A well-known paddle-boat is in Northland after heading out to sea for its longest-ever voyage.
The Waipa Delta, a 26m imitation paddle-steamer based in the Waikato, arrived at Whangaroa Harbour at 1am on Friday after a three-day, 270 nautical mile voyage from Port Waikato.
The vessel is on its way to Auckland,
where it will run dinner cruises from October 1.
Although the vessel is disguised as an imitation paddle-steamer, it is actually a jet-driven catamaran with twin John Deere 220hp turbo-diesel engines.
Owner and skipper Mark Goudie said the crew waited at Port Waikato for more than two weeks for the weather to be just right for the journey, with the boat sailing beautifully in easy conditions. Crew member Ross Linton said the boat went surprisingly well.
"Not too many paddle steamers make it around North Cape."
The vessel will be in Whangaroa Harbour until early next week when it will depart to Opua for maintenance.
This will involve putting a new roof on the canopy deck, painting, and a bi-annual, out-of-water survey.
Mr Goudie said he also hopes to dock in Whangarei Harbour in three to four weeks.
The Waipa Delta is joined by 15m trawler Delfino, whose skipper Barry Utting says he is travelling with the paddle-boat in support in case something goes wrong. The Delfino ran into strong southerly winds around Cape Reinga on its voyage to meet the Waipa Delta, but apart from that its voyage had been smooth.
Mr Goudie said he decided to move the Waipa Delta to Auckland by sea rather than by land because of the cost and work involved with such a move.
He said to move the boat by truck to Auckland would have cost more than $150,000 and involved dismantling parts of the boat.
