Sitting in the cockpit of our liveaboard in Whangamatā Harbour over the long Waitangi Weekend was absorbing, if not exactly relaxing.
Boat after boat after boat has passed us from the jetty and the marina. A Maritimo 60 (a very elegant boat which gracefully slides through the water), plenty of flybridge Caribbeans in the 50 foot range, a Riviera, and a few flybridges I couldn’t identify.
These interspersed the familiar run of popular smaller boats, Buccaneer, Surtees, Extreme, Stabicraft, Rayglass, FC Boats, Ramco, a scattering of RIBs and tinnies. Some were clearly newish. Others were well loved boats heading out, then back in again later the same day. A bright red 25 year old much-loved Surtees stood out.
All driven with pride of people who love being out on their boat and being part of the boating fraternity. Who wouldn’t on such a spectacular weekend?
Whangamatā Coastguard kept toll of boats leaving and arriving. Always checking numbers of POBs, contact details, and expected direction. The warning to skippers, winds expect to increase in the afternoon.
They were called out on multiple rescues. A few boats needed to be towed in. One broke down in the harbour before it even reached the blue water, prompting a quick response. A tender was found, if I recall correctly, out near the Pinnacles. Most likely our local tender releaser had been at work again. I hesitate to call them a boat thief, as they do not technically steal boats, they simply untie them and let them drift free from the jetty, often turning up out at sea or on the surf later.
A couple of boats came close to getting stuck on the sandbanks at low tide. The channel from the harbour to the marina is narrow, and judgement, particularly around low water, needs to be spot on.
Boats motored past us, some no more than, what felt like, one or two metres off our port side, travelling well over five knots and sending a decent wash rolling past our transom. It became part of the character of the afternoon.
By and large, skippers stuck to port to port rules, but not always. When that system broke down, the channel into the marina and jetty quickly turned into a long queue of boats of all sizes, waiting their turn.
It felt like people at ease with the rhythm of a busy summer weekend afloat. And on a weekend like this, with Whangamatā at its best, it was easy to see why.
The wharf itself was busy with supporters and onlookers. A positive moment for a town that, only weeks ago, saw holiday makers desperate to escape the confines of Whangamatā, once roads reopened after torrential rain triggered multiple landslides both north and south, effectively cutting off access. This time, visitors were arriving. They headed for Whangamatā cafés and shops, and they supported the local economy. A number of shop owners mentioned that support was badly needed.
All of this unfolded as the Coromandel Peninsula hosted one of its busiest fishing weekends of the summer.
Whangamatā kicked things off with the Kilwell Classic, organised by the Whangamatā Ocean Sports Club, drawing around 250 anglers. The Kilwell Classic continues to anchor itself as one of the region’s most popular summer fixtures, blending competitive fishing with a strong social programme. I’m awaiting Day 3 results as I type but previous days show clear winners.
Further up the coast, Tairua got busy with the Shimano backed Stand Up Tournament which brought more than $40,000 in prizes, substantial tag money, raffles, and a full shoreside schedule at the Tairua Pauanui Sports Fishing Club. Running alongside it, Cocksy’s Classic combined humour, unconventional rules, and serious fundraising in support of the Kiwi Kids Charity, continuing its rapid growth from a small memorial competition into a major community event.
Further north again, Mercury Bay’s Garmin Trailer Boat Tournament drew trailer boat anglers from across the region for another competitive outing.
The weekend was busy on the water, and it was good to see. These small town New Zealand fishing tournaments bring people together in big numbers. They are good for the tournaments and their sponsors, and just as importantly, good for the wider community.
