Yachts and boats

Press, 27 October 1977, Page 18

Yachts and boats

The yachties and boaties have long been at each others throats — a war between technology and the elements if you like — but “Boats Away” TVl’s latest production, starting on Friday, November 4, guarantees to bring the two together. A series of six 30-min-ute programmes, “Boats Away” is produced by David Pumphrey and is aimed at people either interested in getting into boats or those who are already confessed addicts. Presented in three segments by two frontmen, “Boats Away” first concentrates on the new types of yachts and boats. The programme examines many models ranging in size from a 12ft runabout to the luxurious 32ft motor luanch; the small trailer-sailer to the speedy “Phase II” racing yacht. Barry Thom, South Pacific champion and world championship class sailer

teaches Len Gilbert (who seems to regard sailboats with the ultimate comtempt) the ins-and-outs of good sailing. The tables are then turned and Len, successful winner of many diesel cruiser races and “skipper of the year” in 1975, teaches Barry the rudiments of boating. Well-known experts in particular fields, Mike Scanlan (from the marine division of the nautical school) and John Mansell (remembered as the sole New Zealand entry in the single-handed race across the Atlantic in his craft Spirit of Mana), will be consulted. John will demonstrate simple navigation principles, while Mike concentrates mainly on boating safety. Filmed in the Tamaki River Basin near Half Moon Bay in Auckland, and at the Mana Cruising Club just north of Wellington, “Boats Away” is deliberately non-technical