It is a privilege to be able to go boating in the Marlborough Sounds; a stunning and very special area. It is very important that all club members respect this beautiful environment and are courteous and respectful of the tikanga (customs and ways) of the Maori who are the tangata whenua and all others who live in and use the Marlborough Sounds.
By joining the Waikawa Boating Club you have the option to access 100 moorings in Pelorus, Kenepuru and Queen Charlotte Sounds, Tory Channel, D’Urville Island and the east side of Porirua Harbour. The moorings are a wonderful resource that provide peace of mind, enhancing your cruising experience and are in some of the most stunning bays in New Zealand. No other area in New Zealand provides anything like the number and quality of these moorings.
The Waikawa Boating Club, Pelorus Boating Club, Mana Cruising Club and Outward Bound New Zealand have pooled their moorings together for their members to enjoy. This joint ownership and management arrangement helps reduce the costs of maintenance and provides consistent standards of construction and maintenance of the moorings. The joint arrangement also provides a strong voice on issues affecting boaties and moorings in particular.
Identify the moorings
The moorings are regularly serviced and chosen for their sheltered and scenic locations. The moorings are clearly marked with the letters WPM or PWM or OBNZ. Most buoys are orange but there are variations in colour, depending on use arrangements.
Locating the moorings
Maps of the mooring locations are available for $20.00 at the club office. The maps include co-ordinates and descriptions.
Approaching & Departing Moorings
- before you set up to grab the mooring check the wind direction and current
- approach the mooring from the leeward side so you don’t get blown or washed over the mooring
- have someone on the bow pointing and communicating with the helm
- approaching slower is better than faster; mistakes are easier to adjust for if they unfold slowly!
- if you miss, go around and try again, and again, if necessary
- start the engine before letting go of the mooring
- drift off or reverse off the mooring until well clear
- then move slowly forward, turning away from the mooring
- don’t turn too quickly or the stern could swing around and run over the mooring
There are rules in using the moorings
While Club members pay for the right to use the moorings as part of their annual subscription fees, there are rules that attach to these rights that must be adhered to by all members. Further to this there are rules associated with the Outward Bound NZ moorings.