Welcome to the March issue of Boating New Zealand!

Isn’t it great to be enjoying a real summer? After northern regions endured endless rain and wind last year, complete with floods and deadly cyclones, it’s such a relief to be enjoying warmth and sunshine. Boaters, fishers and water users of every description are reaping the benefits, along with marine businesses, many of which did it tough last year.

Of course, the weather has been a bit more mixed further south, but to be fair, compared to the rest of us, the South Island enjoyed a great summer last year – we were jealous – so maybe this season it’s just the south’s turn? Just kiddin! Hopefully the weather will be great for the return of SailGP to Christchurch’s Lyttelton Harbour, back for the second time on the weekend of March 23-24. Boating NZ will be there.

Between the Auckland Boat Show at Jellicoe Harbour, March 14–17 (see our highlights preview on pages 72-73), and the many exciting events that make up Moana Auckland–New Zealand’s Ocean Festival, the city of Auckland will become a hub for marine-themed events in the month of March. There’s something for everyone.

One of the highlights of Moana Auckland–New Zealand’s Ocean Festival should be the inaugural Wooden Boats Festival, March 1–3. With 164 boats confirmed as taking part as we went to press, along with guest speakers and a festival of short films, it promises to be a celebration of wooden vessels both old and new. The smaller boats will be displayed inside the Viaduct Events Centre.

The support for the Wooden Boats Festival reflects New Zealanders’ abiding interest in boats, and especially old ones. Old boats, restored boats, and homebuilt projects have always piqued the interest of this magazine’s readers. While we seek out these stories whenever we can, we’d like to publish more of them. But we need your help.

If you or someone you know has undertaken an interesting restoration or home-build project, can you please let us know? It can be any sort and size of vessel, whether power or sail, including trailer boats and dinghies. Just email us at editor@boatingnz.co.nz and we’ll see what we can work out.

And speaking of making contact, if you are attending the Auckland Boat Show, please be sure to say hello to the Boating NZ crew. Stop by to share a coffee and a chat. We’d love to see you – Stand 100, Viaduct Events Centre, first on the right just inside the main entrance.