It’s shaping up to be a great summer on the water in the Marlborough Sounds. For those who want to cruise, the enlarged marina at Waikawa still has berths available for visiting boaties, while the Waikawa Bay Boating Club has a busy programme of racing and social events.
More than 250 new berths, in sizes ranging from 10 to 30 metres, were added to the Marlborough Sounds Marinas portfolio with the opening of Waikawa North West in December last year, bringing Waikawa Marina’s total capacity to just over 1100 boats in both wet and dry storage. Waikawa Marina is ideally located in the middle of Totaranui/Queen Charlotte Sound at the top of the South Island.
“We still have some permanent berthage available and plenty of short-term visitor spots available over summer for people who want to come and visit,” says Anouk Euzeby, Manager of Marlborough Sounds Marinas at Waikawa and Picton on Queen Charlotte Sound, and Havelock on the neighbouring Pelorus Sound. “There used to be quite a long waiting list, but now with the extension we have a bit more wiggle room at this stage, with some availability for this coming boating season, and we are looking forward to welcoming new berth holders and visitors alike.”
Euzeby says the Waikawa extension has been well-received by local boaties, not just marina-berth holders but also the community, and the large number of visiting vessels from around New Zealand who arrive at the marina by sea, and also by road with trailer boats to use the launching facilities.
The marina is the home base of the Waikawa Boating Club, the largest yacht club in the sounds. Two of its major events which attract many sailors from out of town are the Evolution Sails Women’s Regatta, this year being held on September 12–14, and the Waikawa New Year Regatta in January, which dates back more than seventy years. The club also offers a full programme of short-course racing, including the Marlborough Sounds Marinas spring twilight series, from October 5th, and numerous offshore events.
In February the club will host its annual wine race which, as the name suggested, is supported by Wineworks and local producers and involves a cruise for yachts and launches to Resolution Bay in the outer sounds. There will be inshore and offshore races and of course a celebration of Marlborough’s wine-making prowess on shore over the weekend.
“We keep busy with events and running boating education and learn-to-sail courses as well,” says racing secretary Clive Ballett. “It’s an incredible place to have a yacht club — with both the beauty of the area and the fact it’s quite safe sailing. The winds can be changeable but the seas are never big, and there are lots of dolphins, seals and little blue penguins.”
The Marlborough Sounds Marinas facilities have recently been awarded Clean Marina accreditation from the international Marina Industries Association — the first marinas in New Zealand to attain this certification. Following a rigorous independent environmental audit, which took into account the management of the marinas and practices around waste disposal, all three sites achieved a perfect score of 100 per cent.
Marlborough Sounds Marinas manager Anouk Euzeby said the MIA’s Clean Marina programme was chosen due to its rigour and reputation, and the highly trained environmental assessors who undertake the on-site audit.
“Gaining the certification is a very proud moment for our entire marinas team, who have worked diligently over the years on improving our systems for environmental protection and excellence in marina management,” Euzeby says. “The preparatory work for accreditation required staff training on new procedures, and every team member dedicated significant thought and effort despite a busy season.”
MSM worked with environmental consultant Mackenzie Stacey from technical consulting firm BMT, who praised the marinas for their thorough environmental management practices. “The level of detail in their procedures is impressive — Marlborough Sounds Marinas sets a high standard for others to follow,” she says. “The team’s commitment to preserving the natural beauty of the Marlborough Sounds through sustainable practices, waste minimisation, and pollution prevention was evident throughout their operations.”
Rhys Welbourn, CEO of Port Marlborough, says the port is committed to being an environmentally restorative operation. “This milestone by our marinas team exemplifies our dedication to environmental excellence in the marine industry. We are extremely proud and will use this new standard as a benchmark for continuous improvement.”
The three Marlborough Sounds Marinas have a total capacity of over 2200 vessels in wet and dry storage. These facilities make it easy for locals and visitors to explore the Marlborough Sounds, which comprise around 20 per cent of New Zealand’s total coastline, as well as the Marlborough hinterland which is the country’s largest wine-producing area, with numerous award-winning vineyards and cellar doors nearby.
The Waikawa Marina is just five minutes from Picton and half an hour from Blenheim, and is home to a host of marine service businesses, including a travel lift and hardstand area. For berth enquiries, go the the website below. For information about racing and events at Waikawa Boating Club, go to www.waikawaboatingclub.co.nz
