Plain sailing at marina

By KATHERINE HOBY

To look at her, you might think Lou Ratu is a pushover. You would be wrong.

The diminutive security guard has a friendly greeting and wave for most, unless you happen to be up to no good on her patch - the Westhaven Marina.

At just 165cm (5ft 4in), Ms Ratu does not fit the conventional image of a security guard.

"You don't have to be macho to work security," she says. "What you need is a lot of initiative and intelligence, along with tact, discretion and honesty. Before I came this was an all-male site. I've proved women can do it better - we look for more detail."

She has worked at Westhaven for five years and has become a familiar sight around the luxury yachts and restored houseboats.

A keen boatie sanding down his yacht yells a greeting. When he finds we are writing about Ms Ratu, he says she is "the very best."

Ms Ratu considers it an essential part of her job to know the 1850 boats at Westhaven, and all their owners, by sight.

It helps to detect when someone is up to no good. "When I spot someone I'm not sure of I'm a pest, a real pest," she says. "I won't go away until I'm satisfied."

Ms Ratu patrols the marina for five 12-hour shifts a week, starting early in the morning. Westhaven is a long way from her Otara flat but she gets a thrill every day when she starts work.

"I have the best job in the world, with the best view. I love helping people and I am a fiercely loyal person."

The combination of a sophisticated security system and the vigilance of Ms Ratu and her team has cut the crime rate at the marina to virtually zero.

The marina, an imposing 47ha, is home to well over $1 billion of yachts. To keep up with the comings and goings, Ms Ratu gets around the 20km of carparks and paths on a mountain bike.

"They wanted to get motorbikes. But I put my foot down and insisted on bikes," she says. "One of my best weapons is my stealth."

As well as her role as security guard, Ms Ratu considers herself a public relations person, first point of contact for many visitors, and even occasional babysitter.

During the America's Cup, a touring American couple wanted a night on the town, but were without a babysitter. Ms Ratu volunteered to look after the children, entertaining them for the night and returning them to their astonished and grateful parents the next morning.

Many people leave their valuables in their cars, so keen are they to get on the water. Some even leave the car keys in the door. But when Ms Ratu is on patrol, they can rest easy.

She shrugs her shoulders when asked about volunteering for chores many would consider above the call of duty.

"I love people, and I love helping people. I am a giver, not a taker."

Things have not always run smoothly for the smiling security guard. When first assigned to Westhaven by TTS Security Services, she had a confession to make.

"I didn't know what a marina was then," she says. "Now it's my home away from home.

"When you look after a particular site you think of yourself as the sheriff, and the site as your town."

Ms Ratu says she is showered with gifts at Christmas from grateful boat owners, many of which she gives away.

"It's not about money for me. It's about making people smile."

So how about sailing away into the sunset one day?

Ms Ratu smiles.

"I'll pass. I've been on one of these beauties just the once. I was so seasick. I'm not very boatworthy. I'd be happy with a dinghy and two oars."

www.nzherald.co.nz/marine