Latest from Boat Brief
Amphibious freedom for any boat
The latest innovation from Tectrax is a game-changer: an autonomous, amphibious trailer system.
Amphibious freedom for any boat
The latest innovation from Tectrax is a game-changer: an autonomous, amphibious trailer system.
Galvanic corrosion
Galvanic corrosion is a flow of electric current between dissimilar metals in an electrolyte such as seawater and, to a lesser extent, in impure fresh water. The solution to this problem is simple. Us...
Galvanic corrosion
Galvanic corrosion is a flow of electric current between dissimilar metals in an electrolyte such as seawater and, to a lesser extent, in impure fresh water. The solution to this problem is simple. Us...
Floating shed causes a stir in Whangamata harbour
Locals in Whangamata woke to an unusual sight this morning – a corrugated iron shed adrift in the harbour near the mouth of the Wentworth River.
Floating shed causes a stir in Whangamata harbour
Locals in Whangamata woke to an unusual sight this morning – a corrugated iron shed adrift in the harbour near the mouth of the Wentworth River.
Article
Alternative sailing rigs: Mastfoil ketch | Inflatable wing sail | Kites
The majority of cruising sailboats are monohulls. This represents the conventional ‘wisdom’ of the yachting establishment.
Article
Understanding and managing power consumption
Let’s begin by looking at some principles of electrical systems.
Article
Map marine mammals on the move
It’s that time of year again when young fur seals start turning up in all sorts of odd places, from footpaths and paddocks to busy roads.
Tech Article
Battery charging and voltage levels
Most people, including boaties, don’t fully understand the relationship between battery charging and voltage levels.
Article
Women in sport: Kelsey Muir helms the 104th Lipton Cup winner
Sailing is often perceived as an elitist sport dominated by men, and while it is much more accessible here in New Zealand, the achievements of women c...
Article
K Boats: Making dreams come true
Marlborough Sounds maritime legend Grant Orchard has put his fleet of ‘K Boats’ into service supporting Oceans Seven swimmers.
Article
Tight sailing for Etchells Cup
Following on from last year’s successful one-day regatta, the Bonus Contractors
Bay of Islands Etchells Cup, now a two-day event, took place over th...
Article
NZ’s finest race for glory
The 2025 Perpetual Guardian Classic Yacht Regatta, hosted by Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, saw a fleet of 20 of New Zealand’s finest classic yacht...
Article
Waikawa Boating Club WineWorks Marlborough Wine Race
February 14 saw the 2025 running of the WineWorks Marlborough Wine Race, organised by Waikawa Boating Club and co-sponsored by Liquid Action and Inter...
Tech Article
Battery charging and maintenance for an extended battery life
This article is intended
to help boat owners better understand a vessel’s batteries and how to correctly maintain them for maximum battery life.
Feature
50 years of service to the marine industry
Family Boats’ Tony Singe is marking
50 years in the marine industry.
Yamaha hydrogen power: Hydrogen-fuelled outboard
The world’s first hydrogen-powered prototype outboard will make its
New Zealand debut at the Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show in May.
Article
Happy anniversary: 25th NZ Antique and Classic Boat Show
Blue skies, sparkling water, big crowds and a record number of interesting boats
of every sort made the 25th anniversary of this event extra-special...
Joystick demo a world’s first
Launching in May, Mercury’s joystick steering system for single outboards is a plug-and-play upgrade designed for Mercury outboards with electric stee...
Exclusive
The winner of the NZ Retro Boat 2025: Tugboat
The winner of Boating New Zealand magazine’s inaugural NZ Retro Boat Trophy went to Tugboat, a Savage Electra Glass ski-boat designed in Australia but...
Press Release
New Electric Fullers ferry: Future ferry
Fullers360, New Zealand’s largest ferry operator, has added an 8.9m, 100% electric foiling power catamaran to its fleet. Kermadec will offer 45-minute...
Article
Check for marine pests
Marine biosecurity teams are reminding boaties and all marine users to make sure they are across marine pest risks and rules before heading out on the...
Article
Classic yachts (and launches) as ‘Protected New Zealand Objects’
Formed in the mid-1990s, The Classic Yacht Association was at the forefront of protecting classic yachts from unlawful export from New Zealand. New Z...
Article
Pioneering a green fleet: hydrogen fuel in the Royal New Zealand Navy’s future
Sailing towards sustainability
The RNZN has announced its intent to investigate the viability of hydrogen as a sustainable fuel source for future nav...
Article
Swirly World: Winners of the Andrew Fagan book
We are very excited to announce the winners of the Swirly World book competition you read about last week.
Melissa from Devonport and Tony who has ...
Article
Navy trials Whangārei reserve unit
The Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) is exploring a new avenue for community engagement and regional participation through its trial of a Reserve Unit in...
Article
Hull hygiene and marine pests: A guide for Kiwi boaties
Keeping your boat in shipshape condition isn't just about performance—it’s crucial for protecting New Zealand’s unique marine environment.
Article
RNZYS’ Megan Thomson set to make waves on the Red Sea
The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron (RNZYS) will have its eyes fixed on Jeddah this week as Megan Thomson and her 2.0 Racing Team take on the world a...
Article
SVR-Lazartigue Hits Trouble in Jules Verne Trophy Bid
The Jules Verne Trophy, one of the most challenging pursuits in offshore sailing, has presented an early obstacle for François Gabart and his team abo...
Article
RNZYS to Compete in 2025 Admiral’s Cup
The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron (RNZYS) has confirmed its participation in the 2025 Royal Ocean Racing Club’s (RORC) Admiral’s Cup, cementing its...
Article
HMNZS Manawanui Interim court of inquiry report: lessons in leadership and safety
The HMNZS Manawanui incident marks a sobering chapter in the history of New Zealand’s Royal Navy. On 5 October 2024, the hydrographic survey vessel gr...
Article
From the ‘Its great to live in NZ’ file: boat returned before owner notices it’s s...
In an impressive display of police vigilance, Counties Manukau South Police have recovered a stolen boat and returned it to its owner—before...
Waka Ama world rocked by ‘untimely’ death of coach and paddler Kiwi Campbell
The waka ama world has been rocked by the death of one of Aotearoa's most successful paddlers, Kiwi Campbell.
A member of the Horouta Waka Ho...
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REDHOT MARINE Formula V Series
The REDHOT Marine Formula V Series returns for the 2024/2025 season with round one kicking off the season in Wanganui on the weekend of 23/24 November...
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You Can Take The Kiwi Out Of New Zealand, But Not New Zealand Out Of The Kiwi
This weekend in France the All Blacks are playing France.
Conrad Colman, the only Kiwi skipper in the Vendée Globe - Round The World Race - is nail...
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Stranded By Boat Problems: 4 Months In Dock For ‘Meet The Wynns’ Jason and Nikki Wynn
The family Wynn, Jason and Nikki, have been off the high seas for 4 months due to continued problems with their brand-new Catamaran.
The Wynns will b...
Tūtaia Launched: Waikato Regional Council’s New Vessel Ready For Action
Replacing An Old Workhorse: Farewell to Maroro
For 17 years, Maroro has been the backbone of Waikato’s navigation aid servicing around the Co...
Raising The Spar: New Standards Set In Historic 37th America’s Cup
Emirates Team New Zealand’s Triumph: A Legacy In The Making
Emirates Team New Zealand’s impressive third consecutive victory is more than jus...
That Sinking Feeling
Mariner Insurance’s Aaron Mortimer has some useful advice on what to do should you ever find yourself in a sinking situation.
Secure your life jac...
Rarotonga Sailing Club: Unique As!
It’s true that Kiwis and Cook Islanders consider ourselves cousins; and so the Rarotonga Sailing Club (RSC) could be thought of as one of ours. Well, ...
New Zealand Marine Industry Celebrates America’s Cup Success
Today the New Zealand marine industry is celebrating Emirates Team New Zealand’s stunning victory in the 37th America’s Cup, a victory that reflects n...
America’s Cup Winning Cheer at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron
In an amazing evening at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Club on the waterfront at Westhaven Marina, overnight a large group (which the Boating NZ team wa...
A timeless treasure in the digital age: The Pickmere Atlas of Northland’s East Coast
In today’s digital world, where navigational charts are readily available at our fingertips, the Pickmere Atlas retains a special allure for those cru...
Mercury’s Reliability A Decisive Factor For Anglers
Powered by the robust Mercury 175hp V6 FourStroke on the back of a custom-built boat by Nicko, Season One saw the duo embark on a mission to determine...
McD Yachts: Low Volume, High Quality
McD Yachts is a new, boutique yacht sales and brokerage outfit named after its founder, Kiwi Paul MacDonald.
MacDonald has years of international exp...
HOT OFF THE PRESS
The Superyacht Social – Auckland 2025
Agents by Catalano and Pantaenius Yacht Insurance are delighted to host The Superyacht Social – Auck...
Auckland Boat Show turns 25 — a celebration of Kiwi innovation
A quarter-century on the docks
Next March, the Auckland Boat Show will celebrate 25 years at the he...
Small engines, big difference: keeping your outboard happy this summer
A boatie’s guide to simple outboard maintenance
Boating New Zealand talks one-on-one with Brad Butterworth: calm seas, steady hand
Boating NZ talks to one of the sport’s great tacticians as he prepares Lucky for the PIC Coastal Cla...
Boating New Zealand‘s one-on-one with Bryon Ehrhart: winning the Sydney to Auckland Ocean Race...
Sydney to Auckland Ocean Race 2025 – an exclusive interview with the man behind the Juan K 88 Lucky
Wednesday AM update: Sydney to Auckland fleet battles the storm
After a record run across the Tasman, the grey maxi Lucky is safely moored in Auckland — but for the...
Volvo dealers celebrated
September 23rd saw all of New Zealand’s Volvo Penta dealers gather in Tauranga for their annual conf...
Altex Multipurpose Primer / Undercoat
Altex Yacht & Boat Paint introduces the Altex Multipurpose Primer / Undercoat, a versatile singl...
Docklands comes alive for the Melbourne Boat Show 2025
Kiwi favourites and Aussie icons bring the boating lifestyle to Melbourne’s waterfront.
Lucky smashes Sydney to Auckland Ocean Race record
Juan K maxi halves previous race time in a stunning trans-Tasman run.
Lucky surges past North Cape — Auckland in sight for Sydney to Auckland Ocean Race leader
The American maxi Lucky continues to dominate the Sydney to Auckland Ocean Race, rounding the top o...
Global leaders in dayboats and adventure boats: Eyachts showcases Axopar and Pardo Yachts at the Syd...
Eyachts, the exclusive Australian and New Zealand dealer for Axopar and Pardo Yachts, is set to make...
Sydney to Auckland Ocean Race: Monday wrap-up
A bruising front tested every sailor overnight as the 1250-nautical-mile Sydney to Auckland Ocean Ra...
‘We are not invincible’: Warning after fisher drowns while not wearing lifejacket
A coroner is urging people to wear lifejackets and bring waterproof devices after releasing findings...
Full throttle: Australian Offshore Superboats hit Lake Macquarie for season opener
The 2025/26 Australian Offshore Superboat Championship bursts back into life as part of the Lake Mac...
HamiltonJet expands production capacity in Christchurch to serve global markets
Monday 13 October 2025 – HamiltonJet, the global leader in innovative marine propulsion technology, ...
Sea Ray SPX series showcased at Sports Marine
Sports Marine spotlights Sea Ray’s SPX 190 and SPX 210 — bowriders shaped for Kiwi summer adventures...
Julia Gross joins Artemis SailGP as strategist for 2026
The appointment of Julia Gross to the strategist role for the new Artemis SailGP Team has been warml...
Monday AM update: Lucky powers ahead as Tasman turns golden
Two days into the Sydney to Auckland Ocean Race 2025, Lucky has broken away from the pack while the ...
FPY 110: Fountaine Pajot’s manifesto in three hulls
The French yard’s bold leap into the super-catamaran class brings architecture, ambition and artistr...
As Lucky extends lead, Antipodes and Frantic battle mid-Tasman in Sydney to Auckland Ocean Race
Lucky extends her lead as Antipodes and Frantic battle mid-Tasman in the 2025 Sydney to Auckland Oce...
Engine failure sidelines Commodore’s yacht as Sydney to Auckland race continues
RPAYC Commodore Rob McClelland’s First Picasso retires from the Sydney to Auckland Ocean Race after ...
Sunday Morning Update: Lucky leads as sea shanties and sunrises light the Tasman
Crews in the Sydney to Auckland Ocean Race 2025 have found their rhythm on the Tasman, with Lucky ou...
Roar across Hobbs Bay: NZ Offshore Powerboat Championship blasts into Gulf Harbour
The 2025–26 New Zealand Offshore Powerboat Championship opened with high-speed racing and early-seas...
Sydney to Auckland Ocean Race 2025: A clean start and fast beginning
Clear skies, an eager fleet, and strong early breeze deliver a textbook start for the trans-Tasman c...
Strong westerlies and shifting fronts to test Sydney–Auckland fleet
Meteorologist Roger “Clouds” Badham forecasts a fast and tactical Tasman crossing as the 2025 Sydney...
LIVE: Sydney to Auckland Ocean Race 2025
The fleet pushes on towards New Zealand, expected later this week and over the weekend.
https://w...
Lucky arrives in Sydney from Opua just in time: one day to spare before the Tasman challenge
Arriving in Sydney within only one day to go, the maxi Lucky brings serious heat to the Sydney to Au...
Tomorrow’s the day — and your chance to compete in a landmark Auckland offshore powerboating e...
Tomorrow’s the day — and this is your last chance
It’s the night before the historic 2026 NZ Offs...
All set for the Sydney to Auckland Yacht Race 2025 — the Tasman challenge begins tomorrow
Tomorrow (11 October 2025) marks the start of the Sydney to Auckland Yacht Race 2025, as an internat...
Barcolana Cup 2025: where Trieste’s soul meets the sea
Trieste’s Barcolana Cup inspires Auckland’s Moana Festival and the PIC Harbour Classic’s celebration...
Aratere set to end its days at recycling shipyard in India, Interislander says
KiwiRail has agreed to sell the Interislander ferry Aratere to a buyer, which will deliver it to a s...
Leopard Catamarans brings innovation to Sydney International Boat Show
Leopard Catamarans presents the latest 46 Sail and Power models at the Sydney International Boat Sho...
Fountaine Pajot unveils the magestic new FPY 70S
Fountaine Pajot launches the FPY 70S — a new era of sustainable luxury catamaran design.
Propspeed® enters expanded markets with debut of new Foulfree™ Multi-Surface System
Propspeed debuts Foulfree Multi-Surface System, a foul-release coating for diverse marine applicatio...
The 2025 Sydney International On-Water Boat Show is set to impress this November
Darling Harbour hosts the Sydney International On-Water Boat Show, 13–16 November 2025.
Palm Beach Motor Yachts launches the PB85: a new flagship for a new era
Palm Beach unveils its new PB85 flagship — luxury, scale, and efficiency in perfect harmony.
Simrad Marine electronics unveils Simrad® AutoCaptain™
Simrad AutoCaptain redefines autonomy with true hands-free docking and seamless Mercury Marine integ...
Virtue V14 Hardtop set for late-2026 debut
Virtue V14 Hardtop brings design purity and precision to premium dayboating.
Safety starts on shore: getting ready for the season ahead
Good preparation keeps you safe at sea. Lessons from the PIC Coastal Classic Boat Prep and Safety Cl...
NZ Events Worth Adding to Your Calendar
Have an event you'd like to list on Boating New Zealand. Contact us with the details.
FISHING
Hook Me Up Fishing Competition - Matakana vs Hillside, 7 Mar 2025 in Whakatane
The Kubota Billfish Classic, 12 - 15 Mar 2025 in Mercury Bay, Whitianga
ITM Fishing Competition, 13 - 16 Mar 2025 in Whangaroa
NZ Lure Masters (Catch, Measure and Release competition), 3 & 4 Oct 2025, New Zealand wide
REGATTAS
Toyota Youth International Match Racing Cup, 26 Feb - 4 Mar 2025 in Auckland
PIC Harbour Classic, 28 Feb - 1 Mar 2025 in Auckland
Sydney to Auckland Ocean Race 2025, starting 11 Oct 2025 TBC from Sydney Harbour
PIC Insurance Brokers Coastal Classic, 24 Oct 2025 TBC from Auckland to Russell
Rolex Sydney to Hobart, 26 Dec 2025 starts in Sydney, Australia
HYDRO THUNDER
JET BOAT RACING
2025 NZ Marathon Coast-to-Coast, 16 to 25 Mar 2025 starting at Greymouth ad finishing at Christchurch
WATERSPORTS
IWWF University Nationals (waterskiing), 26 February to 2 March Orakei Basin, Auckland
MEET UPS
Bay of Plenty Trailer Yacht Cruising Rally, Easter 2025 at Lake Rotoiti, BOP
SHOWS
Moana Auckland - New Zealand's Ocean Festival, 27 Jan to 9 Mar 2025 in Auckland
Auckland Boat Show, 6 - 9 Mar 2025 to be held at the Viaduct Events Centre and Jellicoe Harbour, Auckland
The Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show, 15-18 May 2025 to be held at the Viaduct Events Centre and Jellicoe Harbour, Auckland
NZ Boat, Fish and Dive Show, 30 & 31 Aug 2025 to be held at Mystery Creek Events Centre, Waipa
NEWS TIPS?
Send your photos, videos, stories, and tip-offs to ahoy@boatingnz.co.nz or call us on 022-023-7507.