

V16 – Sailing Sunday
One mans rubbish is another mans gold 🙂
Daniel Renall mentioned to me at the Mahurangi Regatta last weekend that his father, Peter, had uncovered an old photo album (see below) a few weeks back while he was doing some work for a client. They had discovered the album in the inorganic rubbish! I received a copy of the album photos on Friday from Dan & there are some great shots of both sail & motorboat classics, I will share these in the coming weeks.
In the album the yacht V16 features a lot, ID’ing her may give some indication to the owner of the album – can any woodys supply more info on V16?

05-02-2017 Harold Kidd Input
V16 was the 18 footer SURPRISE designed by Arch Logan and built by Bill Couldrey and Ben Mayall, both of Northcote, for themselves in December 1923/January 1924. Ben had already built the crack Logan-designed 18 SECRET a season before.
M2 MOLLIE, the gaff rigged Emmy, is in the pics which puts the dates between say 1922 and 1931but I reckon in the early part of that range.
Sail number V18 was allotted more than once but I reckon this is the first boat to carry it, PHANTOM, which was built in late 1924 by George Honour and wrecked in May 1928.This is clearly a George Honour boat. So the timeline is narrowed to between 1925 (early) and May 1928. I reckon at least some of the photos are of the 1925 Anniversary Regatta.
Robin will be more exact when he gets back from cruising.
As for ownership of the album, it is tempting to think it is from Bill Couldrey or one of his Northcote crewmen.
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V16 Surprise was owned prewar years by my uncle George Nevill, who unfortunately never came home from war. My dad being Georges younger brother used to tell of sailing with George and that Surprise was reputed to be one of the fastest V class on the Waitamata. I was named after my uncle George and follow the history of him with pride along with an original photo of Surprise under sail. If anyone out there is able to tell me where Surprise ended up it would be great to get some closure
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George Honour built the Wizard and sold her to Mr Smith of Tauranga who sailed her down the coast to her new home. The Tilby family of Otumoetai bought her in 1927 and have kept her in original condition ever since. She was overhauled by Hutchison Boat Builders some years ago and last week was handed on by John and Heather Tilby to John’s cousin Clive Tilby and his wife Alessandra.
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What a find
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V16 was the 18 footer SURPRISE designed by Arch Logan and built by Bill Couldrey and Ben Mayall, both of Northcote, for themselves in December 1923/January 1924. Ben had already built the crack Logan-designed 18 SECRET a season before.
M2 MOLLIE, the gaff rigged Emmy, is in the pics which puts the dates between say 1922 and 1931but I reckon in the early part of that range.
Sail number V18 was allotted more than once but I reckon this is the first boat to carry it, PHANTOM, which was built in late 1924 by George Honour and wrecked in May 1928.This is clearly a George Honour boat. So the timeline is narrowed to between 1925 (early) and May 1928. I reckon at least some of the photos are of the 1925 Anniversary Regatta.
Robin will be more exact when he gets back from cruising.
As for ownership of the album, it is tempting to think it is from Bill couldrey or one of his Northcote crewmen.
LikeLike