With the long weekend coming up today we take a step back and reflect on what makes our cruising grounds some of the best in the world.
This article from Sea Spray magazine – Vol 1, No. 6, May 15th, 1946 captures what makes the islands of the Waitemata and inner Hauraki Gulf so special.
Enjoy the Easter holiday, forget about the price of diesel and find yourself a nice anchorage and open that bottle you have been saving for a special day. I hope the Easter bunny finds you and you are rewarded with lots of chocolate Easter eggs. The best hot x buns are found at Beabeas Bakery, Westmere. Voted best in AKL 3 years in a row. But be quick they sell out early and Dave Giddens is their best customer 🙂
AN UPDATE ON THE SINKING OF CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – SILENS
Firstly apologise for the short story today – I was boating yesterday and the day just slipped by. On the 29 March we reported on the sinking earlier in the week of the 1912 Harvey & Lang built, 38′ classic wooden launch SILENS while moored in Algies Bay, Mahurangi Peninsula.
We received the below note (edited) from her owners –“I’m the owner of Silens and we read the WW article about her very unfortunate sinking last Thursday during the cyclone at Algies Bay.
Good news is that she was salvaged on Saturday and on a dry dock, we have been working tirelessly since to strip her interior and clean her up, an her engine has been preserved thanks to the amazing team at Marine Services Auckland Ltd for salvaging her, Greg at Lees Marine Sandspit, Wayne at Mahurangi Marine and Dan at Northern Marine Electrical for assisting so far. We had arranged for her bilges to be serviced on Monday, 3 days prior to her sinking, everything was in working order and can confirm water ingress was the cause of her going down.
Talking to many locals in Algies Bay since, including boat owners, they advised the have not seen so much rain fall in such a short period of time that hit the area.
We are absolutely devastated and heartbroken, and will do and are doing our best to restore Silens back to her former glory. “ Yesterday I had reason to be at Sandspit Marina and called into Greg Lees yard to view SILENS. I can report that she is structurally in great shape and that the motor has been flushed and running, underway is a complete interior deep clean and thoughts on how to address the electrical areas. I briefly meet her owner and things are still very raw but SILENS couldn’t be in a better place at present.
I’m sure there are things that were damaged or lost in the process so if we can help supplying any items – I will let you know.
SOS – CAN WE SAVE CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – LIBERTY – FROM THE LAND FILL – SOS
WW was contacted yesterday by the owner of the 30/33’ classic wooden launch LIBERTY that is moored in Whitianga.
As a result of last weeks storm, she has been taking on water and the Harbour Master has advised the vessel will be removed from her mooring and towed to a ramp and sadly then await a visit from the back-hoe.Note: her engine has been partially submerged.
LIBERTY has appeared on WW several times, links below to those stories. But in a nut-shell built somewhere in the 1919> early 1920’s period, 30>33’ in length, powered by a 35hp BMW engine (only 160hrs). Her provenance differs depending on who you listen to – some say built by Lou Burns and Stu McCallum in Te Papapa Onehunga. Harold Kidd has previously commented that he always thought she was the LIBERTY built by F and S Shaw in Devonport in 1919 when both brothers got back from WW1. She had a 12hp Regal originally. HDK suspected she’s been lengthened as well as had a couple of tophamper additions. L.R. Matthews had her in 1947 when Commodore of PCC and Noel Mitchell owned her in the 1960s.
Todays woody made an appearance on tme in early 2025 and at the time we were told the launch was designed by Jack Brooke, built of kauri and launched in 1965, was 36’ in length and powered by twin 65hp Ford D Series engines, that gave her a cruise speed of 6>8 knots.
A serious lack of exterior photos, hard to get a good look at the boat, bow on isn’t her best angle. Quite a smart woody down below, juries out on the second story addition……..
And that woodys was all we learnt, so looking to put a name to the vessel and where she is these days (when for sale, Tauranga was the listed location)
In 1741 David Hume termed the phase – ‘beauty is in the eye of the beholder’ – well it certainly applies to todays wooden vessel. In her tme story (thanks Ian McDonald) her owner says “Gracie is a beautifully proportioned classic wooden launch” , they also say she was designed by Jim Young – the claim to her beauty and designer have been challenged in the tme comments section and would have to agree. To my eyes has a high degree of yacht looks to her.
All the above aside she is constructed from kauri carvel planking, has a beam of 10’9’ and draws 4’3”, built c.1970’s. Her forward motion is from a Nissan 2.7L diesel engine giving her a top speed of 8 knots.
SAD NEWS CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH SILENS SINKS
Several reports have come in about the 1912 Harvey & Lang built, 38′ classic wooden launch SILENS sinking on Thursday/Friday while moored in Algies Bay, Mahurangi Peninsula. The unconfirmed story is that she had left her berth in Westhaven and was traveling to the Bay of Islands. Based on the weather forecast / conditions on Thursday the decision was made to stop in Algies Bay on a mooring.As a result of at this stage unknown water ingress, and possible bilge pump issues, she sank. Her mast is visibly at low tide so hopefully salvageable. Keen to learn more. In my early days on the classic woody scene SILENS was one of the in-crowd and I have happy memories from times aboard. https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/08/16/silens-a-peek-down-below-4sale/
During the week I was tagged into a Lew Redwood fb post on the classic wooden boat – VANORA.
Lew’s post was captioned ‘Whakatane 1911’ and that woodys was all Lew knew. Thence why WW was tagged.
Well as you know, most of the time WW delivers the goods. A quick search revealed several WW stories with lots of details and photos. The 2018 one with input from Harold Kidd, nails her name and provenance. Click links to discover more.
Last heard she was in a add state at Whangteau – anyone able to update us.
Earlier in the month Glenn Martin was mooching around the South Island on a bike (I assume motorbike) and sent in todays gallery of woody workboat photos from Bluff.
Not all capable of heading out to sea but wonderful to see them still intact, if that was Auckland they would have made a oneway trip to the landfill years ago.
Todays woody photo was sent in late last year by Ian McDonald – it originated ex the Auckland Libraries Heritage Collection and the photographer was probably a Stapley Farmer and its dated c.1960’s.
Ian commented at the time that there had been some commented re a possible name/s – TARA / REGARDLESS.
The location appears to be the upper reaches of the Coromandel township harbour.
Anyone able to confirm the name supply more details.
The photo below was sent in by Ken Ricketts, vessel hauled out at Te Atatu BC in 2025
Todays vintage woody recently popped up on tme with a $1 reserve (thanks Ian McDonald).
Now hush my mouth but the chrome fittings would be worth buying her for. But there’s the bones of a nice lake boat there – 20’ in length, made from mahogany , stored under cover its whole life. Designer / builder unknown.
OFF CENTER HARBOR WEBSITE
Regular WW readers will be familiar with the USA based website – Off Center Harbour, but if you aren’t already a member I would encourage you to subscribe.
A day wouldn’t go by when I do not log in to view one off the 600+ video’s from the back library – for advice, inspiration of just entertainment.
CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – LADY ETHEL – A PEEK DOWN BELOW
The 34’ 1962 classic wooden launch – LADY ETHEL has previously appeared on WW, link below. In that 2014 story and in her tme listing last year it was stated that she was built by Brin Wilson, this is incorrect. Back in 2015 Chris McMullen advised that LADY ETHEL was in fact built by Morrie Palmer of Devonport, he did the hull and Mr Neil Wilson (owner) finished her off.
waitematawoodys.com #1 for classic wooden boat stories, info, advice & news - updated daily - 15+ million views 