Tidelines: Big Sunsail buy

A fleet of 45 Jeanneau Sun Fast 37s will replace the exiting Sunsail matched fleet of 11m boats used in and around the Solent on Britain's south coast.

The new fleet has been designed for Sunsail and the yachts include extra features not fitted to production boats, such as wheel steering, deep keels, special genoa headfoils and specially designed and manufactured sails.

Based at Port Solent the yachts will be used for charters, Royal Yachting Association training courses and other tuition programmes. The new fleet is due to be delivered in time for next year's season.

Viewers drop off

Organisers of The Race say hits on its website are dropping off thanks to Grant Dalton's Club Med extending its lead over Innovation Explorer and the rest of the fleet.

The Race is averaging around 300,000 page views a day compared with more than a million a day in the early stages. Most viewers are from the United States.

Giant boat hoist

Marina Developments, Britain's biggest marina owner and operator, is installing one of the biggest boat hoists in Britain. Installed at Saxon Wharf, Southampton, the hoist can lift vessels of up to 203 tonnes.

It is designed to handle boats such as the three J-class yachts expected in the Solent this year for America's Cup jubilee events.

The Awlcraft classic yachts race, sailing out of the Royal Akarana Yacht Club, is one of the highlights of action on the Waitemata today. Other competition includes:

Today: Devonport cruise and dance at Islington Bay; Gulf Harbour two-handed race (GHYC); Logan M-class race (RAYC); Manukau Harbour race (MYMBC); February family trailer yacht cruising series (WTYS).

Today and tomorrow: Bucklands Beach cruising series, races 5 and 6 (BBYC); Sunburst Auckland championships, Narrow Neck (WTS); Wakatere BC regatta, Narrow Neck (WBC); City of Sails regatta, Kohimarama (KYC).

Tomorrow: Steelers summer series, race 5 (PCC); Richmond his and hers series (RYC); Volcanic classic (RAYC); French Bay Sanft cup (MYMBC).

Organisations planning an event on the Waitemata or Manukau harbours can register with Enviroline, ph 0800 80 60 40fuend