<EM>Tidelines:</EM> Shepherd's Paintings record our history

10 Mar, 2006 09:55 AM2 mins to read

An exhibition of paintings at the National Maritime Museum celebrates the work of Frank Barnes, one of this country's most prolific marine artists. Barnes worked as a shepherd at Orongorongo Station, near Wellington Heads, from about 1895 until his death in 1941. He lived like a hermit in a small hut and painted ships entering and leaving the port. His work records the changes in New Zealand shipping during the early 20th century. A Shepherd and His Ships at the Edmiston Gallery runs until June 5.

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Pioneering Queensland boatbuilder Bill Barry-Cotter, founder of the Riviera Group and owner of Martimo, says Australia's free trade deal with the United States has allowed an influx of low-priced American boats that is destroying the local market. Just four years ago the local builder had probably 90 per cent of the market for boats in the 9m (30ft) plus range. Today it is less than 20 per cent, he told the Courier-Mail in Brisbane. "The US FTA is absolute rubbish, it's free trade for the Americans".

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The Etchells Auckland Championships will be sailed out of the Gulf Harbour Yacht Club this weekend. Other activity:

Today: Single-handed round-Rangitoto race (Bucklands Beach YC); Cruising race (Devonport YC); Burnsco Cruising Race 8 (Gulf Harbour YC); Cruising Race 5, including motor yachts (RNZYS); Mullet boat summer harbour race (Ponsonby CC); Commodores Cup, Race 5, round Rangitoto (RNZYS).

Today and tomorrow: National Womens keelboat Championships (RAYC); Optimist, P-Class and Starling Auckland championships (Howick SC); Senior and youth classes regatta (Howick SC); Two-handed, three-legged race series (Panmure Y&BC).

Tomorrow: Return race from Orapiu (Richmond YC); M-Class Myth-McCurdy 4 and 5, triangle courses (RNZYS); summer race, series 1 (Ponsonby CC).

Organisations planning events on or in the Waitemata or Manukau harbours should register in advance with the Auckland Regional Council on (09) 366 2000. The 24-hour response number for the ARC maritime unit is (09) 362 0397.