Boating New Zealand Boat Reviews
Reviews
Boating New Zealand News
News
Boating New Zealand Sports
Sport
Boating New Zealand Lifestyle
Lifestyle
BOAT-REVIEWS-MOBILE
Boat Reviews
BOAT-NEWS-MOBILE
News
BOAT-SPORTS-MOBILE
Sports
BOAT-LIFESTYLE-MOBILE
Lifestyle

sailing folk

Published
Bookmark post
Bookmarked
Bookmark post
Bookmarked

Our yacht Whitney Rose lies in a bay far from the nearest marina. Well-protected, it has a pleasant aspect, an attractive swimming beach, an assortment of cruising yachts – and an eclectic gallery of owners. Story by Matt Vance.

The bay attracts a variety of modest, well-built cruising boats. The sailors, like the boats, are modest and full of character, with a roundedness that all objects sloshed in saltwater seem to take on overtime. 

They have made livings as farmers, builders and wharfies, working with their hands on their boats and on their lives. Like most people they have their dreams, but unlike their landlubber friends these dreams have names like Carly, Astra, or Rhapsody

Whitney Rose.

The boats are double-ended, plumb-bowed, fractional–rigged, gaff-rigged – ketches, sloops, schooners, catamarans and keelers – made from timber, steel, fibreglass and concrete. Some are immaculate works of art that show your reflection in the hull, others are rough as guts, neglected, with guano-covered decks and large skirts of seaweed burgeoning from their underwater sections. 

The owners proudly defend their boats’ attributes as if they were their children, turning a blind eye to the eccentricities and errant behaviour of their offspring. As is said of dog owners, over time their personalities begin to fit their boats. 

- Advertisement -

Occasionally a new boat will turn up in the bay and the very look of the boat will sometimes lead me to unfounded conclusions like “He’s definitely a Wharram catamaran sailor with socks, sandals, a beard and two girlfriends” or “It’s that bogan welder and his steel schooner with a chain-link steering wheel”. 

That is until I row over in the dinghy and meet them, get invited aboard for a cup of something and discover they are a barefoot clergyman or a solo dad. When they ask if I would like sugar with my tea and top it up with rum I know they will fit in just fine. The boats in the bay are held apart from ours by their moorings of chain and rope but somehow this holds us together and these people become our friends.

Our bay.

Very rarely is a second name used to describe these people. It is usually Jim from Juneer or Robbie from Cabot. Their boats become part of their name as if their whole identity has been swallowed by the bay. It is at their funerals you realise that sailing is only part of their life. 

Hearing of this other life has a whiff of betrayal to it, and I find myself saying things like “Who would have guessed the old bugger was a devout Christian?” and subconsciously ignoring all of that and preferring the memory of them as a sailor who had an immodest enthusiasm for gin and ribald jokes.   

Among the sailors in the bay, I am the youngest by about 100 years, yet it never seems to matter out there – I just fit right in. Occasionally a description like Jim from Juneer is not enough. Some of the old fellows look at you blankly and you have to resort to descriptions of their boat. “You know, that beautiful steel cutter with the teak trim…”

“Oh yes, Jim,” they will say, the boat being a suitable description to cover everything from Jim’s anatomy to his psychological makeup.

Like any collection of boats in the world, the ones in the bay are subject to the 90/10 rule. This is the quirk of human nature that says 90% of the boats are rarely ever sailed. Some of these are taken out of the water for inspiration, vision and antifouling once a year to keep them afloat. Compounding this is fear: the fear of actually getting out there and handling the boat and the fear of what you might discover when the sea finds you out.

Among the 10% of boats that actually sail, there are other subspecies. Most notable of these are the boats of the tinkerers. These are the sailors who don’t necessarily enjoy sailing but enjoy boats. They keep their boats in immaculate condition. “You could eat your dinner off that” is an expression you will often hear of their handiwork. 

They love getting lost in the detail of diesel engine installation and the labyrinth of electronic gadgetry that their boats seem to propagate. To step aboard and offer a simple “How’s it all going?” will elicit a detailed analysis of their compression test or moisture content of the hull that only more sugar in the tea will render interesting. 

As is their nature, tinkerers love to build boats and will spend a casual 20 years getting the details right. Getting the boat to the water is perhaps the greatest of life’s disappointments for the tinkerer. 

The actual sailors are a small minority – probably only half of the 10% of those that are aboard their boats regularly. They are distinguished by their ability to handle their boats under sail and have been over the horizon in them. Their boats are in working condition, well-loved and sailed, but you probably could not eat your dinner off them.

Occasionally the bay plays out some drama. There are the fugitives who move onto their well-neglected boat to avoid the bailiff, or the ex-wife, or the law. They keep a low profile and tend only to come ashore in the hours of darkness. Occasionally the bailiff, or the ex-wife, or the law catches up with them and they disappear for a year or five. 

Other than these fugitives there is always a liveaboard or two in the bay. Some of these like Steve from Torea have land jobs and occasionally disappear for a couple of years as they circumnavigate the Pacific in their well-found boats, others tend to see their vessel as a flophouse and accumulate on deck a pile of junk that threatens to swamp their well-neglected craft. 

On the row out to the moorings from the wharf it is common to stop and chat with other sailors on the way. Mostly these conversations are had as you rest on the oars holding station while you discuss the finer points of sail trim or new and innovative ways of deterring the birds and their propensity to shit all over your boat while you are absent. 

The topics of conversation are always broad, welcoming and full of good humour. Some seem to enjoy this socialising more than others and it is not uncommon to have a few of the older fellows never actually make it to their own boats after gamming away the afternoon going from boat to boat.

The dinghy ramp and the wharf is another area you are likely to get into a conversation – and it never pays to be in a rush. When I am, I feel like I have cheated myself out of something money can’t buy. 

The wharf usually contains a collection of dockside loafers, swimmers and fishermen who for the most part exchange pleasantries about the weather and such. Occasionally one of them will make a disparaging mark about Spud (our Phil Bolger-designed tender). They will say things like “Is that a coffin?” or “How can you tell which end is the front?” 

On one notable occasion, Walter of Trailblazer almost fell out of his dinghy as he came alongside the wharf while the local female hippie contingent was indulging in a nude swim. He quickly gained his composure before singling out one young lady about to take the plunge. In his rich Irish accent he said, “You’ll catch your death of cold dressed like that, young girly.” Like I said it never pays to rush home from the wharf.

It is not until you have been away a while that you realise how good it is here. When we gybe over for the last time in Whitney Rose and swoop into the bay under the reassuring presence of Mt Evans it is like returning to the 1950s when time and money meant different things. 

As we sail through the moored yachts and wave at the sailors who have become their boats, we come as close as we can to putting our finger on the thing that makes this quiet bay magic

SHARE:

Related Articles

Previous article
Next article

Comments

This conversation is moderated by Boating New Zealand. Subscribe to view comments and join the conversation. Choose your plan →

This conversation is moderated by Boating New Zealand.

Boating New Zealand
Boating New Zealandhttps://www.boatingnz.co.nz
Boating NZ is New Zealand’s premier marine title devoted to putting its readers behind the wheel of the latest trailerboats, yachts and launches to hit the market. It inspires with practical content and cruising adventures, leads the fleet with its racing coverage and is on the pulse of the latest maritime news and innovation.

More from Boating New Zealand

Vendée round the globe LIVE!

Catch up with all the action from the past 24 hours in this 30-minute daily...
Vendee Globe - Round The World Yacht RaceVendée round the globe LIVE!

Final Storm Looms as Vendée Gl...

The finish line at Les Sables d’Olonne is within reach, but the path for Ve...
Race Day ReportsVendee Globe - Round The World Yacht Race

Search Underway After Jetski I...

Taupō Police and emergency services are conducting a search operation follo...
Coastguard NewsNewsNews Articles

SailGP: Fleet race totals R...

With the Sydney event just 19 days away, the standings are starting to refl...
Auckland RacingNewsRunup to Sydney

SailGP Auckland Day 2, Race 8 ...

The Waitematā Harbour at Auckland was the scene of high drama today as the ...
Auckland RacingSailGP

SailGP Auckland Day 2, Race 7:...

The seventh fleet race of the Auckland SailGP, held today, delivered a thri...
Auckland RacingSailGP
-- ADVERTISEMENT --

Follow Us

Weekly Newsletter

Stay up to date with the latest developments shaping New Zealand's Boating world.

Social Media

Follow us on social media to stay in the loop with the latest trends and news shaping New Zealand's boating scene!

-- THINGS WE LOVE --

GET
STARLINK
HERE

-- DIRECTORY LISTING --

NZ Events Worth Adding to Your Calendar

Have an event you'd like to list on Boating New Zealand. Contact us with the details.

Catch all the action of the Vendée Globe Race, starting 10 Nov, 2024 in Barcelona, Spain. Follow along with excitement at Boating New Zealand.

FISHING

White Pointer Boats 30th Anniversary Fishing Comp, 5 - 8 Feb 2025 in Waihau Bay

Makaira Trailer Boat Competition, 25 & 26 Jan 2025 in Whangaroa

Stabicraft Fish N Chicks Tournament, 6 - 8 Feb 2025 in Tauranga. Dress up theme is “Ladies of their Time”. Raising funds to help find a cure for Breast Cancer.

Surtees Annual Fishing Competition, 28 Feb - 1 Mar 2025 in Whakatane

Hook Me Up Fishing Competition - Matakana vs Hillside, 7 Mar 2025 in Whakatane

The Kubota Billfish Classic, 12 - 15 Mar 2025 in Mercury Bay, Whitianga

ITM Fishing Competition, 13 - 16 Mar 2025 in Whangaroa

NZ Lure Masters (Catch, Measure and Release competition), 3 & 4 Oct 2025, New Zealand wide

Stabicraft Te Anau Manapouri Fishing Classic, 25 - 27 Oct 2025 TBC in Te Anau Manapouri

REGATTAS

Rolex Sydney to Hobart, 26 Dec 2024 starts in Sydney, Australia

New Zealand Sail Grand Prix, 18 & 19 Jan 2025 in Auckland

Bay of Islands Sailing Week, 21 - 24 Jan 2025 at Bay of Islands

NZ Millenium Cup, 1 - 4 Feb 2025 at Waitemata Harbour

Toyota Youth International Match Racing Cup, 26 Feb - 4 Mar 2025 in Auckland

PIC Harbour Classic, 28 Feb - 1 Mar 2025 in Auckland

Sydney to Auckland Ocean Race 2025, starting 11 Oct 2025 TBC from Sydney Harbour

PIC Insurance Brokers Coastal Classic, 24 Oct 2025 TBC from Auckland to Russell

NZ Match Racing Championships, 2025 dates tbc in Auckland

HYDRO THUNDER

Lucas Oil Hydro Thunder Race - Mangakino, 18 & 19 Jan 2025 at Mangakino

Lucas Oil Hydro Thunder Race - Karapiro, 7 - 9 Feb 2025 at Karapiro

Lucas Oil Hydro Thunder Race - Lake Rotoiti, 8 - 9 Mar 2025 at Nelson Lakes

Lucas Oil Hydro Thunder Race - Lake Twizel, 29 - 30 Mar 2025 at Twizel

JET BOAT RACING

2024/25 NZ Jetsprint Championship R2, 1 Dec 2024 at Featherston

2024/25 NZ Jetsprint Championship R3, 27 Dec 2024 at Wanganui

UIM World Jetsprint Championships, 25 Jan -2 Feb 2025 at Wanaka (25 & 26 Jan) and Wanganui (1 & 2 Feb)

2024/25 NZ Jetsprint Championship R4, 23 Feb 2025 at Wanganui

2025 NZ Marathon Coast-to-Coast, 16 to 25 Mar 2025 starting at Greymouth ad finishing at Christchurch

2024 Golden Homes NZ Jet Boat Marathon, 2025 dates TBC on Southland Rivers (Oreti, Waiau and Mataura)

National Jet Boat Rally 2024, 2025 date TBC at Oliver Road, Bendigo (near Cromwell)

WATERSPORTS

Yamaha Rollo's Marine Bridge 2 Bridge, 2025 dates tbc Staged on the Waikato River between Cambridge & Taupiri, based in Hamilton, New Zealand

NON-MOTORISED SPORT

Waka Ama - 2025 National Sprint Championships, 12 - 18 Jan 2025 at Lake Karapiro, Cambridge

Waka Ama - 2025 Secondary School Nationals, 24 - 28 Mar 2025 at Lake Tikitapu, Rotorua

ANTIQUE, CLASSIC & RETRO BOATS

25th NZ Antique & Classic Boat Show , 1 & 2 Mar 2025 at Lake Rotoiti, Nelson Lakes

SHOWS

Moana Auckland - New Zealand's Ocean Festival, 27 Jan to 9 Mar 2025 in Auckland

Auckland Boat Show, 6 - 9 Mar 2025 to be held at the Viaduct Events Centre and Jellicoe Harbour, Auckland

The Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show, 15-18 May 2025 to be held at the Viaduct Events Centre and Jellicoe Harbour, Auckland

NZ Boat, Fish and Dive Show, 30 & 31 Aug 2025 to be held at Mystery Creek Events Centre, Waipa

-- DIRECTORY LISTING --

International Boat Shows

COMING EVENTS

Boot Düsseldorf 18 - 26 Jan 2025 to be held in Düsseldorf, Germany

New York Boat Show, 22 - 26 Jan 2025 to be held at the Javits Center, New York

Bahamas Charter Yacht Show, 29 Jan - 2 Feb 2025 to be held at Nassau, Bahamas

Houston Boat Show, 29 Jan - 2 Feb 2025 to be held at the NRG Center, Houston, Texas

Dubai International Boat Show, 19 - 23 Feb 2025 to be held at the Dubai Harbour

Miami International Boat Show, 12 - 16 Feb 2025 to be held in Miami

Palm Beach International Boat Show, 19 - 23 Mar 2025 to be held along Flagler Drive in downtown West Palm Beach

International Multihull Show, 23 - 27 Apr 2025 to be held in Terre-plein Ouest du port La Grande-Motte (34), France

Palma International Boat Show, 30 Apr - 3 May 2025 to be held at the Superyacht Village, Palma, Spain

Barcaly's Jersey Boat Show, 3 - 5 May 2025 to be held in the Channel Islands

South Coast & Green Tech Boat Show, 9 - 11 May 2025 to be held in Ocean Village Marina, Southampton, Hampshire

The British Motor Yacht Show, 15 - 18 May 2025 to be held at the Swanwick Marina, Southampton, Hampshire

The Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show, 15 - 18 May 2025 at Auckland Showgrounds, Auckland

Sanctuary Cove International Boat show, 22 - 25 May 2025 to be held in Sanctuary Cove, Queensland

Sydney International Boat show, 31 July - 3 Aug 2025 to be held at ICC Sydney & Cockle Bay, Darling Harbour

Hiswa Te Water, 3 - 7 Nov 2025 to be held in Bataviahaven Lelystad, The Netherlands

Southampton International Boat Show, 19 - 28 Sep 2025 to be held in Southampton, UK

International BoatBuilders’ Exhibition & Conference (IBEX), 7 - 9 Oct 2025 to be held in Tampa, Florida

Annapolis Sail Boat Show, 9 - 13 Oct 2025 to be held at City Dock, Annapolis, Maryland

Newport International Boat Show, 20 - 23 Nov 2025 to be held in Newport, Rhode Island

Cannes Yachting Festival, 9 - 14 Sep 2025 at Cannes – Vieux Port & Port Canto

Genoa Boat Show, 18 - 23 Sep 2025 to be held in Genoa, Italy

Melbourne International Boat Show, Oct 2025, TBC to be held at New Quay Promenade Harbour Esplanade Seven Marinas

Biograd Boat Show, Oct 2025, TBC to be held in the City of Biograd, Croatia

Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show 29 Oct – 2 Nov 2025 to be held at several locations in Fort Lauderdale

METSTRADE 18 - 20 Nov 2025 to be held at the Rai, Amsterdam

Antigua Charter Yacht Show 4 - 9 Dec 2025 to be held at the Nelson's Dockyard UNESCO World Heritage Site, Antigua

Monaco Yacht Show, 24 - 27 Sep 2025 on Monacco