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The Show Will Go On
It takes more than a strong nor’wester to deter antique and classic boat lovers.
The weather forecast for this weekend’s NZ Antique & Classic Boat Show at Lake Rotoiti in the Nelson Lakes National Park is for wind and rain on Saturday, but organiser Pete Rainey says the event will go ahead rain or shine.
“We’ll be set up for boat displays on shore in the morning, and will launch the boats in the afternoon if the weather permits,” he said. “The judging and the dinner at the Alpine Lodge will go ahead no matter what and the good news is that at this stage, Sunday’s weather looks like a return to perfect summer conditions.”
There is now an alternative venue for boat lovers - the Nelson Lakes Classic Boat Museum in St Arnaud village. Some of the display boats will be at the lakeside on show, but there is still plenty to see at the museum.
This includes a new acquisition, the cutter Resolution gifted to museum by the Outward Bound Trust.
“It’s a 32ft kauri replica of Captain Cook’s cutters, built in 1976 for the Outward Bound fleet,” Rainey says. “It’s a spectacular vessel for its scale, its history and its workmanship – our plan is to have it restored, surveyed and available for community groups to use.”
The NZ Antique and Classic Boatshow continues to grow in the number and quality of craft presented, as well as the number of people coming to view the boats and the action.
At stake is the Jens Hansen Trophy, awarded for good looks, craftsmanship and the boat’s history. Other awards include prizes for best new restoration, best steamboat, best jet-propelled craft and best themed display. Races will be held for yachts, row boats, seagull motored dinghies, poppers, canoes, child rowers and swimmers.
All boats will be checked for noxious aquatic weeds and oil leaks before entering the water, and boaties are reminded to be aware of minimising the spread of didymo.
Food and drinks will be on sale, the area is adjacent to the Mainland Island bird recovery project, so no antique and classic dogs please; and the fashion advice is not to wear blue, a colour known to attract bumblebees.
More info at www.nzclassicboats.com
Ends
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