MOORING MIS DERMEANERS

Recent decades have seen Auckland Yachting and Boating Association and Yachting New Zealand (YNZ) head to court in costly legal actions to protect our most sheltered anchorages in places such as Stoney Bay at Great Barrier Island and Rakino Island. One of the strongest arguments presented to courts is the importance of safe, sheltered anchorages being available to visiting yachts and launches.

But when a family arrives late in the day looking for a sheltered anchorage for the night, it’s often impossible if there is a fish farm or if the bay is full of moorings.

At the height of the season many of these moorings will be occupied by a vessel belonging to the person who has the licence for the mooring. But for much of the year – in some cases as much as 11 months – the mooring remains unoccupied.

Visiting craft are forced to anchor outside