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A huge flotilla of up to 300 boats will sail into Matakana on Friday, April 19, but won’t clog up the wharf or river.
That’s because the craft in question are all scaled-down vessels, in town for the second Matakana Model Boat Show.
For three days, every type of miniature marine masterpiece will be on show inside and out at Matakana School, from basic row boats and dinghies, through sailing yachts, ferries and scows, up to mighty naval warships and modern racing hydrofoils.
The school hall and new shade shelter outside will be packed with static displays of meticulous models built by more than a dozen craftspeople, including a display by modellers from the New Zealand Maritime Museum in Auckland on Saturday, April 20.
There will also be exhibits devoted to diverse nautical subjects, such as a history of local boatbuilding, NZ yacht racing and ships, and a display of boats devised and decorated by Matakana School students.
Meanwhile, the school pool will once again be transformed into a mini-sailing course for yacht racing, complete with a little lighthouse and cute copies of local wharves, boat ramps, jetties and pontoons fashioned by Allan Harkin, the Matakana mariner who first dreamt up the idea for a model boat show.
He says although similar to the previous show, the eight-strong organising committee had scaled everything up slightly this year, with more boats and model-makers and a three-day show instead of two. There will be food vendors on-site and any children visiting on the opening Friday will get a free ice cream.
The show is open from 10am to 4pm each day and entry is by donation, with EFTPOS available, and all proceeds will go towards buying a new heating system for the Matakana School pool.
