With the wind blowing at about 20 knots, it meant that the focus of the fleet, the huge war canoe Ngatoki Mata Wha O Rua, was unable to be launched: "We are all waiting for that to go out."
One of the highlights of Waitangi Day was the sail past of Waitangi's lower marae followed by the beaching of the fleet of waka and a mass haka by all the paddlers and sailors.
Mr Thatcher was confused about the reasons why Prime Minister John Key declined to take part in the celebrations at Waitangi today.
"Maybe he does not feel the love," he said referring to discontent at the terms of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade agreement and that Maori had not been consulted.
He said if people wanted to voice an opinion, the marae was the place to do this: "The marae is a battleground of words, you can voice any opinion you have."
Mr Thatcher, whose whakapapa was Nga Potiki, Ngati He and Ngai Te Ahi, was pleased there was still a good level of commitment to Waitangi Day in Tauranga.
He said he did not delve too deeply into what everyone thought of Waitangi Day but was pleased that sometimes there were as many Europeans as Maori attending celebrations in Tauranga.
"I am happy enough with the way it is evolving. I believe in the partnership."
Des Tata of Judea hapu Ngaitamarawaho said every iwi did their own thing on Waitangi Day, with the national stage being with Ngaphui at Waitangi. Every year there was a new kaupapa and this year was no different with the TPP agreement.
"That is the trend and it has always been the trend. It is a healthy thing, otherwise the issues don't get aired."
Mr Tata said Mr Key knew TPP would come up at Waitangi which was why the agreement was signed in Auckland a couple of days earlier.
He liked Waitangi Day how it was, including the increasing buy-in from the public at large, despite some Pakeha probably being sick of the word Waitangi, he said.
Tauranga iwi leader Awanui Black said the history of the commemorations in Tauranga Moana showed a strong message of support from the community.
"You have got to look at it in perspective. I think in Tauranga we have been pretty good, there has been a friendly spirit."
He has also suggested replacing Auckland Anniversary Day with a public holiday that had more meaning to the people of Tauranga and surrounding areas. It would focus on April when the Treaty was signed at Otumoetai and Maungatapu in 1840 and the Battle of Gate Pa took place 14 years later.
Ngahiraka Mai Ta whiti waka
• Built 2008 and sailed by up to 14 crew
• Kauri logs from the Herekino State Forest
• Length 17.3m and width 5.5m
