Anglers reveal recovery vessel

THE Lorne Aquatic & Angling Club is celebrating the successful launch of its new Training and Recovery Boat following a “blessing” ceremony on Lorne’s foreshore.

Club commodore Keith Miller said there was a decent turnout at the event with popular local figure Paki performing a Karakia (Māori) boat blessing ceremony, to make the boat safe and successful.

“This new vessel will play a crucial part in the club’s operations, offering a whole range of Training and Recovery benefits,” Mr Miller said.

The boat was loaned to the club on a semi-permanent basis by an anonymous member, and features a length of 5.6 metres with a 5mm thick bottom, a 150 horsepower motor and a four-blade propeller that was perfect for its purpose.

“As the name implies it will be used for training and recovery so we will be taking out members and showing them how to do a range of functions,” Mr Miller said.

He said these would include:
– Safely launching and retrieving a boat in the beach channel
– How to avoid getting bogged
– Navigation
– Reading the swell when leaving and re-entering the channel.
– General safety including the use of flares
– Operating a fire extinguisher
– Anchoring
– Operating an EPIRB (emergency position indicating radio beacon)
– Marine radio operation
– Lifejacket information
– Marine GPS operating, and
– Towing.

“We will also help members with all sorts of fishing tips including operating and reading Sonar (fish-finder), fish identification, knots, best rigs and bait for different species, cleaning and filleting fish.

“This is our only vessel of the sort, and I’m pretty sure there’s not another angling club along the entire cost that has private access to one of these boats.”

Contact Keith Miller by email at [email protected] to become involved with the club.