CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – KOTANUI

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – KOTANUI

While the launch 44′ KOTANUI has made numerous appearances on WW and her history is well documented, these days she rarely leaves her berth at the Milford marina.

Thanks to Angus Rogers on board CENTAURUS over the weekend we get to see KOTANUI at anchor in Bon Accord, Kawau Island.

Great to see that she is being well cared for by her long-term owner.

KOTUNUI was built at the Salthouse yard c.1964 and while Nathan Herbert will furrow his brows, in my ears she is a mini-me of TRINIDAD (52′)

LINKS BELOW TO SOME PAST WW STORIES – lots of intel and photo from her past.  Sept 2021https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/09/01/kotanui-launch-day-fathers-day-sorted/

July 2013https://waitematawoodys.com/2013/07/29/kotanui-2/

Oct 2013 https://waitematawoodys.com/2013/10/16/kotanui-3/

Photo below of TRINIDAD for comparison 😉

2026 WORLDWIDE CLASSIC BOAT SHOW – All You Need To Know

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Today woodys I want to draw your attention to an upcoming woody event – the Worldwide Classic Boat Show hosted by our friends at the Vblog – Off Centre Harbor. The show has been running annually for several years and just gets better and better – read more below. With the Worldwide Classic Boat Show, the best boats from around the world come to you, wherever you are. You can search and explore hundreds of boats via characteristics like propulsion, era, or size, and see them all on the interactive world map:

HOW TO ATTEND THE SHOW:

Just head to ClassicBoatShow.com for full details on the show and how to get an All Access Pass https://classicboatshow.com/
WHERE & WHEN:
Where: The show is entirely virtual — online at ClassicBoatShow.com You can attend from your favorite lounge chair.
When:  Everything starts on Friday, February 20th: Gates open, boats arrive and presentations begin. 
WHAT’S AT THE SHOW? The Map – Everything in the world related to classic boats is on one interactive map
Live Presentations – Presentations featuring experts on a variety of topics
Boats – Over 1,000 of the world’s best classic boats (with beautiful photos and details)
Organizations – Explore festivals, boatbuilders, clubs, museums, schools, etc.
People – Connect with other attendees anywhere in the world (right there on the map)

For example, say you want to explore the Bay of Islands in New Zealand, and you find this boat – just click on it and you’ll get to see her history and details, ways to learn more about the boat, and see more great photos (and videos if available):

FYI – IIT’s NOT TOO LATE TO INCLUDE YOUR BOAT IN THE SHOW – The team are still looking for and accepting new entries to the Show at this link: https://classicboatshow.com/add-listing/listing/

AND NOW FOR TODAYS WOODY STORY – TAURAKA

There always has to be a woody boat – todays is the launch TAURAKA. While at Lake Rotoiti for the annual classic and wooden boat parade over the weekend I spotted TAURAKA hiding in the willows looking very neglected. She has been on WW below, in fact in March 2022 (link below) we did an SOS story trying to find a new custodian – anyone know the current status. https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/03/19/tauraka-sos/

2026 LAKE ROTOITI CLASSIC & WOODEN BOAT PARADE + PICNIC – Report. 140 photos

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PARADE 🔻

PICNIC 🔻

LADY BETH

2026 LAKE ROTOITI CLASSIC & WOODEN BOAT PARADE + PICNIC – Report. 140 photos

As the photos will quickly confirm, Saturday 7 February delivered near-perfect conditions for the Lake Rotoiti Classic & Wooden Boat Association’s annual gathering. While the event unfolds over four days, it’s the Saturday on-the-water get-together that remains the undisputed highlight.

From a photographer’s point of view, wall-to-wall sunshine and tricky angles don’t always play nicely with timber and varnish. So, if I’ve missed your boat or the images aren’t quite showroom-perfect, my apologies — I was doing my best to keep up with a lot of very good-looking boats.

The day naturally divides into two acts: the Parade, followed by the Picnic. A few familiar regulars were absent this year, but they were more than ably replaced by some truly stunning “new” additions to the fleet, making for an impressive and varied lineup on the water.

Sit back, enjoy the gallery, and soak up a little Lake Rotoiti magic. As always click photos to enlarge.

Special thanks to David & Glenys Wilson for the generous loan of a boat for the day 🙂

MYSTERY WOODEN YACHT ALONGSIDE KERIKERI STONE STORE

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MYSTERY WOODEN YACHT ALONGSIDE KERIKERI STONE STORE

Last year Ross Dawson shared the above photo (ex postcard), at the time Ross commented that he suspected the photo was dated c.1900.

The location is the upper reaches of the Kerikeri Inlet and we see a yacht alongside the wharf at the Stone Store. The store is still standing today as is the timber building to the right – Kemp House.

The yacht has what appears to be a registration number on her bow so maybe a commercial fishing craft. Can we ID the yacht.

The clinker dinghy in the foreground is very salty looking.

Following on from the location above, I believe a group of Kerikeri / BOI classic wooden launch owners traveled up the Inlet yesterday for a gathering at the Plough & Feather Pub, near the Stone Store. Hopefully we will have a report + photos next week.

Check out WW on Monday for a photo gallery / parade report from the 2026 Lake Rotoiti Classic & Wooden Boat Parade – my pick for best boat below – LADY BETH

CLASSIC MASON CLIPPER RUNABOUT

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CLASSIC MASON CLIPPER RUNABOUT

As the WW early birds read todays story I will heading down State Highway 1 to attend the Lake Rotoiti Classic & Wooden Boat Festival. 

Therefore its only appropriate that todays classic craft is a 1967 25’ Mason Clipper. Good looks and breeding let me overlook that her hull is the evil f/glass.

Powered by a 250hp Yamaha 4-stroke outboard one would assume she can lift her skirt and run rather fast 🙂 Thanks Ian McDonald for the heads up.

If you couldn’t make it to the lake today – check out WW Monday for a photo gallery / parade report.

SERIOUSLY – DID I READ THAT CORRECTLY…….

You have worry when you read the criteria for boat selection at an Australian (Victoria) Classic Boat Rally – “ If its older that 25 yrs, of historical value or of classic design”

True classics must be few and far between over the ditch to have craft built in 2000 labeled CLASSIC.😎

TODAYS THE DAY – LAKE ROTOITI COMES ALIVE WITH 70+ CLASSIC BOATS 

CLASSIC STEEL LAUNCH – MIRANDA

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CLASSIC STEEL LAUNCH – MIRANDA

Back in November 2020 WW ran a story on the motor launch – MIRANDA – link here https://waitematawoodys.com/2020/11/05/mystery-launch-05-11-20/

At the time we learnt from Harold Kidd that MIRANDA was a 55ft twin-engined steel launch built by E.D. (Bill) Edmundson at Thorndon Quay and launched in June 1953 after 7 years of work. She became the unofficial flagship for the Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club and did a trip to Sydney and back in 1960-1.

Fast forward to December 2025 and while Ken Ricketts was trolling thru a collection of back issues of Sea Spray magazine he uncovered todays photo. The caption recoded that MIRANDA was returning to Wellington from the double Tasman crossing (1960>61). The photo appeared in the March 1961 edition of Sea Spray.

Do we know where MIRANDA is these days.

LAST REMINDER FOR SATURDAYS LAKE ROTOITI CLASSIC & WOODEN BOAT PARADE – 11am Parade start – details here https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/07/28/tokatea/

TOKATEA – A Classic Workboat Conversion 

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TOKATEA – A Classic Workboat Conversion 

The 44’ launch TOKATEA started life back in 1959 as a Government fishing patrol and lighthouse tender, built by WG Lowe.                                           TOKATEA was ‘retired’ in 1987 and converted to pleasure use.

While still retaining her workboat roots the interior fit out is rather smart, certainly providing a home away from home afloat.

Forward motion is from a 100hp Gardner 6LW engine.

Read and see more on her past here https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/07/28/tokatea/

TOKATEA was once owned by WW contributor Ian McDonald. Home these days is Waikawa Marina, South Island.

CLASSIC WOODEN CRAFT OUT WEST

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CLASSIC WOODEN CRAFT OUT WEST

Recently Glen Martin was riding through Helensville on his bike and stopped at the cruising club for a beer and pulled the camera out.                         Given that some are daytime and some night it must have been a few beers – hopefully not riding the bike post.

Interesting mix of craft and condition. Nice to see one of my favourite woodys – ARAHI, has relocated over to the west coast. More on her here https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/12/19/history-of-arahi/

HELP NEEDED -CAN WE ID / LEARN MORE

Recently on WW Grant MacKinnon posted the comment below (edited), Grant has just supplied photos of the items – so big ask but maybe someone can help confirm or end Grant’s speculation.

“We are doing a long walk around the South Island by beach and coastline and come across all sorts of things washed up. Recently we found an old ships spar or something, washed up on the beach between Fortrose and Tiwai Point, Southland. It has old style wooden pegs and lashed-lugs(?).

We need some help with its identification, if anyone knows who and how to find out please? It is very old. I went back and got it as my family were Meiklejohns and the first boat they built on arrival at Omaha was the “Pioneer” which wrecked at Fortrose in 1883. It would be exciting if it was off that. Thank you, any pointers would be very much appreciated.”

REMEMBER – LAKE ROTOITI CLASSIC AND WOODEN BOAT PARADE THIS SATURDAY –  Details here  https://www.woodenboatparade.co.nz/wooden-boat-parade/

IT’S NOT  WOOD BUT IT TICKS ALL MY CLASSIC BOXES

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IT’S NOT  WOOD BUT IT TICKS ALL MY CLASSIC BOXES
While at Rakino Island on Saturday, the magnificent craft seen above was at anchor. Woody boat chat told me that she was a tender to a SUPER Superyacht visiting NZ from some TLC and maintenance.  I missed seeing the superycht but a quick ChatGPT search answered my questions on STARGAZER (home port Georgetown). Check out the size of the props – zoom zoom 😉

“The classic yacht tender Stargazer — the 23 m (approximately 75 ft) chase boat/tender built to support a large sailing superyacht — was built by the Dutch shipyard Claasen Shipyards in collaboration with Vitters Shipyard. 

  • The vessel was constructed at Claasen Shipyards in the Netherlands, with Vitters Shipyard working together on the project. 
  • It was designed by Hoek Design Naval Architects, who handled the naval architecture, structural engineering, and exterior and interior design. 

This collaboration marked the first new-build project between Claasen and Vitters, resulting in a classic-lined, aluminium-hulled motor yacht used as a tender for transporting guests, serving as a diving platform and providing extra accommodation.”

INPUT ex GRAEME FINCH – photo beow of the ‘mothership’. Given the 75′ length of the tender, I assume somewhere there as a ‘supply ship’ that transported the toys.

REMEMBER – LAKE ROTOITI CLASSIC AND WOODEN BOAT PARADE THIS SATURDAY

 Details here  https://www.woodenboatparade.co.nz/wooden-boat-parade/

PERFECT WEATHER, PERFECT WEEKEND FOR WOODEN BOATING

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PERFECT WEATHER, PERFECT WEEKEND FOR WOODEN BOATING

Today’s story is a potpourri from the weekend. A good forecast had a lot of woodys slipping the dock lines and heading out. Some were at Kawau for the sailing activity there and a lot dropped anchor at Rakino Island. 
Because I’m sure I was spotted – I’ll own up to my worst anchoring exhibition in Woody Bay, just couldn’t get it to dig in. Made worse by the number of craft. Gave up and retreated to West Bay- less boats and a better % of woodys at anchor.  BUT – I made a novice mistake – anchored close to a large plastic US import with a petrol genset. I quote the owner “everyone tells me it sounds like a Massey Ferguson tractor “ – IT DID 😦
Experienced a stunning Rakino sunset on Saturday night.

VISITING USA WOODY

Over the last 2 weeks we have had one of the USA’s nicest wooden boating ambassadors – Bob Yaro visiting NZ Aside from being a great guy, Bob has some serious tags to his name – Chairman of the Herreshoff Marine Museum & America’s Cup Hall of Fame in Bristol, Rhode Island.

We had big plans to host Bob and friends aboard Angus Rogers – CENTAURUS for the Mahurangi Regatta but the weather gods dealt to that plan – so Bob’s been lunched on CENTAURUS in Auckland and had a day cruise on Margo and Jamie Hudson’s  – LADY CROSSLEY up in the Bay of Island. The woody web is world wide 🙂

BOB YARO ABOARD CENTAURUS
LADY CROSSLEY – BOI
BOB YARO & JAMIE HUDSON – LADY CROSSLEY