Tidelines: Rally time

Entries are now being accepted for the 2004 NZ Propeller/Swashbucklers Poker Run on February 14. Run organiser Barry Thompson says the event is a rally, not a race. Competitors collect a series of playing cards over the course and the winner is the boater with the best hand at the end, who takes away a travel package. The Propeller event has spawned a number of similar rallies throughout the country as boaters discover it's all about having fun safely on the water. Enter by emailing doug@prop.co.nz

YAMAHA DENIAL

Yamaha Motor Corp in the US has issued what it calls a "vigorous denial" of allegations by Mercury manufacturer Brunswick Corporation that it is dumping outboards on the American market. Yamaha president Phillip Dyskow says there is no basis for the Mercury allegation as Yamaha motors are among the highest-priced on the US market. The action initiated by Mercury was likely to take months or years to resolve and would not affect the supply or pricing of Yamaha products in the short-term, Dyskow said.

WATER-WATCH

From Police Maritime Unit commander Martin Paget comes a summer alert to all boaters operating where divers are in the water. Because the Diver Down flag is not always apparent to boats under way, even if they are observing the 5 knots limit, he advises an added precaution for the dive boat. Have someone in the dinghy following the path of the diver's bubbles to ensure the diver will be safe from approaching craft when surfacing. This allows the person in the dinghy to alert any approaching boats and is an added precaution for the diver.

Weekend action on the water:

Saturday: Gold Cup inshore series, Roy McDell (RNZYS); Printing Express series (Ponsonby CC); Rocky Bay race (Devonport YC).

Sunday: Club interclass challenge (RAYC).

* Clubs and organisations planning events in or on the Waitemata or Manukau Harbour 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.