Atalanta (Rotoiti)

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ROTOITI (Atlanta)

ATALANTA  (Rotoiti)

Unsure of builder, approx. 40 ft . When Ken Ricketts first saw her in 1946-47 she was called Rotoiti & owned by a Larry Johnston owner of Johnston Blue Motors the airport transport bus service providers for Auckland & she was called the ROTOITI. He owned her from at least the mid 40s through to the 50s, he recalls she had a 6 cyl Kermath petrol engine. Kept in quite good condition & used fairly regularly.

Her original, “real” name, was ATLANTA, & it was not until Ken came in contact with her again many years later, in the 1980s, that he was told by the then owner, that they had removed all the old paint from the hull during a refurbishment, & discovered “ATLANTA” carved in to the tuck, in big letters about 1/2 inch deep. Unsure who changed it, or when the name was changed, but he feels by the look of her, she was probably built between 1933 & 1937, & it was probably changed in the later 30s or early 40s. Ken is pleased to say that the last time he saw her she was ATLANTA

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7 thoughts on “Atalanta (Rotoiti)”

  2. I think ATALANTA is still in Whangarei. She had a berth on the southern bank of the Hatea River off Reyburn House Lane. Robin Elliott will know more precisely.

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  4. Um, isn’t that what I said just above? And shouldn’t you at least acknowledge that you lifted the anecdote about the collision from recent correspondence I directed to you from David Balderston a couple of days ago?

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  5. I have just discovered Atlanta was known as “W73” & taken over by the ariforce during WWII the following incident is from her war time service records as far as I know on 2/ 2/ 45 W73 was commanded by Phyliss Florence Gray, not sure of her rank, suppose something like leading Airwoman WRNZAF. Her report included ‘left launch steps 1600 3 crew 7 passengers and mail for Kauri Point. off Westhaven at 1610, steering direct for Kauri Point, ‘felt impact in aft cabin. saw ss MOLLYHAWK. not seen her before. At this time a sailing vessel 4 about points on starboard bow immediate risk of collision. damage to W73 30 to 40 pounds. “ferry did not stop, I proceeded”,

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  6. ATALANTA was built by L.C. Coulthard at Wharf Road Onehunga in 1936. She was taken over by the RNZAF in 1941 as W73 but didn’t go overseas. She was used as liaison between Mechanics Bay and Hobsonville. Eric Johnstone of Johnstone Blue Motors owned her in the late 1940s with a 120hp Chrysler engine (well that’s what he said on his RNZYS membership application form). I would imagine the Chrysler was her standard RNZAF issue engine. She was in Whitianga at the time of the tsunami in May 1960. I had a look at her in Whangarei some years back and a friend had a survey done. She had structural issues.

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  7. I think this boat lived at Whitianga during the early 1960’s and was owned by Howard Madill. She had a 3 or 4/71 GM. Dad use to look after her. Now in Whangarei.

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