Winter Newsletter '08

Ahoy there Crewmember! ,

Winter is nearing its very wet end this year in the Marlborough Sounds and the Compass Crew are looking forward to Spring and another busy Summer season. We wanted to update you all on quite a few new developments which are,

• We have new specials running for this year
• We have 4 new vessels added to our fleet this year which are Jumelle, U4ria, Cosmic Thing and Orion.
• Our new great website which is being launched next week.
• We have a Winner and a Runner-up of last summers photo competition.
• We have a new 1/4 share ownership plan for new vessels
• We need your favourite recipes to add to our Compass Charters Cuisine book.

So read on below to find out more and give us a call anytime on 0800 101 332 if you have any queries.

Spring and Summer specials '08/'09

• Christchurch Show Weekend deal - We are running a special for Show weekend of 4 days for the price of 3. Arrive at the base for around noon on Thursday the 13th November and after getting your full briefing you can head straight out of the marina and get your adventure underway. Then arrive back at the marina at 12 noon Monday the 17th. As the Show Weekend special is 4 days for the price of 3, this works out to a 25% price reduction so call us to reserve a vessel for you.
• Get an extra free day - Charter for 7 days or more and you get one free day. Ie charter for 7 days and pay for 6 days. (This offer excludes the period from December the 24th until January the 8th.)
• Labour weekend - We have a few yachts still available so call us to find out what we have left.
• Boat and a batch relax - Hire a runabout and a Batch in the Sounds. We have a fully furnished 3 bedroom Batch with own mooring and jetty in Lochmara Bay. It is the perfect spot to get away from the pace of city life. Explore the sounds during the day with your own runabout. Fish, dive, bush walks, water-skiing or just read a book, you have the best of both worlds ashore and afloat. Prices start at $430 (depending on which runabout you choose and the season) for 24 hrs. Minimum stay is 48hrs (depending on time of year). Leave on a Friday afternoon and spend all day Saturday in your own paradise then head back Sunday afternoon.

• The runabouts we use for this special is Compass Rose , Huntsman and Orion

  All our batch's are around 20 - 40 minutes boat drive away.

Last minute Winter specials '08

(From now until Labour Weekend - 24th of October) on most boats which are,

• Winter mid week break - 3 days mid week for the price of 2. This option is only available between 12 noon Mondays till 12 noon on Fridays. (33% off economy rates - great deal!) Please remember, we are closing the base for two weeks in early September. The office is open for administration only.
• Winter weekend getaway - 5pm Friday night to 5 pm Sunday night (48 hrs – 5% off economy rate) with free bedding to keep you snug on board (Duvet + sheets and a towel per person – usually $20 per set), plus 2 free hire of fishing rods per boat. As usual the free pick up and drop off between 8am – 5pm from Picton is standard. Most of our Launches have diesel heaters installed so you will have cozy nights onboard and crisp clear days.
• Call us to enquire on all our winter specials on 0800 101 332

 New Vessel additions

40ft Power cat

McLay 650 hard top.

We are pleased to announce "ORION". A McLay 650 Cruiser Hard Top, as a new addition to our fleet. What a great boat! This is Compass Charters CHASE BOAT during peak season for any issues you have out there. We can be out to help in no time at all! Outside of peak season it is available for clients to charter. This 22ft (6.5 Meters) runabout is in mint condition and is proving to be very popular for exploring the Sounds. She has already passed the MSA survey in no time and has been extremely popular so far.  It has a 175HP Yamaha with a 15HP Yamaha aux as well, fishfinder, stereo, great washdown pump, trim tabs, fuel management system, baitboard, fishbin and all the usual safety gear like EPIRBS, VHF, fire ext etc.  A secure cockpit for families, fully enclosed Hard Top if the weather turns bad with speedy cruising with the 175 HP. This makes "Orion" an ideal craft to explore the vast Sounds we have here if your time schedule is limited.

Check her out under "Orion"  on our website. Call our staff to enquire on availability on 0800 101 332.

Pelin Sterling 36

And an update on "U4RIA" - our latest launch. She is a 36ft Pelin Sterling called "U4RIA" (Euphoria) and is still going through survey at present. A classic Frank Pelin design and proven hull, she we be in superb condition after going through a extensive professional refit in Christchurch at present. She should be ready soon!

Built in 2000 with the latest systems she has undergone another new transformation this winter with a new saloon, cockpit, boarding platform, new heads, cabin, galley etc. With a Volvo 165hp on a shaft producing a cruising speed of around 8 - 9 kts she is more of a gentle explorer for the Sounds. She can sleep 6 but 4 is the ideal crew with two double cabins and the saloon has a double bed which folds out. A perfect sea worthy boat for 2 couples or a family who want to amble along at their own pace in comfort.

Excellent electronics, new fridge and freezer and new galley. All the comforts on board to make you feel at home. New photos of the interior and exterior will be available on our website soon. Keep an eye out.

Call our staff to enquire on availability on 0800 101 332.

 Owner wanted - Owner wanted - Owner wanted - Owner wanted - Owner wanted - Owner wanted

Take the hassle out of vessel ownership. The current owner of a 2002, 36ft Bavaria, has asked us to find a new owner for it. The vessel has 3 double cabins, fully equipped and is already in MSA survey. So it is ready to go into charter here in the Marlborough Sounds with us.

Asking price is $178,000. Zero rated for GST as it is in survey so is a going concern as a charter vessel.

Please visit this link on our site for more details on the vessel http://www.compass-charters.co.nz/Ownership/Boats_For_Sale

For more details call Aaron on 0800 101 332.

Also a Beale 33ft

We have a Beale 33 looking for a new owner. A great little sailor and confirming this there is an article in this months (August's Boating New Zealand) magazine on the Beale 33. The old owners have owned it for the last 3 years but now they want to get a bigger yacht.

The boat is in top condition with lots of upgrades and a few more planned straight away. They have all the receipts of all the work to date with excellent maintenance records.

So if you want to view her, then give Aaron a call on 027 4340 247 or call Compass Charters on 0800 101 332 and 03 573 8332

1/4 Share Opportunities

Stabicraft 759 (7 months old) for sale - 2 more 1/4 shares available.

We are launching a new way this season to affordably own a new or modern vessel under charter management. How it works is that you purchase a 1/4 share in the vessel and this entitles each shareholder to a certain amount of points use each year. Different periods are worth a different value of points (The Xmas and Easter period is worth far more than a weekend in July etc) you can of course use the boat more than your share of points by swapping points with other share holders. In between owners use, Compass Charters will charter the vessel out and all owners receive their share of the income which will go towards the usual maintenance costs of owning a boat.

Compass Charters will manage, clean, valet and maintain the vessel throughout the year so you won't have any of the hassles of owning a boat. All you have to do is turn up and jump in as the boat will be launched, fuelled up, engine warm, bait in the bin etc. Its that Easy!

We also have a Haines Hunter SF600 for sale (2 years old). So if this is your opportunity to own a great vessel with out all the hassle and big costs then call Aaron on 0800 101 332 or 0274 340 247.

St Paul

Photo Competition - '07/'08 Winner

We have a winner and a runner-up of last summers photo competition.

The winner was David Churchill with a great relaxing shot at anchor (lad in dinghy) on "Indulgence" this year taken at 'Worlds End' in Pelorus. The winner has has won an additional free day to any charter of 2 days or more.

The runner up was James Blyth with his family having fun shot ("where's the fish Dad?) who chartered "Zachary Hicks" this year. The runner up has won 20% off their next charter of 2 days or more. Great photos from them both and thank you all for sending your snaps into us. Next time you are in the office we have them displayed on our Compass Charters photo wall.

We are going to run another Photo competition this coming season so keep snapping away and send in your photo's, you never know it could be you next year.

 Also Don't Forget ..........

Fishing

One of our fleet favourites, E.J , has been fitted with and brand new Raymarine colour chart plotter/radar as well as a diesel heater for the winter/early spring season to keep you warm and cosy. So with those perfect clear and calm days during winter/early spring you can keep your shorts and t-shirt on in the evening now! Don't forget we have a fully stocked shop with all the gear, tackle and bait you will need for your trip here in the Sounds. We have over 40 rods for hire and the shop has grown since last season and has been updated with the latest stock, soft baits and so on. The scallop season is in full flow at the moment and there are plenty of them around so give us a call to organize your trip. We specialise in fishing and diving trips for all group levels. Send an enquiry

Diving

For all you underwater enthusiasts, there will be scheduled dive trips on Topaz this spring.  A professionally guided two-day trip to Port Gore will give you the chance to explore the Mikhail Lermontov besides other interesting dive sites. The cost for this is $595 pp and this includes all your dive equipment and meals. (Conditions will apply). We can also sort out longer trips to D'Urville Island. Please give us a call or email if you are interested. Dive Marlborough here in our building are now well established and they are even expanded, taking over more space out the back. We have special rates we can give all Compass Charters crew so let us know in advance so we can get all your diving needs looked after and organised. A compressor is on site in our building and NITROX is also available.

New for 2008/09! - We can organize to have you picked up from your vessel by Dive Marlborough on their boat and take you diving and then drop you back to your boat afterwards. All your gear and equipment can be organised here at our base before the start of your trip so you don't have to carry anything on board. So if you have some of your crew who are not divers they can relax safely at the mooring for the morning while you are out exploring underwater.

That's it from us here for the time being until our "Spring Newsletter" in October.

Seas the day!

The Compass Charters Crew 

Waikawa Marina, PO Box 334, Picton, Toll Free 0800 101332
Ph +64 (0)3 5738332, Fax +64 (0)3 5738587
Email: crew@compass-charters.co.nz
Web: www.compass-charters.co.nz