An amazing range of craft came from all over the South Island recently to converge at Moana, West Coast, for a fun weekend of boating adventures and comraderie.
For those able to get away from their normal routines on the Friday (and those able to negotiate the various road blocks and challenges the heavy overnight rain and flash flooding had thrown up!) a reduced number of boats met on the shores of Lake Kaniere. A small window of clear weather had us out for a quick lap of the lake. Water levels were high with no beaches visible, the waterfalls putting on stunning displays amongst the fringes of the beech forest. The local Coastguard crew joined us on the water for a training exercise and a bit of boatie banter. The return trip to Moana proved eventful. Some having to detour when the flooding at the Stillwater rail underpass made it ‘impassable’.
Friday nights catch up at the local hotel was a great way to re-connect and get to know new attendees before the weekend was in full swing.
Saturday morning skies cleared and we launched and coffeed at Moana pre-briefing.
The poker run kicked off with the first card pick up from the beautiful timber outboard Crusero, the second pick up was at the lovely sheltered Iveagh Bay. At this spot crews had to retrieve a bottle from the water. This little skill test proved to be entertaining. Each bottle contained a quiz, resulting in the ‘message in a bottle’ with a prize draw later that evening.
On to a card pick up at Te Kinga, Bain Bay and Irishman’s where crews were treated to BBQ sausages and sweets from the pick up point houseboat ‘Tranquillity’.
Saturday afternoons fun for kids big and small was a ride in a fleet of 1980’s bumper boats. These little boats originally built by Cresta Craft operated at the Groynes in Christchurch, then in Caroline Bay in Timaru. The whole fleet has been kept together and lovingly maintained for lucky people, like us to enjoy. There is pure joy watching those with zero boating experience get onboard, somewhat reserved and unsure and within minutes be enthusiastically bumping into others and shrieking with laughter. The floating netball hoop provided another focus point.
The dinner and prize giving was held in the newly refurbished community hall, complete with nautical theming and plenty of opportunity to mix and mingle.
Sunday dawned even brighter and boats gathered at Iveagh Bay for Refreshments from the mobile coffee van, a lake cruise and chat before hitting the road home.
