A beautiful winter’s morning at Mana Marina
Welcome
We’re all adjusting to a changed world since our last newsletter and COVID-19 arrived. I realised just how important getting out on the water is for me with the boost I got from the resumption of winter sailing!
This is why so many of us enjoy boating and it’s great to see Mana Marina back in full operation. You’ll see we’ve made real progress with improvements throughout the Marina — the result of a lot of groundwork done over the past year.
- Neil, Marina Manager
What’s new?
Pier Emergency Stations
Accidents around the water do happen and if you fall in, you’re very likely to need many hands to haul you back out. So, to help with this we’ve added an emergency station on each pier, with new safety equipment shown below.
Stay buoyant
If someone’s in the water, you can now grab a rescue tube from each bridge. This is adjustable, fits all sized people, and is easy to wrap around someone as a buoyancy aid while extra help comes.
Get more help
In an emergency, you’ll need to attract more help and quickly. Now you can use the airhorn (kept with the rescue tube). Simply hold the top down (and away from your ears) to alert more people in the area that there’s an emergency situation.
If you hear the airhorn, please go and see who needs help and alert the Manager on 027 2330111 or dial 111.
We remind everyone to consider their own safety plan and minimise risk (eg. keep piers clear of trip hazards, take care getting on and off your boat, and avoid alcohol).
We also recommend you keep a safety whistle on you around the water. These are cheap, fit in your pocket or on your keys, and are an easy way to get attention if you fall in. The Marina Office sells these excellent safety whistles at $10 each.
Go the extra distance
New trolleys have been added to each pier — please look after these as they’re expensive! Please consider your fellow boaties and return the trolleys back to the correct pier bridge after you have finished loading or unloading your boat. It’s one of our conditions of use.
Bathroom spruce up
The bathrooms and laundry interior are receiving a well due spruce up with repainting underway and tiling to follow. Thanks for your co-operation while each block is being worked on.
Mana Cruising Club
Mana Cruising Club’s online system for booking the travel lift and yard services is up and running. Check it out here. We’re also hearing great food reviews with the new chef in the kitchen!
Admin
3rd party INSURANCE
Please ensure the Office has your vessel’s current third-party insurance record ($5million minimum). We’ll send a reminder when your policy is due to expire, however, you can request that your insurer sends a Certificate of Currency automatically when you renew this each year, or forward a copy when received. Thank you.
Has your third-party policy been forwarded to us?
BERTH SIZE
Please ensure no part of any vessel overhangs the pier walkway or is outside of the berth dimensions. Recently, we’ve had to contact several owners whose vessel extends beyond the berth dimensions to adjust mooring lines, or move the vessel.
fuel wharf Spill kit — emergency only
The spill kit on the diesel wharf for emergency use only. The kit has a seal that is broken if the lid is opened to ensure we keep the emergency kit fully stocked at all times. Please notify the Manager if the kit seal has been broken. If you have a minor oil or diesel spill on your vessel, please use your own absorbent/mop up pads.
Update
F PIER work
Andrew and Steven have been steadily working on F Pier replacing the old through-rods and triangles — these hold the piers together so it’s an important maintenance project! At times during this work, vessels need to be temporarily moved into another berth and owners will be contacted in due course. Thank you to vessel owners for their co-operation with this.
Steven & Andrew on F Pier
Winter season
WINDY WELLY
We’ve had some good gales over the past month, and there’ll be more to come. Marina staff keep a sharp eye on vessels being secured, but now is a great time to check that all your mooring lines are in good condition and that your boat is well secured.
Not using your boat so often?
Mould thrives when boats are left closed up and conditions are damp. Here’s some helpful tips to keep your boat mould-free this winter:
Fix any leaks as soon as you discover them!
Ensure the boat is well ventilated to circulate air
Keep the boat clean (mould and mildew like dirty surfaces)
Remove all bedding, clothing, towels and other items that can attract moisture
Reduce the amount of contents in closets and lockers
Turn up beds to reduce the area under the bed for damp
Avoid putting anything on top of beds, sofas and soft furnishings. The area between items can attract moisture
Look around the boat and consider how you can ensure moisture is being dried out and/or air is moving all around the boat. Lift some floorboards up so the bilge is getting fresh air too!
COVID-19 Level 1
To assist with those using the NZ Covid Tracer app to keep a record of their movements, we’ve added a Mana Marina QR code to the start of each pier and at the Office. Please stay home if you’re feeling unwell, thank you.
Tango - Mahurangi Regatta - Mahurangi Harbour - January 2020 © Richard Gladwell / Sail-World.com
Jim Young
Well-known New Zealand designer and boat builder Jim Young passed away this month. Known for his diverse and experimental designs, a number of Jim’s yachts have been through Mana Marina. There’s a great article and video from Sail World on Young’s history here.
What’s on?
AUCKLAND BOAT SHOW
Great to see that the Auckland Boat Show is going ahead on 8th – 11th October 2020 at The Cloud and Viaduct Harbour. Tickets go on sale 1 July!
That’s it from us for now.
Neil, Tara & Andrew