Tidelines: Bond boats thrill on show circuit

Five boats from James Bond films are racing around the United States show circuit.

They are the Tow Sled (Thunderball, 1965), the Bath-O-Sub (Diamonds are Forever, 1971), the Glastron Amazon (Moonraker, 1979), the Neptune Submarine (For Your Eyes Only, 1981) and Q's jetboat (The World Is Not Enough, 1999).

They will be at the New York Boat Show from December 31 to January 8; Atlanta, January 11-15, Baltimore, January 21-29 and Atlantic City, February 1-5.

Used craft popular with first-timers

The value of used boats in the United States has doubled in seven years. The National Marine Manufacturers' Association says last year's total was $US7.9 billion compared with $US3.9 billion in 1997. More than 75 per cent of first-time buyers opted for a used boat and more than 1 million were sold last year.

Water-Watch

The Royal Akarana Yacht Club's Steinlager performance regatta, called off because last Saturday was too windy, will be raced today. Other activities
Today: Burnsco Cruising, Race 4 (Gulf Harbour YC); Gold Cup Roy McDell Memorial 4 (RNZYS); two-handed round-Waiheke (Devonport YC); Old Fox 4, Palm Beach, Huruhi (Westhaven YC); club racing (Bucklands Beach YC); race to Patio Bay, including launches and cruising yachts (Classic YA); Mullet boat, Mark Foy (Ponsonby CC); junior regatta (Wakatere BC)
Today and tomorrow: Starling match-racing trials (Kohimarama YC); 12ft skiff national team trials and Auckland Sanders Cup trials (Auckland SC)
Tomorrow: Spring race 2 (Ponsonby CC); return race from Kawau (Panmure Y & BC); M-Class Myth McCurdy series 1 (RNZYS).

Organisations planning events on 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.