Tidelines: Coastguard alert

Auckland Volunteer Coastguard this week (Tuesday) launched an awareness campaign to complement the regional Safe Summer exercise. It will target water activities including fishing, diving, kayaking and recreational boating. Director of Marketing Margie Sorensen says one aim is to make more people aware that Coastguard is a volunteer-based organisation which receives no government funding. Major sponsorship has been provided by HSBC.

Rock rolled

A Notice to Mariners has removed Cobra Rock from the charts. Land Information New Zealand reintroduced the rock, off the Hole-in-the-Wall, outside Whitianga, on to charts last year despite protests from the Hydrographic User Group when the new chart of the area was being compiled, Linz cartographers showed the rock even though surveys had proved it didn't exist.

Safety sticker

The Boating Industry Association, with the co-operation of Water Safety New Zealand, the Maritime Safety Authority and Coastguard, has produced a new safe boating sticker for trailered powerboats. The sticker lists the minimum safety equipment that should always be on board and includes a reminder about skipper responsibility.

Water-watch

It's training and tune-up time for the Louis Vuitton challengers and Team New Zealand and there is plenty of action for club sailors.

Saturday: Head-of-the-Harbour race (DYC); Gold Cup race 2, Percy Jones Memorial (BBYC); Harbour race, including classic yachts (RNZYS); Richmond summer cruise (RYC); Lidgard Memorial, Race 1 (PCC); Cruise to Oneroa (Weiti BC); Tanner Cup trials, Kohimarama and Murrays Bay (KYC and MBSC).

Sunday: Small boat summer series, M-Class, Solings and ff15s (RAYC); Taikata Waitakere Sunburst championships (TSC); Tri-series Pt Chevalier, all classes (TSC).

* Clubs and organisations planning events on or in the Waitemata or Manukau harbours should register with the Auckland Regional Council Enviroline on 0800 80 60 40.