Seresin Estate Antique and Classic Boat Show Lake Rotoiti - Nelson Lakes National Park March 3 & 4 2007

Everything's set for a great weekend of classic boating at Lake Rotoiti in the Nelson Lakes National Park.

The forecast is fine and a record level of entries is expected for the Seresin Estate Antique and Classic Boat Show running over this Saturday and Sunday at the lake.

Organiser Pete Rainey says there are already 120 registrations.

³We have never had more than 100 pre-entries before so we¹re expecting the final tally to be up on last year¹s 170 boats there on the day,² he said. ³What¹s more we have eight steam boats and we¹ve never had more than three.²

Rainey sees the increased interest in classic boating as part of a growing focus on heritage.

³It¹s a bit like the slow movement in food - the interest in classic boats is going in the opposite direction of mainstream boating in New Zealand. Instead of faster, bigger, flasher and more gas guzzling the slow boat movement is driven by a love of what¹s old, slow, graceful, wooden and beautiful.²

Boats are still able to register on Saturday morning (March 3rd), then there is time for boat viewing on the dry, followed by a sail past and an afternoon of action on the water with events ranging from the Seagull outboard race through to the children¹s rowing race. Sunday follows the same format.

The boat show is an eco-friendly event and people are asked to respect the venue. DOC have recently released kiwi into the National Park very close to where the show takes place, so it is essential the NO DOGS rule is upheld. All boats will be checked for noxious aquatic weeds, and oil leaks. Boats will also be sprayed against Didymo on Sunday afternoon as people leave.

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