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A steady stream of visitors sailed into Matakana School between April 19 and 21 for the second Matakana Model Boat Show. Well over 260 miniature maritime masterpieces were on display in the school hall and swimming pool, with hand-crafted vessels ranging from the tiniest wooden rowing boats up to giant Navy destroyers.
There was yacht racing on the pool and several food trucks and Mr Whippy were on hand to provide sustenance to hungry visitors.
The show was the brainchild of model boatbuilders Allan Harkin and Geoff Hoyle, who between them were responsible for many of the wooden vessels on show, and who made the first model boat show happen in 2022.
Show committee member Kim Scott said this year’s event had been even more of a hit with the public than the first.
“The show was a great success, and doing it over three days instead of two worked well,” she said.
“Numbers were up on last time, with approximately $6200 being raised to go towards a new heating system for the Matakana School pool.”
Scott said the Saturday of the show was still busy, despite heavy rain all day, although it did hamper racing at the pool.
“It was so lovely to see people really enjoying the boats and appreciating the amount of work that goes into creating them,” she said.
The committee expressed their thanks to everyone who went along and also to sponsors Armacup Maritime Services, Pak’nSave Warkworth, Matakana Market Kitchen, Matakana Kitchens & Joinery, Matakana ITM, Happy Printing and Matakana Coast App.
