Slow down on the harbour

“Slow down on the harbour and enjoy the show.”

That’s the message from Auckland Regional Council Harbourmaster James McPetrie to boaties heading out to watch the Louis Vuitton Cup final beginning on Saturday.

“The 2000 Louis Vuitton final attracted spectator fleets of up to 1,000 boats. With anything like that amount of traffic on the water, it is vital that boaties slow down and take care of themselves and each other out there,” Mr McPetrie says.

To ensure boaties do take it easy on the Harbour, the ARC Harbourmaster is introducing special speed restrictions for Louis Vuitton Cup final race days.

The special restrictions are:

A maximum speed of 10 knots is permitted from the Auckland Harbour Bridge out to the racetrack area. This will apply between 10.30am and 12.30pm and from the conclusion of racing until 6pm.

An express lane will run to the east and south if the main shipping channel between A Buoy and Number 8 Buoy. Normal harbour speed restrictions will apply in this lane.

A maximum speed of 5 knots is permitted around the perimeter of the racetrack area. This will apply from 15 minutes prior to the race start until five minutes after the race finish.

VHF channel 18 will broadcast details of speed restrictions as they are imposed and lifted on race days, along with live commentaries of the racing.

“The speed restrictions are there for boaties’ safety and enjoyment so I urge all skippers of spectator craft to play their part,” Mr McPetrie says.

He says spectators deserve a pat on the back for their exemplary on-the-water behaviour so far.

The ARC Harbourmaster and Maritime Operations team are responsible for safety on the water. To help spectators enjoy the racing and stay safe, the ARC has published “The Boaties Guide to the America’s Cup.”

This free guide includes maps of the racetrack areas, basic rules for navigation safety, all speed restrictions, safety tips and it even gives readers the chance to win a seven-day skippered sailing holiday in Tonga.

Phone the ARC’s Enviroline on 366 2070 for a copy.

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