Whangarei's new Lower Hatea River bridge has stopped yachts leaving the Town Basin for over a week, frustrating sailors who want to head for Pacific islands before forecast bad weather sets in.
Englishman Steve Jones, who wants to sail from Whangarei to Vanuatu in his 15m yacht Carillon, has complained to Whangarei District Council about the bridge stopping yacht traffic for more than twice as long as the council said it would.
The council closed the bridge for six days to prepare for the the two halves of the bascule (lifting platform) and the two lower sections of the big J-beams that form the bridge's distinctive hook-like profile to be jacked into position.
The bascule was put in place last week, but yachts with tall masts were still blocked by the bridge yesterday - 11 days after the closure.
And although council group manager infrastructure and services Simon Weston yesterday said yachts should be able to get past the bridge by Friday, he could not guarantee yachties would not be trapped in the Town Basin longer.