF Radio courses.
``Our view is that there is no evidence that compulsory licensing would reduce the number of boat fatalities. It's an issue which is constantly reviewed by the national pleasure-boating safety forum,' says spokesman Neil Murray.
All experts agree, however, on the value of a training course before setting sail or starting the motor.
``New Zealand has had a bad year [for fatalities]. We have been averaging eight a year, but this year we've had 14,' says Murray.
``The reality is that when you are the skipper of a boat, you have a responsibil ity for the safety of everyone on board.
``The sea can be an unforgiving environment, but with knowledge of safety equipment and how to manoeuvre you can keep safe on the water and make boating more enjoyable.'
FROM DAY ONE - literally - Aucklanders have been sailing away. The first Auckland Regatta was held on the day the city was founded, September 18, 1840.
No sooner had Captain William Hobson's sailors raised the flag and the official party had had lunch than:
``A regatta took place between a five- oared gig belonging to the Surveyor- General and a six-oared gig belonging to the [Hobson's ship] Anna Watson, both pulled in excellent style by amateurs.
``This was followed by a match for a purse of 5 between two whaleboats pulled by sailors, and by another between two large canoes paddled by natives.'
The January 26 harbour carnival is now the biggest one-day regatta in the world. But it's not the only event.
Tomorrow is the Rudder Cup, a night race for classic yachts; the Louis Vuitton series in February could entice America's Cup syndicates to match-race here, though in true Cup style they're bicker ing and pulling out already.
But it's not all about racing.
``Everyone that goes boating should visit some of the iconic anchorages around the gulf at least once,' says Rose.
``Places like Bon Accord Harbour on Kawau Island, Port Fitzroy at Great Bar rier and Te Kouma Harbour in the Coromandel ... all of us who go to those harbours, our souls lift a little when we are there.'
`You have to get a licence for a gun or a car. It should be the same'
As a boy, Allan Christie spent many hot summer days fishing from his father's launch around Rakino and Tiritiri Matangi islands.
In October, he continued the tradition. At the age of 58, the Hawkins Construction project manager bought his first boat, a powerboat called Kiwi Ka Imi. Inspired by a good friend's craft, Ka Imi is Hawaiian for ``the searcher'.
Wife Jan has given the Torbay boatie permission to fish with his sons and nephew around the Gulf.
``I love the peace and quiet. Even if you don't catch any fish you can just sit there chatting, enjoying your time.'
Allan has completed the Coastguard's Day Skipper course. It had been 10 years since he'd been involved with boats and he needed to brush up on the basics.
Next to his pride and joy, moored in his son's Milford driveway because it's cheaper than a marina (see panel), Allan tells me such courses should be compulsory.
His sons might be grown men - Luke is 27, Daniel 30, and Benjamin 32 - but they're not allowed to take Kiwi Ka Imi out by themselves until they complete the Coastguard course.
Their father has seen enough close shaves to insist on it.
``I think there are more people out there than ever. You see some silly stuff happening. People don't seem to realise that there are rules of the sea.
``You should have to do a safety course and get a licence before you get a boat. You have to get a licence before you can buy a gun or a car. It should be the same for a boat.'
PUSHING THE BOAT OUT
Rough guide to boats on sale in Auckland this week:
Motorboats Tristram 581 Prima 6m - $44,000 Bonito 5m - $14,000 Haines Hunter SF535 (5.8m) - $39,000 Bayliner Capri 2050 (6.3m) - $27,000
Trailer-Sailers Farr 7500 - $30,000 Venturer 20 - $7500 Thompson 750 Sport - $20,500 Macgregor 19 - $25,000
Jet-skis Seadoo RXT-2007 - $15,000 Honda Aquatrax R12X Four - $11,900 Seadoo SP720 - $3000 Yamaha SUV 4-Seater - $9990
Fuel costs vary. A trailer-sailer is adequately served by a 9hp outboard which, for getting in and out of a harbour or mooring, would cost no more than $20 in fuel. Motorboats and jet-skis use more fuel; it depends on the engine's horsepower and how fast and far you travel. Many midrange outboards would be attached to a 100-litre tank which at $1.40 a litre, would cost $140 to fill. - Nick Krause
BERTH CONTROL
Marina Berths Price
Westhaven 1814 $25,000-$150,000
Bayswater 415 $78,000-$745,000
Westpark 592 $3300-$9140 / year
Gulf Harbour 1036 $150,000
Half Moon Bay 500+ $45,000-$145,000+
Guide only: sale and/or lease terms vary widelySource: Marinas
Yachts, kayaks, trailer-sailers, jet-skis, cabin cruisers. Whatever floats your boat, you can sail it around here. Helen Laurent asks: should you need a licence?
PETER BLAKE set sail from Bayswater in a wooden banana-box with a mast, a square sail and a rudder hung off the box's back-end.
That was the in
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