Tide lines: Lifejacket fits

Lifejacket, buoyancy vest or inflatable jacket. Whatever option adults choose when they are preparing to take children boating, there is only one rule: make sure it fits. Don't buy a buoyancy aid the child can grow into. They are the ones the little body can also fall out of.

Guide preview

A revised edition of the free national Safe Boating guide will be available from Labour Weekend. The guide is an essential component of the BoatSafe promotion that also starts from October 20. Essentially an exercise emphasising skipper responsibility, BoatSafe will be supported by Weekend Marine. Next week's feature will preview the revised booklet and point out regulation changes skippers must heed.

New Riviera

Australian offshore racer Bill Barry-Cotter has launched a new UIM Class 2 Riviera catamaran. The carbon fibre and Nomex honeycomb boat is 11.7m long and weighs only three tonnes. Powered by a single 9.2-litre Detroit diesel producing more than 1100hp, the Riviera has a top speed in excess of 130 mph. It is with the Riviera team in Dubai getting ready for the Class 2 Offshore Powerboat World Championships, beginning November 2.

Maraetai run

Maraetai will be the base for another of the increasingly popular poker runs. Organised by Whitford Rotary, this one is on December 8 and will take in a course around Pakatoa, Motuihe and Waiheke islands.

Water Watch

Competition gets under way in earnest this weekend as yacht clubs begin to kick off the new season. Highlights include:

Saturday: Eastern Beach regatta, Optis, P-Class, Starlings and 29ers (BBYC); Gold Cup, Race 1, Yanmar Icebreaker and multi-hull mini-series (RAYC).

Sunday: Club opening day (BBYC); M-class, Flying Fifteens and Open Division (RAYC).

* Clubs and organisations planning events on, in or under the water on either the Manukau or Waitemata Harbours should register with the ARC Enviroline on 0800 80 60 40.