T
he dream has been fulfilled. After many years of challenges and difficult labour, the
Betty G
has been launched and has settled into her new ‘water’ home. After Russell George trucked
the
Betty G
from his driveway to Whitianga, he sailed her back to Tairua with his two sons, Paul
and Rick. A proud Betty (wife and namesake) said of the maiden voyage, “All went perfectly,
and Russell was pleased. She set beautiful on the water and held a true line.”
Betty admitted they haven’t had a ‘cuppa tea’ on her yet, but says they did have a few glasses
of wine on her after he arrived back in Tairua. At press time weather conditions had kept them
from taking her out since her mooring.
Russell, who has worked on the boat for over ten years, first estimated the retirement project
would take “two to three years” from empty hull to seaworthy.
See article by Rowena Brown, “The Legend of the Betty G: A Dreamboat Built for a Cuppa Tea”
in the
PakuViews
Autumn/Winter 2013 issue at
Click on “View past
issues of PakuViews.”
IT’S A
MARINA!
A DREAM FULLFILLED
The
Betty G
in her new home, moored near Tairua wharf.
Above: The first boats take advantage of the new
Tairua Marina at the base of Paku Mountain. The
marina will soon sport a clubhouse, restaurant,
dive shop and other businesses.
- Photo: Michelle McEwan
Right: Artist rendering of proposed Tairua Marina
Apartments near the marina. This comprises 28
three or four bedroom units over four levels, a basement car park and swimming pool.
A
fter years of public hearings, and about eight months
of dredging, trucking and construction, the 95-berth
Tairua Marina at the base of Paku Mountain is a reality.
Some boats are now serenely settled into their slips
enjoying their easy access to the ocean to enjoy fishing,
sightseeing, and diving.
The dredging of channel sand had benefits for the greater
Tairua community. Some of the sand now enhances
harbour beaches and augments flood prone fairways of the
Tairua Country Club’s golf course.
Property manager Laurie Flynn notes, “Yet to be built is
the Tairua Marina Clubrooms, some business buildings
and the Marina Villas homes and apartment units.” The
commercial area will host not only members’ clubroom
facilities, but also a dive shop and restaurant. “And Tairua
locals can look forward to many employment opportunities
in construction, landscaping and hospitality services as the
project continues.”
For further information, to see the Tairua Marina and Tairua
Villa plans and artist concepts, visit
61
THE LEGEND
OF THE BETTY G:
A DREAMBOAT BUILT
FOR A “CUPPA TEA”
Annette tAyloR
Designer / Florist
p:
07 864 8886
m:
021 103 8681
e:
Garden Makeovers
Landscaping
specialising in all �mber work,
landscape design & plan�ng
Tracey Salkeld (Dip. Hort.)
Sam Salkeld (DaHT)
07 864 7820 • 021 240 4437
