Refurbishing the Start Tower

Refurbishing the Start Tower – a piece of Westhaven’s history

Westhaven’s iconic Start Tower has recently received a much-needed refurbishment, ensuring it remains a key part of Auckland’s yachting heritage.

A look back at the Start Tower legacy

The origins of the Start Tower date back to 1956 when the construction of the Auckland Harbour Bridge created challenges for yachts navigating the area. To address these risks, the Auckland Harbour Board built a walkway over the Westhaven seawall and established a shared Starters Box. This allowed clubs to efficiently run races without endangering yachts.

In those early days, the Start Tower was only accessible on foot via a 100-metre walkway. This isolated position reinforced its status as a dedicated space for starting and finishing yacht races. While the walkway was removed in 1983 during carpark extensions, the box remained steadfast on the seawall until it was relocated eastward just a few years ago.

Tales from the Start Tower: From shotguns to hooters

The Start Tower holds many colourful anecdotes, particularly from the era when shotguns were used to signal the start and finish of races. One of the most infamous tales involves Min Harold, who – with a twitchy trigger finger – managed to blow out the box’s window more than once. To mitigate further mishaps, a tube was installed through the north-facing wall for the shotgun to safely fire through, but even that didn’t prevent Ron Copeland from accidentally shattering the window again while loading the gun!

Another legendary figure, Jo “The Pipe” Clark, was known for casually carrying a shotgun over his shoulder back to the car park, inadvertently causing an Armed Offenders scene. It’s no surprise that the transition to the hooter system eventually replaced the shotgun – a safer and more practical choice for starting races.

Jo “The Pipe” Clark

A thoughtful restoration

The refurbishment features a full reclad in vitex timber, upgraded electrical and plumbing systems, and a striking yellow marker on the water-facing side for improved visibility. The tower remains true to its heritage while meeting modern safety and functionality needs (see images below).

Honouring the past, embracing the future

The Start Tower continues to be a landmark for sailors and spectators alike. This refurbishment ensures it will serve the yachting community for years to come – preserving its rich history while looking ahead to an exciting future.