Harbour Moorings for Short Visits

Moorings

RPNYC, LBYC, and EBYMBC maintain seven mooring buoys in Wellington Harbour for use by their members. The buoys provide safe moorings for day trips and opportunities to fish, dive, swim, and relax in some of the most stunning bays in Wellington Harbour.

Any defects relating to moorings should be reported to your club manager (for RPNYC office@rpnyc.org.nz) as soon as practicable.

Mooring
PositionMax Capacity (t)
Lowry Bay41 15.355 S, 174 54.456 E20
North Somes41 15.211 S, 174 52.002 E15
South Somes41 15.7 S, 174 51.8 E38
Kau Bay41 17.148 S, 174 49.701 E38
Ward Island41 17.498 S, 174 52.319 E38
Seatoun41 19.166 S, 174 49.994 E20
Scorching Bay41 17.887 S, 174 50.090 E20







Rafting-up procedure

  • Incoming boat prepares their own bow/stern lines prior to approaching the moored boat.
  • Circle the boat on the mooring and ask if you can raft–up and what side they would like you to raft.
  • Incoming boat puts down fenders and comes in slowly from astern and parallel.
  • Receiving boat should have someone at the bow and stern to take lines.
  • Once bow and stern lines are tied, put on two springs. It is important that springs are tight. Adjust all lines as required to have boats parallel.
  • Yachts need to watch spreaders. Generally yachts lie better against yachts, launches against launches.
  • The heaviest boat should take the mooring and be in the middle of the raft.
  • When rafted up with other boats, be considerate to others and keep the noise down as sound carries a long way over water.
  • Ask permission to cross over boats to reach another and use the foredeck rather than the cockpit if possible.
  • When vacating a mooring, please make sure that the loop at the top of the pole float is left clear of the water. Feed the loop down the tube to allow the loop to stay clean and dry for the next visitor.

Conditions of use

  • Users acknowledge that they occupy the moorings at their own risk in all respects. Neither the club(s) nor any officer of the club(s) are liable on any grounds whatsoever for any loss, damage, cost or expense arising from or incidental to any use of such mooring.
  • The moorings are for short term use only (a period not exceeding 24 hours).
  • Vessels must not be left unattended on the mooring.
  • The maximum combined vessel tonnage permitted for each buoy – 15, 20, or 38 tonnes – is noted on the tag attached to the mooring. These limits must not be exceeded.
  • Coastal marine area regulations state that to empty or permit to be emptied any sanitary device or to dump any rubbish into the harbour contravenes the Resource Management (Marine Pollution) Regulations 1998. Take your waste and rubbish back to port and dispose of it appropriately.
  • Club members must allow other permitted members to raft up alongside as long as the mooring does not become overloaded.

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