November 1, 2013 6:24 am
The Boats of H Pickmere
photos ex Dean Wright. details by Alan H
Arethusa was used extensively by Hereward Pickmere during WWII when he was employed by the Lands & Survey Dept. to survey Northland’s coastline. Arethusa started off life as a gaff rigged cutter (see b/w photo with a 30’ long boom), she was built in 1917 by Bob Brown at Sulphur Beach, Northcote. Carvel planked kauri – 33′ 4″ with a 11′ 7″ beam. She was converted to a launch in approx. 1955 after being wrecked & salvaged post a grounding on Farewell Spit on a passage from New Plymouth to Nelson. You can view some wonderful old images of her & the Pickmere family cruises on Dean’s website:
http://deanwright.co.nz/arethusa-log-sub/123-pickmeres-my-arethusa.html
Arethusa was sold in 1943 & the Winsome acquired. She is described as a 34′ flush-decked launch built by Bailey & Lowe (that will please HDK) in 1918 with a draft of 2′ 7″ & had previously been owned by Hereward’s father since 1923.
Both boats still live in the Bay of Islands & you can view further details on Arethusa here: http://deanwright.co.nz/arethusa.html
photos – the 2 colour photos of Arethusa and Winsome together were taken by Dean earlier this year in the Bay. The b/w sketch below of Winsome is ‘borrowed’ from Pickmere’s Atlas of the Northland coast.
Update 25-07-2018 ex Arethusa owner, Dean Wright. The cutting below show Arethusa leaving Auckland on-route to Suva.
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Posted by Alan Houghton - waitematawoodys.com founder
Categories: 1910's, Launches, Non Waitemata, Yachts
Tags: Arethusa, Bailey & Lowe, Bob Brown, Winsome
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[…] Links to previous WW stories on Arethusahttps://waitematawoodys.com/2019/12/11/arethusa-new-wheelhouse-project/https://waitematawoodys.com/2017/12/31/restoring-installing-a-gardner-in-arethusa-revisited/https://waitematawoodys.com/2013/11/01/arethusa-winsome/ […]
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By Arethusa’s New Woody Wheelhouse | waitematawoodys.com #1 for classic wooden boat stories, info, advice & news – updated daily on September 7, 2020 at 12:05 am
New photos added. Alan H
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By Alan Houghton - waitematawoodys.com founder on July 25, 2018 at 3:04 pm
[…] Dean Wright has just had his classic Arethusa hauled out at Ashby’s, thats her in the first photo above – she is one of those vessel’s that look fast even when stationary, very pretty lines. You can read all about her provenance here https://waitematawoodys.com/2013/11/01/arethusa-winsome/ […]
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By Around the Yards – Opua | waitematawoodys.com #1 for classic wooden boat stories, info, advice & news on November 18, 2016 at 12:17 am
Russell how’s that temporary tiller going?
Yr folwing te blog but o yr emails.
Tch!
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By whangateautraditionalboats on February 3, 2015 at 12:02 pm
A Roger Carey design, ’nuff said.
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By Harold on February 3, 2015 at 11:48 am
John Gander built Hinewai if I recall correctly a fine ship seen out and about on the Mahurangi. Another of my dreamboats…..
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By vintagesteamer on February 3, 2015 at 6:26 am
Well done! Plenty of smiles all round. Considerable improvement to the engine space and a much better shipmate than the old engine.
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By vintagesteamer on February 3, 2015 at 6:24 am
Arethusa presently has a 135 hp Ford Diesel, but will shortly have a 4LW Gardner, which is being made ready to replace it.
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By KEN RICKETTS on December 7, 2013 at 8:56 am
Haven’t got immediate access to my ’55 “Sea Sprays”, but I think “Arethusa” was wrecked at the entrance to Whanganui Harbour, at the northern end of the West Coast, rather than Farewell Spit itself.
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By John Wicks on November 2, 2013 at 12:51 am
Doh!
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By Harold on November 1, 2013 at 10:11 am
Harold
The copy below if lifted direct from Pickmere’s book / atlas –
“During the Second World War Hereward was employed by the Lands and Survey Department to survey Northland’s coastline for military mapping purposes”
Alan H
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By Alan H - waitematawoodys on November 1, 2013 at 9:24 am
I question your statement that “Pick” was employed by the Lands & Survey Dept to map the Northland coast. I think it was a labour of love.
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By Harold on November 1, 2013 at 8:45 am