Boat Show with Altitude
At 801m above sea level the Antique & Classic Boat Show, held annually in the Nelson Lakes National Park, is the highest altitude boat show in New Zealand.
The mountain scenery and a good weather forecast for this weekend will make a perfect backdrop, says organizer Pete
Rainey.
“The action is on the foreshore of Lake Rotoiti at Kerr Bay, framed by the twin St Arnaud and Spencer Ranges – it has be
one of the most stunning settings for a show of this kind anywhere in world,” he says. “That, and the classic beauty of
old wooden clinkers, replica steamers and classy speed boats make this show really something special.”
Rainey says after 16 years, the format of boat displays on the land in the morning and races on the lake in the
afternoon is well bedded in.
“From early morning on both days of the weekend you can wander around the boats on land, chat with the owners, view
displays with stories of restoration and rebuilds and then watch the races on the lake in the afternoon,” he says. “We
have a lot of fun, from the slightly chaotic sail-past to the Seagull dinghy race with its Le Mans start, nearly always
with a couple of motors that humiliatingly refuse to start!”
Another attraction is the Nelson Lakes Classic Boat Museum in St Arnaud village. Several of the display boats will be at
the lakeside on show, but those that are too big to move will stay in the museum. This includes a recent acquisition,
the cutter Resolution gifted to museum by the Outward Bound Trust.
“It’s a 32ft kauri replica of Captain Cook’s cutters, built in 1976 for the Outward Bound fleet,” Rainey says. “It’s a
spectacular vessel for its scale, its history and its workmanship – our plan is to have it restored, surveyed and
available for community groups to use.”
The 17th NZ Antique & Classic Boat Show is at Kerr Bay, Nelson Lakes National Park on the weekend of March 5 and 6. Judging will take place
on Saturday, ahead of an evening awards ceremony at the Alpine Lodge. At stake is the Jens Hansen Trophy, awarded for
good looks, craftsmanship and the boat’s history.
Other awards include prizes for best new restoration, best steamboat, best jet-propelled craft and best themed display.
Races will be held for yachts, row boats, seagull motored dinghies, poppers, canoes, child rowers and swimmers.
More info at www.nzclassicboats.com
ENDS