Tide lines: Cruising rally

The Ponsonby Cruising Club's biennial rally to Musket Cove, Fiji, will be part of the Musket Cove Yacht Club's 25th anniversary celebrations. A Mark Foy start from Auckland or Opua on May 8 will give the fleet an anticipated arrival time at Musket Cove from May 17 to 19. Special one-way fares and accommodation packages for crew changes are available. Details from Jillian Samson on (09) 376 8282 or Ponsonby Cruising Club.

Stabi-Craft grows

Invercargill-based Stabi-Craft marine has added Acclaim Maine in Sydney to its Australian dealer network that includes operators in Darwin, Cairns, Brisbane, Bateman's Bay, Melbourne, Adelaide and Tasmania. It has 15 New Zealand dealerships and two in the United States.

Furuno 2004

Organisers say entries are piling in for the 2004 Lion Red Furuno fishing contest. The country's biggest fishing challenge will again be run out of Kawau Island from March 18 to 20. It carries a prize pool of more than $100,000, including a Haines Hunter SF535 package valued at $53,000.

Water-watch


The Auckland Regional Council maritime unit's first holiday message for the New Year is to those using personal watercraft. These give quick and easy access to the water with all the thrills of high-speed boating. With the thrills come dangers and responsibilities. PWCs are legally powerboats and the same rules apply. These include: wear a lifejacket; obey the speed limits; observe the age limit of 15 or older to drive a PWC; know how to turn safely by using the throttle, because throttling off loses steering control; check the local by-laws which may restrict the use of PWCs in some areas. Above all, don't drink and drive.

Main action on the water close to Auckland this weekend is at Takapuna, where the Hobie nationals begin, with the competition continuing to January 8.

Saturday and Sunday: Clarkes Beach New Year Regatta concludes (Clarkes Beach YC); Hobie national championships begin at Takapuna (Takapuna BC).

* Clubs and organisations planning events in or on the Waitemata or Manukau Harbours should register well in advance with the Auckland Regional Council Enviroline on (09) 360 2070. The new 24-hour response number for the ARC maritime unit is (09) 362 0397.