Tidelines: Maximus focus on New Zealand

The Rolex Transatlantic Race has swung the international yachting spotlight back on to New Zealand, just as Charles St Clair Brown and Bill Buckley, owners of the world's newest and largest super-maxi racer intended. Their 30.4m (100ft) Maximus finished second to the 43m (140ft) Mari-Cha IV which broke the 100-year-old race record by 2 days, 12 hours, 6 minutes. Maximus was just 3 hours 13 minutes behind Mari-Cha IV.

New give way areas

Following the collision between a charter fishing vessel and a passenger ferry in the Motuihe Channel last year, the Harbourmaster has created a passenger ferry priority lane through the northern section of the channel. The lane is designed to separate ferries and other vessels in transit from the growing number of recreational craft anchoring in the Motuihe Channel to fish. The new no-anchoring and no-fishing lane will be published as a notice to mariners and will soon appear on nautical charts.

The Harbourmaster has also created a precautionary area around the harbour bridge to allow passenger ferries, commercial ships and warships to freely navigate under the bridge.

The precautionary area around the centre span prohibits anchoring and fishing, and prevents any recreational craft from impeding: the passage of a vessel over 500 gross tons; a vessel under the guidance of a pilot; a warship or a passenger ferry. This means yachts involved in pre-start manoeuvres or racing in the harbour bridge area must keep clear of all passenger ferries, as well as commercial and naval ships.

Water-Watch

Many winter yacht racing programmes continue this weekend.

The third round in the RNZYS' MRX Match Racing Series will be sailed today.

Ponsonby Cruising Club continues its Ladies Winter Series today; the series will be sailed fortnightly until September 3.

Royal Akarana Yacht Club will start their third winter round on Sunday; this winter series is also sailed fortnightly.

Ponsonby Cruising Club's Winter Series continues on Sunday and runs fortnightly until September 4.

Organisations planning events should register with the ARC on (09) 366 2000.

* Editorial inquiries should be directed to Geoff Green. Ph (09) 428 1624