Fosters Chandlery

22/10/2026

The PIC Coastal Classic is here!

Best of luck to everyone lining up for the race today. Here’s hoping for a clean start, good breeze and a great run up the coast.

Sail safe, look after your crew, and enjoy the ride.

We’ll be cheering you on from Westhaven.

20/10/2026

What goes into a P-Class refit?

Ahead of the North Island Championships, the Royal Akarana Yacht Club P-Class fleet has had a refresh with new Marlow Ropes and Harken hardware.

From control lines and D12 to EXCEL rope, Harken Carbo blocks, ratchet blocks and fittings, each piece plays a part in keeping the boats reliable, easy to use and ready for racing.

It’s a good reminder that even in small boat sailing, the right setup matters.

Heading into the North Island Champs and need any last-minute gear? Come in and see the team at Harken Fosters, Westhaven, and we’ll help you get sorted.

19/10/2026

Very proud to support the sailors competing in the P Class North Island Championships this weekend!

You've got to be in it to win it! The P Class North Islands are fast approaching this weekend and with 18 entries already (10 boys & 8 girls) we're expecting a good fleet to be racing this coming weekend. The long-range forecast looks like it should hopefully be another glamour weekend of racing in Auckland.

Thanks to our friends at Fosters Chandlery & Harken there are some sweet spot prizes available to all entrants and as a bonus prize everyone that is entered by midnight tonight will go into a bonus spot draw to win a brand new P Class sail that has been generously donated by one of our valued club members.

Enter Here: https://rayc.co.nz/event/2026-p-class-north-island-championships/

Current Entries: https://rayc.co.nz/sail-wave/26_PNorthIslands_Entries.htm

19/10/2026

Coastal prep isn’t always about the big-ticket gear.

Sometimes it’s the small things that make the boat easier to live with on a long race: rope bags that drain properly, storage for phones, keys and loose bits, and lifeline covers to make those long boards a little more comfortable.

Paul talks through a few handy Blue Performance options worth knowing about before the Coastal Classic.

What’s one small piece of gear you’re always glad you packed?

16/10/2026

Getting the next generation race-ready.

We recently supplied Royal Akarana Yacht Club with new Marlow Ropes and Harken hardware to refit their P-Class fleet ahead of the North Island Championships.

The project included new Marlow control lines, D12 and EXCEL rope, Harken Carbo blocks, ratchet blocks and fittings.

It’s great to see these boats refreshed and ready for more young sailors to get out on the water.

Best of luck to the P-Class sailors heading into the Championships.

14/10/2026

A look back at Fosters Chandlery in 1907.

The original Fosters premises sat on the old shoreline of downtown Auckland, serving a very different waterfront from the one we know today.

Fosters began as a marine and engineering supply business, and over the decades became closely tied to Auckland’s maritime history.

John Street started working at Fosters in 1959 and later took over the business from his father. He was known for curating displays of maritime objects and relics inside the store, turning the chandlery into a place where local and international visitors could discover pieces of New Zealand’s marine past.

A lot has changed since those early days, from wooden boats through to fibreglass, aluminium, carbon fibre and modern performance hardware. But at its core, Fosters has always been about the same thing: specialist marine gear, practical knowledge, and helping people find what they need.

These images are a small glimpse into that history.

Image credit: New Zealand Maritime Museum

12/10/2026

Put your hand up if you're guilty of not servicing your winches as often as you should...

Winches do a lot of work, and they’re easy to forget about until they start feeling stiff, sticky or rough.

A proper service means cleaning out old grease and grime, checking key parts for wear or corrosion, and using the right lubricant in the right places.

Harken recommends servicing your winches before the season and at least once during the season. If you race hard, it's worth checking them more regularly.

Want to learn more about servicing your winches? Click the link in our comments!

11/10/2026

The humble winch handle matters more than you think.

With the PIC Coastal Classic coming up, which winch handle are you reaching for first?

08/10/2026

Salt, UV and messy lockers can be tough on good gear.

Blue Performance makes practical storage, cover and protection products designed to help keep your boat better organised and your gear better protected.

Simple, durable pieces for a tidy, well-set-up boat.

Available at Harken Fosters! Click the link in our comments to view the range.

06/10/2026

When a full sn**ch block is more than you need.

For part 3 of our sn**ch block series, Grant takes a look at Antal Sn**ch Hooks, a lightweight and versatile option for sheet control, sheet transfers and outboard sheeting.

Made from hard black anodised aluminium with a spliced Dyneema Snap Loop, they’re light, strong and easy to use.

What setup would you use these for on your boat?

Click the link in our comments to learn more about the ANTAL Sn**ch Hooks.