Tidelines: US industry quick with Katrina response

National Marine Manufacturers Association members were swift to respond to a call from the Louisiana Governor's office for help with the search and rescue effort along the US Gulf coast in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. The Brunswick Group and Mercury Marine sent rescue boats to Louisiana, and shallow-draft skiffs suitable for work in the flooded streets to New Orleans.

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ENVIRONMENTAL AGENCY TARGETS BOAT CLUBS

A state watchdog is targeting Moscow boat clubs in an effort to halt environmental damage in the city's waterways. Oleg Mitvol, businessman turned environmental crusader, kicked off the campaign with an inspection of five of the city's 33 major boat clubs and found violations at most of them. There are about 50,000 small boats and more than 200 docks in Moscow.

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YAMAHA AGAIN RANKS TOP IN CLIENT SATISFACTION

Yamaha Outboards has again been ranked top in customer satisfaction in the United States. This year's survey by the independent J.D. Power research company covered consumer products including boats, vehicles and homes. Based on responses from 12,530 owners who bought a new boat in the previous calendar year, the study ranked Yamaha highest in customer satisfaction for two-stroke outboards. Last year the Yamaha four-stroke rated highest and the previous year both two and four-strokes took the top spot.

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WATER-WATCH

Action on the water today sees two levels of competitive sailing, with dinghies on Lake Pupuke and some of the serious yachties doing their thing short-handed. The Murrays Bay Sailing Club's ice-breaker will be sailed on Pupuke. On the harbour, the Short-handed Sailing Association expects another big field for the final of the Simrad Barrier series.

Organisations planning events on or in the Waitemata or Manukau Harbours should register in advance with the Auckland Regional Council on (09) 366 200. The 24-hour response number for the ARC maritime unit is (09) 362 0397.