Watermark # 225 December 2023

​At 78m, M5 is the worlds largest single masted sailing yacht, with its mast reaching 89m in height. It is a sailing yacht owned by an aviator with a need for speed and a project that combines pragmatism in perfect measure.
The yacht recently took delivery of a new Doyle Sail inventory featuring a stratis 1100 Mainsail at 1291 sqm in area and a Reacher at 1497 sqm. The Reacher also showcases three Spitfire planes printed in 1:1 scale, which is a nod to the owners passion for flying and beautiful aircraft.

​Birthdays
December    Bill McCook, Brian Goodwin, Brian Peachey
January       Marian Jones, , Colin Gibson, Pat McCook
February      Jennie Rennie, Lis McCook Ray & Bridget Gorinski

Rob’s Ramblings – aka Commodore’s Report
I hope you are all well and starting to enjoy the longer daylight and warmer weather.  A few members have been out and we are about to go to Patio Bay next weekend in our annual catch-up with the Townsend and the classic yachts.
If anyone has not paid their subs for the year please do so.  Ask Jan P if you are not sure.

Where you can and can’t anchor this xmas
As you are aware, the exotic seaweed caullerpa has put a number of bays here and up north, off limits for boaties.  I attended an AYBA meeting a week or so ago with Council’s biosecurity officers and asked whether or not at xmas, we could anchor in the Port Fitzroy area.  There have been at least 10 official sighting of the weed in Port Fitzroy in addition to the numerous sighting in the areas of the three closed bays.  The answer was you can at the moment but this could change by xmas, so I asked the Council formally.

My question was
“Tell us what the problem is and more details about the location.
I need to advise our Westhaven Yacht Club members in my Commodore’s xmas report, where they can find up to date advice on anchoring, particularly at Port Fitzroy. Are you able to give us a link to where that information can be found.
As I understand it, we can still anchor in Port Fitzroy at the moment, but if we pick up a piece of weed on our anchor, we should throw it back. Is that correct?
My response was
 “Morning Rob
 Further to your enquiry to Auckland Council below please contact the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) as they manage and enforce the biosecurity no anchoring direction.
See link to MPI website below:-
https://www.mpi.govt.nz/biosecurity/exotic-pests-and-diseases-in-new-zealand/pests-and-diseases-under-response/exotic-caulerpa-seaweeds-caulerpa-brachypus-and-caulerpa-parvifolia-in-new-zealand/
 Kind regards
Deb Shattock | Marine Services Coordinator
Harbourmaster’s Office| Service Division
Auckland Transport”
 
Hope that helps anyone thinking of going out there bay of Islands or anywhere else.

Bayswater marina appeal
The Environment Court just released it decision on the Bayswater Marina development appeal.  The original plan was for 250 homes, but subsequently reduced to 119, then to 78, and now 64 homes in the Court decision.   In my view as a formal objector on behalf of the club, the whole process was poorly managed with selective consultation, and the selective supply of advice from Council.  It was a good example of the golden rule with the AYBA “givealittle” money being insufficient to challenge wealthy developer. 
​
The Landing decision - Okahu Bay
The decision to dispose of the hardstand area at the Landing has been partially rescinded by retaining 50% of the hardstand area.  AYBAs actions over the past month have been the primary reason for this change.  Thanks to those who contributed to the givealittle calls for both causes.
I have been very disappointed in the way Council has managed both processes in the interest of future generations and was not surprised with the chart linked to below.  Before you look at it, ask yourself the following questions, have a bet with you better/worse half on the answers.

1. What percent of Aucklanders have trust in their Council decision making processes
2. Is trust in Council increasing or declining

https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/about-auckland-council/performance-transparency/docscitizeninsightsmonitor/citizen-insights-monitor-2023-quarter-2.pdf
 I mention this because we hope the next cab off the rank is a Marine Strategy for the Hauraki Gulf and will be trying to futureproof the Gulf for all users including beach users and hope that club member would make submissions to the process when given the opportunity.  At present there are no guiding useful documents for any decision making affecting active and passive users of the Hauraki Gulf and a large number of organisations with a finger in the pie.

Photo memories of WYC
For our birthday celebrations on the second of March 2024, we would like members to electronically send Bill a few photos of your fondest memories of the club either on, in, under, or off the water.  We will put them together and show as a slideshow at the 25th birthday. 
Ideally the pictures should be 1MB or larger and in a .jpg format or other common format.  Any member wanting a copy of the slideshow should bring along a decent sized memory stick (e.g. 8GB) to the celebration.
Rob

                                       NOTICE OF SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN OF A SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING TO HELD
AT 1630 HOURS, SATURDAY 9 TH DECEMBER 2023
AT THE HOME OF BILL AND LIS MCCOOK, 10 SAMUEL CROSS PLACE,
GREENHITHE
BUSINESS
To approve or reject the following motions by simple majority voting of all those
financial members present.
Any questions or suggested amendments in regard to these motions must be in
writing to the Secretary by the 2nd December 2023 to be considered and
circulated by the committee prior to the Special General Meeting. These motions
cannot be altered from the floor at the Special General Meeting and will not be
discussed.
1. The Westhaven Yacht Club will be dissolved as an Incorporated Society by
30th April, 2024.
2. Any and all remaining funds of the Club, after payments of any debts or
expenses, including costs incurred for the Xmas function on 9th December
2023, shall be used to fund the celebrations to recognise the 25th Anniversary
of the Westhaven Yacht Club Incorporated Society on the 2nd March 2024.
3. Any remaining club funds left following the 25th Anniversary event shall be
donated to a kindred organisation as determined by the Committee.
Moved: Rob Lorden / Seconded: William McCook
Dated this 12th day of September 2023.
 
Barbara McEwan
Secretary
mcewanwb@gmail.com

                                                     UP COMING EVENTS
 
The Westhaven Yacht Club Christmas Party and Special meeting
is scheduled for Saturday 9th December 1600hrs (meeting will star at 1630hrs) at Lis and Bill McCook's home. Meat provided bring your normal salad (scalloped potatoes for Probes please Hetty and Rob) or pudding. Bubbles provided on arrival
Don’t forget you $15 (min) secret Santa.
 
The Westhaven Yacht Club Clubs 25th Party
Saturday 2nd March 2024
(Date may change a couple of days either way depending on what we decide to do)
Bill and Probes have been tasked with organising this please if you have any ideas, please talk to one of us
 
Still feel free to organise an impromptu event using the club group messenger. 

                             This month’s bad joke
An Irishman and an Englishman walked into a bakery.
The Englishman steal 3 buns and puts them into his pockets and leaves. He says to the Irishman “that took great skill and guile to steal those buns, the owner didn’t even see me”
The Irishman replies “That just simple thievery, Ill show you how to do it the honest way and get the same results”
The Irishman then proceeded to call out the owner of the bakery and says “Sir I want to show you a magic trick” the owner was intrigued so came over to see the magic trick.
The Irishman asked him for a bun and then proceeded to eat it; he asked 2 more time and after eating them again, the owner says “okay my friend where’s the magic trick
The Irishman then said “look in the Englishman’s Pockets”

Things we have done in the past

Hamburger Competition  (best and worst)

Fancy Dress Christmas Party 2013

                    Matakana Boat trip                                                                 Issy Bay BBQ

                                Naval terminology
Mayday
"Mayday" is the internationally recognized voice radio signal for ships and people in serious trouble at sea. Made official in 1948, it is an anglicizing of the French m'aidez, "help me".
 
S.O.S.
Contrary to popular notion, the letters S.O.S. do not stand for "Save Our Ship" or "Save Our Souls". They were selected to indicate a distress because, in Morse code, these letters and their combination create an unmistakable sound pattern.

                         Even worst Bad joke of the month
Dave was bragging to his boss one day “you know, I know everyone there I to know, just name someone, anyone and I will know him.
Tied of his boasting his boss called his bluff “ OK Dave how about Clint Eastwood.
“no dramas boss Clint and I are old friends and I can prove it” So Dave and his boss fly out to Hollywood and knock on Clint Eastwoods door, and Clint shouts “Dave what’s happening great to see you come on in for a beer”
Although impressed Daves boss is still sceptical. After leaving Clints house he tells Dave that he thinks him knowing Clint was just lucky.
No no just name anyone else Dave says”
President Obama “his boss quickly retorts
“Yep” Dave says, “old buddies, let fly out to Washington” and off they go.
AT the Whitehouse, Obama spots Dave on the tour and motions him and his boss over saying “Dave what a surprise I was just on my way to a meeting but you and your friend come on in and lets have a beer first and catch up.
Well the boss is very shaken by now but still not totally convinced. After they leave the hitehouse grounds he expresses his doubts to Dave, who again implores him to name anyone else.
“Pope Francis” his boss replies.
Sure says Dave I’ve known the Pope for years” So off they fly to Rome.
Dave and his boss are assembled with the masses at the Vatican ST Peters Square when Dave says “This will never work I cant catch the popes eye among all these people Tell you what I know all the guard so let me just go upstairs and Ill come out on the balcony with the pope” He disappears into the crowd headed toward the Vatican.
Sute enough half an hour later Dave emerges with the Pope on the balcony, but by the time Dave returns he finds that his boss has had a heart attack and is surrounded by paramedics.
Making his way to his boss’s side Dave asks him “What happened”
His boss looks up and says “its was the final straw…. You and the Pope came out on to the balcony and the Italian man next to me said “who the heck is that old coot on the balcony with Dave”