Tidelines: Show selling fast

Space is filling fast for the IMTEC On-the-Water Boat Show at the Viaduct Harbour from March 10 to 14. The exhibition combines the show that puts big boats in their element in the harbour with the IMTEC component providing a dry-land platform to display equipment and accessories. Organisers say the event is shaping up to be a sell-out.

Bay of Islands 2

Entries close on January 20 for the second Opua-based Bay of Islands Sailing Week regatta. Sports boats, trailer yachts, multi-hulls and keelers are eligible and some big prizes have been organised. The inaugural event last year drew 35 entries, but the yacht clubs running the event, Russell, Bay of Islands, Kerikeri and Opua, are expecting well over 50 starters this time. Contact Suze Keith 09 402 7212.

Water-watch

Great seagoing weather over the Christmas-New Year holiday period saw a huge number of boats on the Hauraki Gulf and beyond and lots of boaters in trouble. Over the first four days of the New Year, Auckland Volunteer Coastguard took 4283 calls. Of that, 73 were incidents requiring assistance, the most serious being on the west coast. These included four people being rescued after a swamping on the Kawhia Bar, five swimmers in difficulty at Raglan and three fishermen being swept out to sea with one being lost from Marokopa, south of Kawhia. Coastguard says most incidents were mechanically related. Duty staff urge all boaters to carry out proper mechanical checks before putting to sea. Some incidents were caused by inexperience so, to counter the problem, all new members are being offered a free day skipper course. For more information call 0800 RESCUE (0800 737283).

Main action on the water close to Auckland this weekend:

Saturday: Old Fox race to Motuihe (Devonport YC).

Saturday and Sunday: Laser national continue (Gulf Harbour YC).

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