The June 2026 issue of Boating New Zealand is on sale now at your local bookstore and magazine retailer, and it’s one of our best yet. Here’s a taste of what’s inside.
Prestige F4.3 — cover story
Auckland’s Orakei Marine has long been New Zealand’s home for Prestige power cruisers, and their latest milestone is a big one. The Prestige F4.3 is a flybridge cruiser of genuine international pedigree, and the example on our cover, named Cindy, is not just the first of its kind in New Zealand — it’s the first in the entire Asia-Pacific region. Sold at the Auckland Boat Show and launched to considerable fanfare, this is a boat that turns heads and raises the bar for what a New Zealand owner can expect from a premium European cruiser. John Eichelsheim has the full story and on-water assessment from page 26.
Southern Pacific Club Electric 490
The electric revolution is well and truly reaching the water. Southern Pacific’s Club 490 has been a staple of the New Zealand coach boat and tender market for years, and now the company has partnered with ZeroJet to produce an electric-powered waterjet version of this proven RIB platform. Robert Daly takes a close look at what this means for operators who want performance and practicality without the emissions. Find it from page 84.
A safe pair of eyes
Long before GPS, radar and satellite forecasts, sailors crossing oceans put their trust in something altogether more human: the figurehead mounted at their vessel’s bow. Often carved in the likeness of a woman, these remarkable pieces of maritime art were believed to help guide and protect a ship at sea. Lawrence Schäffler takes us on a journey through the history and folklore of some of the world’s most famous ships’ figureheads. It’s a beautifully written piece that connects the modern mariner to centuries of seafaring tradition. Page 34.
All about you — Sailing catamarans
Two hulls, more speed, more stability, and space that monohull sailors can only dream about. Sailing catamarans have never been more popular, and for good reason. But are they right for you? Tom Linskey cuts through the enthusiasm to ask the honest questions every prospective catamaran owner should be asking before they sign on the dotted line. If you’ve been thinking about making the switch, this is essential reading. Page 40.
10 Cyclone seasons
Most Kiwi cruising sailors head north in May or June, chasing weather windows to Vanuatu, Fiji, Tonga, the Cooks or French Polynesia — and come back before the cyclone season arrives. Not Birgit Hackl. She and her partner have spent 10 cyclone seasons staying put in the Pacific Islands, riding out the weather and living a life most of us only fantasise about. It’s an extraordinary story of resilience, adventure and deep connection with the Pacific. Page 64.
Fast water — The Wairarapa
The Wairarapa isn’t the first place that comes to mind when you think of boating, but Kevin Cudby discovers that what the region lacks in natural harbours, engineers have more than compensated for. Fast water, wide-open spaces and a boating scene that operates well off the radar of most New Zealanders. Page 70.
Wooden wonders — Auckland Wooden Boat Festival 2026
The second Auckland Wooden Boat Festival delivered more variety and more depth than its debut edition, drawing together some of the most beautiful and historically significant wooden vessels in New Zealand. Roger Mills captures the spirit of the event in words and photographs. Page 94.
Blair Boats / Kevin Dibley — 100-foot rowboat
This is one of the most unlikely and compelling stories we’ve published in years. A rural property in New Zealand. A village in American Samoa. And a hundred-foot fautasi racing rowboat built over eight months through a collaboration that crossed cultures, oceans and disciplines. At this year’s Flag Day fautasi race near Pago Pago, the boat competed in an event described as carrying the cultural weight of the America’s Cup or the Super Bowl. Jon Tucker tells the full story of how it all came together. Page 102.
The Russell Pauling story
John Macfarlane profiles Russell Pauling in this month’s Reflections feature — a name well known in New Zealand boating circles and a story worth telling in full. Page 98.
Plus in this issue
Maritime legal advice on what to look for when contracting a boat yard. A look at the future of Caribbean Boats. Marnie Ebeling from eYachts asks whether the fuel crisis is genuinely changing the way New Zealanders boat. Mark Kitteridge’s The Catch column tackles wind tactics. A game-changing new antifoul formula. Beverly Coles Part II in Vintage Viewpoint. Marine charts history Part I. The Clavelina ascidian marine pest alert. Brokerage listings. And the popular Hot on our Website round-up of BNZ’s most-read online stories.
Editor John Eichelsheim opens the issue with a note that will resonate with anyone who found themselves spending less time on the water this summer than they planned. Between bad weather weekends, the Hauraki Gulf’s new fishing protection zones pushing anglers further offshore, and rising fuel costs, it’s been a season of adjustments. His response? Get the boat out more this winter regardless. It’s hard to argue with that.
The June 2026 issue of Boating New Zealand is available from your local bookstore and magazine retailer now.
Or subscribe and never miss an issue at boatingnz.co.nz.
