Tidelines: Sunsail buys main charter rival

International charter operator Sunsail has bought its main rival, The Moorings. Peter Long, chief executive of Sunsail's parent company, First Choice Holidays, says buying The Moorings from the US-based leisure travel group North Castle Partners would create savings worth more than $10 million a year.

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X-Yachts, the Danish maker of cruising and racing yachts, has appointed B&G, the performance sailing division of Simrad Yachting, to supply the instrumentation for its yachts.

X-Yachts, based in Haderslev, Denmark, has dealerships in 27 countries, including New Zealand. Its X-35 yachts will be fitted with the complete B&G Hydra 2000 package. The system provides detailed wind, speed and directional data for competitive as well and recreational sailors.

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 The Queensland company Superyacht Solutions says it is close to closing an export deal worth around A$200 million ($213.5 million) to the Australian boatbuilding industry.

Director Chris Layton told IBI News the agreement would be the biggest single development in the history of yacht-building in Australia and would put the country back on the superyacht building map.

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Party time joins the programme this weekend. A party with a seasonal theme starts at the Royal Akarana Yacht Club from 5pm. Sailing activity includes:
Today: Saturday club racing (Bucklands Beach YC); Steinlager Performance Regatta (RAYC); Wakatere Junior Regatta (Wakatere BC); Christmas regatta for centreboard classes (Birkenhead YC)
Tomorrow: Duke of Edinburgh Trophy for FF15s, (RAYC); Christmas Harbour Race and BBQ (Ponsonby CC).

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


* Weekend Marine takes a break from today, returning on January 7.