Waikawa's new Club Boat MV Ray White launched in great style
by David Hancock 6 Oct 2021 12:02 NZDT
6 October 2021
MV Ray White on the water first time - launch of MV Ray White - October 2021 © Karmyn Ingram
With a well-aimed swing of a bottle of gold flecked champagnoise by Waikawa Boating Club Patron, Nicky Jenkins, onto the bow of the brand-new catamaran, the satisfying smash and spray of bubbles signaled the beginning of a new era for the club. MV Ray White was launched!
Girvan, the previous club boat which had been gifted by the Holtrop family had served very well but it had come time to upgrade. With a massive drive from the club to raise funds on top of what the sale of Girvan generated, the new alloy catamaran was launched on Sunday 3 October.
Generous grants from Lion Foundation and TAB set an excellent foundation for commissioning the new build through Picton based Tory Chanel Contracting. In fact, every inch of Ray White was built locally and much of it through generous donated time and materials. The club website lists all the contributors with sincere thanks.
What does a club boat get used for? Club Commodore, Dave Kelway lists controlling yacht racing, assisting in beach clean ups throughout the sounds, supporting club events, transport for events and generally being part of Marlborough Sounds boating.
“We realise how lucky we are at Waikawa in having a large membership base, business and community support which makes this asset a reality for us”.
Kelway says he’s confident this would be the best club support boat in the country.
Amai Thompson, Pou Tikanga, Cultural Manager of Te Atiawa Manawhenua Ki Te Tau Ihu, blessed the waka and gave her every chance of a safe life in the Marlborough Sounds. Deputy Mayor, Nadine Taylor, Club Commodore, Dave Kelway and Chris Williams from the New Boat Committee added to the story telling on what was a special day for the club and boating in the region.
But it was left to naming sponsor Stu McLean to tear away the shrouds to reveal MV Ray White as the name of the club boat. No surprise that Stu is from Ray White Real Estate Marlborough and their branding will be seen throughout the racing and boating season.
Specifications are important to those in the know and others can nod and smile. But in case you need the low down, here it is:
- 10m alloy cat, 2.88m beam, 0.75m draft
- Twin 115hp four stroke outboards with 2x 200l in hull fuel tanks
- 12” chart plotter, 18” radar scanner, VHF with AIS transceiver, wind/speed/depth/temp screen
- Forward, aft and side facing flood lights
- 2x 2000gph bilge pumps
- Gas detector, diesel heater, toilet and vanity
- 15kg Rocna anchor with chain and rope pot hauler
- EPIRB, flares, life jackets