Tidelines: Carnival celebrates Kawau re-opening

Kawau Island celebrates the 25th anniversary of the re-opening of Mansion House with a second Historic Carnival on Saturday, December 4. The first was held last year. The carnival is a family event with everything from tall ships to Bohemian dancing, a string quartet, brass bands and much more. Visitors are encouraged to enter into the historic mood by wearing period costumes. There will be prizes for the best-dressed. Discounted ferries and water transport will operate all day and visiting boats can anchor in Mansion House Bay. Carnival organisers warn there is no Eftpos on the island, so everyone needs to bring cash. Inquiries to Liz Maire at the DoC office in Warkworth, ph (09) 425 7842.

TIGER WOODS SUES BUILDER OVER SALES CAMPAIGN

Golfing great Tiger Woods is suing a Florida dealership and a Vancouver shipyard for violating clauses in a sales agreement he signed for a US$20 million ($28.6 million) 46.5m (155ft) yacht. The suit alleges the company used his name and picture in a bid to promote sales of the yachts at the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show and in a magazine. Woods' claim states that based on his value as a promoter of products, damages could exceed US$50 million ($71.5 million).

WATER-WATCH

The annual Yachting New Zealand awards will be presented tonight at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron. Sailing action includes:

Saturday: Lidgard Memorial W/L (Ponsonby CC); Cruising races (RAYC and Weiti BC); Gold Cup Race 3, John Sarney (Panmure YMBC); Club championships W/L (RNZYS); Riverhead cruise, trailer yachts (Waikato TYS).

Saturday and Sunday: Senior classes regatta (Takapuna BC); Young 88 and Farr 10.20 2-handed regatta (RAYC).

Sunday: Passage series, Race 2, Waiheke-Auckland (Richmond YC); Ponsonby Challenge Shield 30-miler (PCC); Classic yachts launch rally to Riverhead (CYNZ); Javelin and 12-ft skiff Auckland championships (Auckland SC).

Organisations planning events on the harbours should register well in advance with the ARC, ph (09) 366 2000. The 24-hour response number for the ARC maritime unit is (09) 362 0397.

Editorial inquiries to Robin Bailey (09) 524 4572;