Celestial serendipity
As you will read on page 16, Auckland’s RNZYS will be celebrating its 150th birthday in 2021 – the year the America’s Cup regatta returns to New Zealand, to be hosted by the Squadron. To mark the occasion, the Squadron is organising a smorgasbord of sailing activities and, in the words of Aaron Young, the RNZYS’ Rear Commodore, “the stars have aligned – it will be a huge year for us.”
There may be more substance to Young’s poetic sentiments than he thinks. Astronomers will tell you that January 2021 marks a rare alignment of the planets Venus, Jupiter and Mars – a celestial phenomenon known as a triple conjunction. The ancients accorded great significance to such alignments.
I try not to live my life around the planets’ orbital waltz, but for once I’ll drink to this happy synchronicity – and begin polishing the eyepiece of my telescope. Because it seems their influence on the marine industry could be considerably wider.
In a parallel development to the AC regatta and RNZYS’S 150th, things are ramping up in nearby Wynyard Quarter. As we know, parts of the Quarter will benefit from the development of bases and a village for the AC boats. But other components are also in fast-track mode.
In particular, I’m enthused by the new marine refit facility – including a 620-tonne slip – that’s been given the green light following an agreement between the city’s redevelopment agency (Panuku Development Auckland) and marine services company Orams.
Orams wants to have the facility up and running in time for the 2021 AC, when Auckland will also host scores of superyachts – many of them using the opportunity for a little TLC down under.
As Panuku chief executive Roger Macdonald says, the development “has the potential to deliver significant economic benefits, not only for Auckland but for the country as a whole.”
All good news – and while I don’t want to get ahead of myself, I’m sure these projects, collectively, will add impetus to the transformation of the area. The sooner we can kick the eyesore that is the tank farm into orbit, the better.
Happy boating.