Watermark #223 June 2023

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The team having a guided tour of one of the Belaire Ferries at West harbour by Captain Shaun before sailing off into town for lunch.

                                                                Birthdays
June            Hetty Goodwin.
July             Wayne McEwan
August         Lynne McAven, Barbara Gibson

Rob’s Ramblings – aka Commodore’s Report
We hope this newsletter finds everyone safe and well.  It is almost the shortest day and the days will be getting longer which is something we look forward to each year.  We had a good turnout at Halfmoon Bay a few days ago in good weather.
More Popular Anchorages Closed
Many of you will have noted that the dreaded seaweed Caulerpa Brachypus which has closed four popular anchorages has now spread to the Bay of Islands where it has closed most of the popular anchorages. WYC members spent a month in the baysfive years ago, as shown in purple below.  Most likely, it was spread by a boat who brought it from the Barrier or Mercury islands.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/132321475/northland-council-scrambling-with-courtimposed-fishing-rules-in-bay-of-islands?cid=app-android
This issue is only likely to get worse and potentially close many more popular anchorages, and at worse, the entire Hauraki Gulf, if it is not contained.   Sadly Council is turning a blind eye to this issue, as it allows residential activities, and other commercial activities to occur on zone for marine purposes, thus making compliance with Council’s Biosecurity Regulations physically impossible due to Council allowing hardstand areas to be reduced.  The spread of Caulerpa will not only will effect WYC boaties but also those who used the marine environment including beach goers and towed water craft owners.

The AYBA has requested a judicial review of the Council decision that has closed Council’s hardstand area at The Landing, Okahu Bay and also appealed the Bayswater Marina decision to allow residential development.   It seems than anyone with lots of money can get anything through Council.
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 
Personally, I have expressed my concerns to our local Councillors.  Members may like to consider doing the same with their Councillors
 
 
Future of WYC
I have put an item for discussion on the future of the club at the coming AGM.  We note that:  

• We are becoming more like a group of friends rather than a yacht club actively participating with other clubs in regional events. 
• Many of our members no longer have boats
• The two messenger groups are working well albeit there needs to be some discipline about what goes on them.
• Several of our members have and use Facebook and Messenger under their own name
• The processes involved as an incorporated society are becoming onerous and offer little value to club members.  

Specifically we seek your thoughts on the following at the AGM.

1. The incoming committee be tasked with moving the Club out of Incorporation and into an "Association of Members"
2. Current assets are reduced and spent on social events to the members benefit
3. The “new group of friends” will continue to do what it is currently doing on the water and off it using the current messenger sites and where necessary, emails.
4. Reallocating and/or winding up of the Incorporated Club.
5. What happens to our name, website, face book site, magazine.
6. To be unincorporated, WYC will require a vote of members.
7. Membership is set at $5 to ensure that members under the constitution, remain financial.  
8. The 25th birthday celebration will be significantly subsidised by current club funds

 What are your thoughts?  Bring them to the meeting
Proposed Motion
Subject to discussion at the AGM, and the feelings of members, I propose that the incoming committee be tasked with addressing the above and reporting back to members on options. 
25th birthday celebrations February 2024
What are your thoughts on this?  We have added an agenda item to discuss. 
Rob

                                           UP COMING EVENTS
 
The Westhaven Yacht Club Annual General Meeting
is scheduled for Saturday 24th June at 16:30 with official meeting start time to be 17:00. It will be held at Lis and Bill McCook's home.
Apologises to Barb McEwan
The club will provide the meats ‘beef and chicken” please bring your own drinks and shared salad or desserts as per normal.
 
Still feel free to organise an impromptu event using the club group messenger. 

                                                           CLUB EVENTS
                           West Harbour Ferry trip into town for lunch at Commercial Bay

Yeah I reckon I could be a captain too!

                    Dam that’s a big engine                                       Lunch at Commercial Bay pub

Half Moon Bay trip

​Lunch at one of the Half Moon Bay restaurants.             About to head back to catch the ferry
                                                                                                           back to the city.         

This month’s bad joke
​
The admiral was on a tour of duty, visiting all the ships of the line. Piped aboard one of the smallest ships, a patrol boat, everything was much as he expected until he was invited to afternoon tea in the wardroom. While there, he noticed every biscuit on the table bore the naval coat of arms. When he asked who would be responsible, the young Lt Commander said he’d introduce the admiral to his AB Seaman cook.
“Well,” the young cook explained, when asked, “I cut each biscuit shape and before placing it on the baking sheet, I press it against the button on the waistband of my trousers, Sir”.
 The admiral was aghast. “And I’ve just eaten two of them! I don’t consider it at all hygienic!”
 The cook shrugged and replied, “Well, sir, you’d better not eat the donuts!”
 

Naval terminology

No Quarter
"No quarter given" means that one gives his opponent no opportunity to surrender. It stems from the old custom by which officers, upon surrender, could ransom themselves by paying one quarter of a year's pay.
Port holes
The word "port hole" originated during the reign of Henry VI of England (1485). King Henry insisted on mounting guns too large for his ship and the traditional methods of securing these weapons on the forecastle and aft castle could not be used.
A French shipbuilder named James Baker was commissioned to solve the problem. He put small doors in the side of the ship and mounted the cannon inside the ship. These doors protected the cannon from weather and were opened when the cannon were to be used. The French word for "door" is "porte" which was later Anglicized to "port “and later went on to mean any opening in the ship's side, whether for cannon or not.


Even worst Bad joke of the month 

Australian Government Fire Hose Specifications
All hose is to be made of a long hole. Surrounded The by a canvas rubber or plastic around the hole.
All hose is to be hollow throughout the entire length – do not use holes of different length than the hose. 
The I.D (inside diameter) of all hose must not exceed the O.D (outside diameter) – otherwise the hole will be on the outside.
 All hose is to be supplied with nothing in the hole so that water can be put inside at a later date.
 All hose over 500ft. (153m) in length should have the words “LONG HOSE’ clearly stencilled on each end so the Firefighter will know it is a long hose.
 Hose over 2 miles (3.2Km) in length must also have the words ‘LONG HOSE’ stencilled in the middle so the Firefighter will not have to walk the entire length of the hose to determine weather or not it is a long or short hose.
 All hose over 6 inches (152mm) in diameter must have the words “LARGE HOSE” stencilled on it so the firefighter will not mistake it for a small hose.
 Be sure to specify to the C.F.A. weather you want level, uphill or down hill hose. If you use downhill hose for going uphill the water will flow the wrong way.