YACHT ANCHORAGE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22260, 7 November 1935, Page 14

YACHT ANCHORAGE

NEW AREA FORMED MECHANICS BAY EXTENSION There is suph a keen demand for moorings for pleasure craft for the coming season that the Auckland Harbour Board has decided to pfrovide an anchorage for about 20 boats on the western sido of the vehicular ferry landing in Mechanics Bay. The work of laying tlie necessary moorings was commenced only about a week ago, but already about 17 of the available berths have been reserved. Owing to its central position Mechanics Bay is by far the most popular anchorago for yachts in the Waitemata. It has one great disadvantage, however, which will not be experienced in the now anchorage. The smoke from the railway yards is blown directly across the bay by the prevailing wind, with a result that the glossy white paint of tho pleasuro fleet is converted to a uniform grey within a very short time after the boats aro launched.

The smoke nuisanco is largely confined to tho area south of tho ferry landing, which probably accounts for the eagerness of yachtsmon to have their craft moored in tho new area. " It is purely a temporary expedient," said the harbourmaster, Captain H. H. Sergeant, yesterday, " which the board decided to make in order to accommodate the yachtsmen who, through lack of space in Mechanics Bay, were at a loss to know where to moor their craft." The now anchorage will not bo a "protected ono," a« is tho case with Mechanics Bay, and owners will leavo their boats there at their own risk. Tho position is afforded a fair amount of shelter from bad weather by King's Wharf at one end and tho eastern tide deflector at tho other. A strong wind from a northerly quarter will probably cause some inconvenience, but this is also experienced by boats moored on tho outskirts of Mechanics Bay. i