Sailutions New Premises
Sailutions have been one of Crew.org.nz’s strongest supporters for over three years now. So I used their recent move to new premises at Unit C 65 VIEW ROAD, WAIRAU VALLEY as a good excuse to pay them a visit, check the new shop and eat some delicious pastries (thanks guys).
The first thing you notice is the shop is much easier to visit than the old one with plenty of off street parking
The second thing you notice is that the business is owned and operated by real sailors who know what they are talking about.
Sailutions are the local agent for Selden Masts (largest by volume in the world), Anderson Winches, and Rutgerson hardware. And of course Selden own Furlex.
Yes there is a strong Swedish connection, and when I said these people were sailors – that’s how they got here.
Eddie, Kjell (just say it “Shell”, he won’t be offended) and Ingela invite sailors to come visit their new workshop and showroom, and compare prices and weights, particularly the new deck hardware, you will be surprised.
And if you do they can offer you the cheapest deal on a new Windex in the country.
NORDIC MARKETING / SAILUTIONS has a NEW ADDRESS:
Unit C 65 VIEW ROAD, WAIRAU VALLEY, NORTH SHORE
OUR NEW PHONE NUMBER 09 441 33 41
As I am always working in the best interests of my readers, I was obliged recently to attend a social function put on by our generous sponsors Mount Gay Rum in honour of a visit by Mr Chesterfield Browne from Barbados, the International Brand Ambassador (what a job – he goes swanning around the globe drinking rum!). Well, despite my natural antipathy towards “cocktail parties”, this was a most enjoyable evening. Mr Browne taught me things I never knew about rum (after all those years), plus, as well as sampling a variety of rum cocktails, we had a sampling of some Mount Gay products I wasn’t even aware of. Besides the good old Mount Gay Eclipse we all enjoy, there is Mount Gay Eclipse Silver some of which we gave away at the last End of Year Rum Race, the best white rum I’ve tasted. But then we were asked to sample Mount Gay Extra Old, and if that weren’t enough last on the list was Mount Gay 1703 Old Cask Selection. Now this stuff retails just a bit below $200 per bottle, and I can honestly say that such ambrosia has never passed this poor scribe’s lips before. At that price I won’t be stocking the shelves before Christmas, but what a great idea as a gift for an important client or customer, or just someone really special. I promise you anyone who tries this will simply change their mind about rum. One more useless fact, the last one to stick in my brain before my beloved had to drive me home. As Mount Gay is aged in the tropics the process happens faster, so if you see “aged 10 years”, that is the equivalent of 30 years in a place like Scotland. Oh the lengths I go to to inform my readers. 
Breaking News
New meaning for Wet Suit
4 February 2012
Here's Des
3 February 2012
Today's News
30 January 2012
Is that there will be no news, until Friday at the earliest. the boss is going sailing - Yeeeeeeehaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BoI Wrap Up
28 January 2012
Saturday January 28, 2012
Perfect timing – a few showers graced our shores at 1700 hrs Friday evening January 27,2012; boats were safely back in harbour at the end of four days of on-the-water rivalry in the Bay of Islands. The final race day was just about perfect with 12-15 knot winds gusting 20 or more.
As ‘Bicky’ from North Sails commented “Getting all nine races completed over the four days is fantastic; even arranging a perfect weather pattern with the Beach Party at Roberton Island on Thursday when the wind dropped off. That’s what I call organisation”.
There were nine protests overall, but perhaps that shows the intensity of competition on the water. Peter Montgomery, our presenter at Prize giving made this point when he said “The Bay of Islands Sailing Week is special to New Zealand yachting. Where else can you sail to a tropical island for a Beach Party during a race week; where else can the some of the ‘biggest and best boats” competing in the same regatta as such a variety of yachts in C,D and E Divisions, the Sports Boats, Cruising boats, Young 88, Elliott 5.9s , need I say more.”
Generous Spot prizes were donated: A Cotton Blossom Cruise – Great Escape Charters x 3 – Tanoa Hotel Paihia accommodation at the luxury Russell Cottages – and a pack of goodies from Burnsco. Not to forget the Westpac spinnaker won by Bandit (Elliott 5.9).
And so it’s time to pack up; take down the tents on the Opua Marina, return the race huts to store at Carters; toilets, trash pickups all organised, dismantle the bar and the stage. Fold away sponsor banners - and it’s time for the committee and volunteers to go home. First Committee Meeting is in June 2012 to prepare for Bay of Islands Sailing Week 2013 – see you there.
All results – photos (still being loaded Saturday) – video link etc on the website: www.bayofislandssailingweek.org.nz
BoI Sailing Week
27 January 2012
Here's Des
26 January 2012
BoI Sailing Week
26 January 2012
Patience pays off at Bay Regatta Race Day 3
Beach Party at Roberton Island
There was zero wind at the scheduled start of 1030 hrs. Little puffs frustrated the boats as they watched for an expected notice of delay. Gerry Martin (Race Officer) waited patiently (about one and a half hours), when sure enough the local sea breeeze kicked in. A Division started with a N.E. of 5-8 knots, a bit patchy, but the breeze picked up to 10 knots by the top mark. The course for all boats on ‘Beach Party at Roberton Island Race Day’ was finally set - with a 2 mile beat to the top mark – then 1.5 mile reach to Long Island - 1 mile to the finish just off from Roberton. Gerry was proud of his patience and his course “This could have been a disaster; the boat skippers were getting pretty edgy. But we’ve given them a ‘bxxxxy good race finishing at their party on time”.
Pre-race fun and games: V5 took out one of their floor boards and crew members water skiied – at a fast pace. Diving from high places took place all over the bay. Some boats took the time to ‘canter and clean’. It was a busy place.
Roberton Island Beach Party was a hoot. The Wind Warriors provided lots of shore-side entertainment. Food and refreshments were offered from the barge – while the Furious Three played their hearts out with lively music to satisfy the mass.
Friday’s weather looks to be a bit livelier. Maybe not so good for the photographers but the boats are here to race – so ‘bring it on’. And don’t forget to check out YouTube…..
So Long Bob
26 January 2012
After 40 years Bob McDavitt is retiring from Metservice.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/videos/6316862/Bob-McDavitt-retires
Here's hoping he really enjpoys many long years of retirement.
Port Expansion Plans
26 January 2012
Here's an idea of what tehy are suggesting for Auckland Harbour. Lots more plus discussion here.
Auckland Tauranga Race
26 January 2012
