Magazine Bay marina has weathered storms

Press, 14 December 1983, Page 47

Magazine Bay marina has weathered storms

The Magazine Bay marina at Lyttelton was opened just over a year ago, and since then has weathered a lot of storms and criticism by some berthholders.

On May 16, 1982, the member of Parliament for Lyttelton, Mrs Ann Hercus, officially opened the $750,000 marina at Naval Point.

Criticism of the marina’s siting and protection offered by the 300 m floating tyre breakwater were soon to follow.

A lot of southerly storms which hit the marina between October, 1982, and August, this year resulted in several yachts breaking their moorings. Some yachts were badly damaged. During the first 10 months, the marina experienced 12 days with winds over 50 knots. On three of these days, gusts of over 60 knots were recorded.

The frequency and severity of the storms greatly exceeded forecasts which where based on recorded data. In the three years before the marina’s opening, only one southerly storm of 64 knots and four storms with winds in excess of 50 knots were recorded.

Criticism by berth-holders was aimed at the tyre breakwater, which they said offered little protection during, the storms. The breakwater “performed generally in accordance with predictions, but the frequency of the storms

did not,” said the Lyttelton Harbour Board’s chief engineer, Mr J. B. Bushell. Performance was in line with wave design data and information from IM- years' of site testing done before construction.

“Experience has shown that, in the very severe conditions generated in the marina by winds with gust velocities in excess of 60 knots, yachts can survive without damage, provided their mooring systems are adequate.”

Storms over 50 knots would continue to give problems to some yachts whose mooring arrangements were not satisfactory, Mr Bushel! said.

The Lyttelton Harbour Board is, however, aware of problems at the marina, and agrees there is room for improvement. Work is under way on reshaping and extending the western section of the breakwater.

The board also plans to extend the width of the breakwater which it says will produce a “significant reduction in wave action and increased protection in high-volocity storms.”

The breakwater’s extra length will reduce the crosssea effect from wave action rebounding from the cliff face at the western side of the marina.

Work on the solid fill breakwater is continuing and once finished, will offer greater protection from the

east. The work is expected to take three years.

Facilities at the marina are excellent, according to the president of the Magazine Bay Marina berthholder’s association, Mr Fergus Campbell. “We were very unfortunate in the weather we struck in the early days,” he said. Inadequately moored boats and weak mooring bollards contributed to many of the problems experienced by berth-holders during the storms. “The tyre breakwater is doing its job. Nobody has complained to me in recent months, and I think everything is settling down quite a bit,” he said. Mr Campbell said berthholders were appreciative of the improvements being done by the Harbour Board.

He said once the extensions to the breakwater were completed the marina would be “a lot better.”

“It takes time to get used to it, but people are fairly happy now.” Mr campbell believed the marina would be extended soon to cater for the growing demand for berths. Already there is a small waiting list for the 82 berths, which were filled quickly after the marina opened. Berth-holders pay from $7OOO to $ll,OOO for berthing rights for 21 years. Mr Bushell said the marina would be extended to accommodate increases.

“The more that go into the marina, the more finance there is available and the better the facilities,” he said.