Watermark #220 December 2022

Richard’s boat which, unfortunately the drive shaft separated from the gearbox on launching. By the time we found someone with a telescopic magnetic tool to retrieve the nuts and bolts and refit it was too late to do the harbour trip.

​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
Manutaki had its first sail of the season last weekend as part of the classic yachts, including Townsons, rally to Patio Bay.  The weather was awesome and on the trip back we managed to get from the Bottom End to Gulf Harbour on one board averaging 4 and a bit knots on a flattish sea and just a headsail.
Recently, ten of our members had an interesting time in Whangarei catching up with Richard and Odette and seeing the sights.  We plan to catch up again in the coming years and all going well, have a sightseeing trip on Richard’s boat.
As you will have seen from previous correspondence, AYBA are having one last attempt to put the release of The Landing hardstand area at Okahu Bay on hold.  The loss of this facility will have major implications for some of our fellow boaties, especially those who will then need to take their multihulls to Whangarei.
A decision on the proposed Bayswater Marina development is taking longer than expected and my guess is that it will be released just before the Xmas break. 
In the New Year the AYBA will no doubt be trying to get some common sense into the new and unworkable Clean Hull biosecurity rules which were developed with no consultation with the boating organisations.   These are summarised in the poster below.   I understand Gulf Harbour Marina has told council that their hull inspecting divers are not welcome on their private property to inspect hulls. 
Manutaki had its annual bum scrub last week and has a certificate.
We look forward to catching up with members on the water and on the land over the summer break.  We hope to see you at the Xmas function.
Stay safe out there on land and on the water.
Rob 

Club events and happenings 

​(left) Hundertwasser Art Centre where some of us went while waiting for the boat to get fixed. (right) One of his painting about saving the seas, I guess you need a bit of imagination!

Several cups of coffee had here waiting for Rob, Richard and I to get back

​Dinner at the Quay restaurant Whangarei basin

​Can’t talk now food is here

This month’s bad joke
​
A dentist goes out and buys the best car on the market, a brand-new Bugatti Chiron. It is also the most expensive car in the world, and it costs him $1.5M. He takes it out for a spin and stops at a red light. An old man on a moped looking about 90 years old pulls up next to him. The old mad looks over at the sleek shiny car and asks, “What kind of car ya got there, sonny?”
The dentist replies, “A Bugatti Chiron. It cost one and half million dollars!”
“That’s a lot of money” says the old man. “Why does it cost so much?”
“Because this car can do up to 250 mils and hour!” states the dentist proudly.
The moped driver ask, “Mind if I take a look inside?” “No problem,” replies the dentist.
So the old man pokes his head in the window and looks around. Then, sitting back on his moped, the old man says, “That’s a pretty nice car, but I’ll stick with my moped! “Just then the light changes, so the dentist decides to show the old man just what his car can do. He floors it, and within 30 seconds the speedometer reads 150 mph.
Suddenly, he notices a dot in his rear window – what it could be … and suddenly …WOOOSH
Something whips past him going much faster!
“What on earth could be going faster that my Bugatti?” the dentist asks himself.
He floors the accelerator and takes the Bugatti up to 175mph.
Then, up ahead of him, he sees that it’s the old man on the moped.
Amazed that the moped could pass the Bugatti, he gives it more gas and passes the moped at 210 mph.
WOOOOSH
He’s feeling pretty good until he looks in his mirror and sees the old man gaining in him AGAIN!
Astounded by the speed of this old guy, he floors the gas pedal and takes the Bugatti all the way up to 250 mph.
Not ten seconds later, he sees the moped bearing down on him again!
The Bugatti is flat out, and there’s nothing he can do!
Suddenly, the moped ploughs into the back of his Bugatti, demolishing the rear end.
The dentist stops and jumps out and, unbelievably, the old man is still alive.
He runs up to the mangled old man and says, “Oh my gosh! Is there anything I can do for you?”
The old man whispers, “Unhook my suspenders from your side mirror.”
 

Naval terminology

Gun Salutes
Gun salutes were first fired as an act of good faith. In the days when it took so long to reload a gun, it was a proof of
friendly intention when the ship's cannons were discharged upon entering port.
He Knows the Ropes
In the very early days, this phrase was written on a seaman's discharge to indicate that he was still a novice. All he
knew about being a sailor was just the names and uses of the principal ropes (lines). Today, this same phrase means the opposite -- that the person fully knows and understands the operation (usually of the organization).