Ngtakai / Johnny Wray – South Sea Vagabonds

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NGATAKI / JOHNNY WRAY SOUTH SEAS VAGABONDS

Big day down at the waterfront yesterday, we had over 200 people turned out for the Tino Rawa Trust re-launch of Johnny Wray’s Ngataki & the Harper Collins launch of the 75th Anniversary edition of ‘South Sea Vagabonds’.

Todays post is a photo essay of yesterdays events. As always, click any photo to enlarge 😉

Ngataki

Ngataki Memorabilia

South Sea Vagabonds 75th Anniversary edition launch

Finlay McDonald – Harper Collins
Bruce Ansley – author of the Intro
Tony Stevenson – Tino Rawa Trust

Friends of Ngataki  (Andrew Fagan’s – ‘Swirly World & K. Hammond /  A. Sully’s – ‘Seaward’)

Swirly World
Seaward

The legand lives on

Something really cool – at the book launch Findlay MacDonald from Harper Collins Publishing advised that the Red Cross were the benefactors of Johnny Wray’s will, so proceeds from the book sales go to them, BUT the Red Cross has decided they will split the proceeds with the Tino Rawa Trust to help maintain Ngataki. How cool is that – remember the Red Cross next time one of their collectors rattles a money box in front of you – or more likely, you get a phone call.

Remember – the boat & the dockside exhibition is open Saturday & Sunday – see details below.

Click the link below to see some launch day photos ex Tony Stevenson

http://classicyacht.org.nz/cyaforum/topic/ngataki-restoration/#post-124899

Ngataki in the International Media

The relaunch &  book launch is featured in the Oct 2014 edition of the Classic Boat UK

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6 thoughts on “Ngtakai / Johnny Wray – South Sea Vagabonds”

  1. Just discovered Ngataki has been restored, relaunched and had an open day which we missed, What a disapointment, however what a great website, Need to know where she is moored to have a look.

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  4. Having read the book many times, but not yet seen the movie, I have waited for 45 years to see her in the flesh as it were and today was that day and she certainly lived up to my expectations as the photos I had seen of her were just enticing pieces of the puzzle. I looked around her with another passionate gentleman who could easily make a comparison with how she was then and how she was now. Did you know her in the 40’s I enquired?.No he replied but I do know her from what I have read. I presumed like many, he had reread J Wray’s book several times.Thanks to all involved in her restoration. I was amazed with the room below but also felt she looked great on the water too.I look forward to seeing how she performs in a stiff north easter.

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  5. My grandparents owned this boat once. I think it was the early fifties and they kept her in pristine condition back then. They lived in Howick but I don’t know where she was moored. I remember stories about them sailing with their Siamese cat on board

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  6. A wee snippet of her history.
    She was moored on a permanent mooring in the middle right hand side of Smelting House Bay looking in from Bon Accord Harbour for a number of years in the 1950s/60s era & hardly used at that time but always looked tidy — I assume the owner lived on the Island — KEN RICKETTS

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