New lure for tourists...

Taupo Times, Volume 23, Issue 52, 2 July 1974, Page 1

New lure for tourists...

A new trout fishing vessel, the Awatea, was launched at Taupo on Saturday. Based on a Norwegian design, the 30-feet craft — value about $40,000 — has been built for charter fishing work on the lake. The Awatea can sleep A seven and features two self-contained twin-berth cabins, a small for'ard lounge, hot and cold shower, hull-to-hull carni'fino Ihrnnolinnf. n

Ltd, the Taupo-based organisation completing plans to market sporting tours overseas. The managing director, Mr Simon Dickie, said his company had determined to provide the ultimate in comfort, enjoyment, safety and trout fishing facilities for New Zealanders and overseas visitors to Taupo. The launch has been specially designed and

sporting adventures offered. Mr Dickie said he was personally very pleased with the building and fitting out of the Awatea, and paid tribute to the worlonanship of the Taupo boatbuilder responsible, Mr D. J. Norton. The launch has taken just a year to build. Double diagonal totara pianking was used for the hull and mahogany

for the coamings. All metal fittings are stainless steel. Mr Dickie, who coxed the New Zealand rowing eight to victory at the 1972 Munich Olympics, said he would be sharing skippering duties aboard the launch with his father, Mr M. Dickie. As well as the Awatea the company would operate two smaller launches, chiefly on Lake Taupo.