Watermark #221 February 2023

The team at dinner at Denny’s before the show.

The cast for the play Rangitoto, enjoyable show

                                                              Birthdays
February      Jennie Rennie, Lis McCook Ray & Bridget Gorinski
March          Jan Probert, Rob Lorden,  Michael McCook
April            Barry Jones, Roger Hawthorne, Peter Longbottom Lyn Viskovich

Rob’s Ramblings – aka Commodore’s Report Rob’s Ramblings – aka Commodore’s Report
We hope the newsletter finds everybody well and not too badly effected by recent weather events.  We had a bit of flooding but not so much to be an insurance issue, unlike several of our neighbours.
This must have been the worst summer we have had for getting out on the water because of weather.  When we did, it was good the catch up with members for the few days between adverse weather events.  The WYC Sailors Messenger app worked well.  We haven’t flagged away summer sailing and intend to get out and about once we know what the two cyclones are doing.
As you would have seen by recent emails, the Bayswater Marina decision to allow residential development, has been appealed by four organisations including AYBA who are seeking funding through a Givealittle page to cover the costs of the AYBA appeal.  
Similarly the decision to close the Landing at Okahu Bay is getting traction within Council and government departments in respect to disregarding the law, related matters, the consequences of the decision, and the need for Auckland Council to have a Marine User’s Strategy to guide decision making processes.  The AYBA Marine User’s Group is presenting these issues to the Council’s Planning Environment and Parks Committee on 2 March 2023.
Further details of the above are included in the two attached documents. 
The impact of these and previous decisions on other marine activity areas for current and future generations in the absence of a Marine User’s Strategy is that:

1. For those with trailered or roof racked boats, and those who just want a swim at the beach, it is getting harder to access the water, as there is no longer enough parking available.  Recently this required the Police to stop traffic going to Long Bay as there was no parking available.  Down south Auckland, people have to park over 2 km away from where they launch their boat.  Access to the marine environment will only continue get worse as our Auckland’s population is expected to increase by 60% to 2.4 million by 2050.
2. There is not sufficient hardstand area available to meet the Council’s Bio-security regulations.   The Council acknowledges this but has no plans to address it.  How are boaties expected to get their red stickered boats cleaned when there are no facilities available?

Fighting these battles on behalf of current and future generations, costs money for legal fees and Court Costs the AYBA has set up two Givealittle pages. Your support will make a big difference and also prove the AYBA is not a solitary entity!! https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/supportthelandinghardstand  https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/bayswater-marina-needs-to-remain-a-marine-precinct 
The number of people and organisations who support the AYBA appeals through the give a little page will strengthen the AYBA’s case, irrespective of the amount pledged.  i.e. Just giving (e.g. $2) will help the case.  If you want more information on the details of the AYBA appeals. Let me know and I can send you the lodged documentation for Bayswater Marina.
The WYC committee recently agreed to give $100 to both Givealittle pages.
Note that the Little Shoal Bay hardstand area remains open until June 2023, but no maintenance may be undertaken in the yard.
Stay safe out there on land and on the water.
Rob 

New Member

Welcome to our new member Ryan McCook (Bill & Lis’s grandson if you have not worked it out for yourself).   Ryan has brought Colin & Barbara’s boat “Mouette”

Off Water events

​The AGM is fast approaching more details to follow.
Still feel free to organise an impromptu event using the club group messenger. 

On Water Event

Keep an eye on the club sailing messenger site and wait for the weather (hopefully soon)

Club Events

​Christmas Party

The team at the party

Rob giving his good cheer speech

Jan stealing someone’s present

Bill opening his

This month's bad joke

Sail GP comes to Lyttleton.

Exciting times are ahead for us when Sail GP comes to New Zealand, the South Island, Christchurch and Lyttleton with racing  scheduled to be held 18 and 19 March 2023. I think that it is so exciting that South Island will be having such an international sailing event in their home waters. This is long overdue! Good on (I suppose, Russell Coutts) for this concept. Racing is to start at 3.00pm each of the two days.
I guess that there will be less controlled days earlier for the crews to train in this area, so the early birds should get some great sights even before the event.
I have heard that the event is already a sell out for all the seats. So soon! Great news! Let us hope that some bureaucrats in other centres in New Zealand take note of this event, open up their brains and encourage sailing back into their areas. Napier Sailing Club conducted both the 2022 Toyota Opti and Starling National Championships with over 289 sailors, plus all the parents and hangers on This brings a lot of wealth into the area. Well done Napier Sailing Club and its members for taking on this event.

Naval terminology

Holystone
The last Navy ships with teak decks were the battleships, now since decommissioned. Teak, and other wooden decks, were scrubbed with a piece of sandstone, nicknameat one time by Navy Terminology, origins of an anonymous witty sailor as the "holystone." It was so named because since its use always brought a man to his knees, it must be holy! However, holystones were banned by the Navy by General Order Number 215 of 5 March 1931 because they wore
down the expensive teak decks too fast.
 
Listless
Today it means to be dull or without pep. It comes from the days of sail when a ship was becalmed and rode on an even keel .... without the port or starbord list experienced under a good breeze. No wind, no list; no list, lifeless.