WAIATA II – Sailing Sunday
Waiata II was Snow Waters personal yacht, designed by Alan Mummery, and launched in 1971 /2 – Alan Sexton gave me the heads up on the trademe listing & Alan commented that remembers seeing her around Waiheke Island on their first summer on Tarata.
She was featured in Sea Spray August 1971 whilst under construction. The feature noted that Snow was looking for waterline length, in the Innismarra (or even further back William Garden’s Oceanus) style, ie long (55′) and narrow.
She is single skin strip planked kauri glued with steam bent ribs. No doubt with the 6 cyl. Ford she motors at a good pace too.
Waiata II has been owned by current owner for 41 years in NZ, with the last 3 years being based in the Australian East Coast, where she is 4sale. The current location making her perfect for someone wanting to cruise the Queensland Coast, Whitsundays or further north.
Yesterdays Quiz Winner – WW T-Shirt
Mr M Deeble – proof that the early bird does catch the worm, with his 6.00ish entry 🙂
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when I was a pre-teen late ’60s) Port Chalmets Yacht Club had a rule that there must be 3 starters to make a race.
Most weeks that would be Thelma (Steve Carey), Waiata ( dentist, name forgotten ), & my father’s Tapui – and if one didn’t turn up, no race.
Waiata used to be a long keel counter stern sloop, but around 1970 had the counter cut down & deDwod cut away to resemble the current IOR style
two of those three are still based in Careys Bay, but only Tapui smiling. Thelma went north long since, and may have reverted to original gaff rig
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The southern Waiata mentioned below is still moored @Careys Bay, Otago Harbour .
Current owner is rebuilding superstructure but has several other “woodies” to keep hm busy, and my opinion) more love than skill or money.
not really a criticism ‘cos without rntbusiasti amateurs many bots would just rot away. But can be argued better to die with dignity than live in misery.
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Waiata, the yacht built by Snow Waters is now in our care, Pittwater NSW.
She remains in fine condition testament to the amazing quality of build and the qualities of her Kauri timbers.
Presently being prepared for her next Pacific adventures, whilst winning a number of twilight events when the wind is up.
Last September 2024, Graham Simpson owner for 50 years passed away. We were so pleased to have meet Graham and Lisa in Sydney just prior.
Waiata retains all her Logs, and treasures from her past in NZ. We would welcome contact from Family, Crew and Friends.
Regards
Richard and Kate Lock
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1. This WAIATA. I went aboard her when she was under construction by Snow. Alan Mummery was a friend and so was Arthur Benton, Snow’s good mate of many years. Arthur was installing the engine which, from memory was a flat job under the cabin sole, perhaps a Commer TS? A fabulous boat.
2. The Wellington WAIATA was built in Auckland as MABEL in September 1895 for W. Swinnerton of Stanley Bay. She rated 2 and was mainly a cruiser. C.J Deck of Motueka bought her in 1917 and renamed her WAIATA. She’s been in Nelson, Lyttelton or Wellington ever since.
The “other” WAIATA was built in 1936 by Miller & Tunnage for the Nees brothers and was still in Dunedin as recently as 2013.
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Like very much
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Nothing to do with this post really other than coincidence of name and place, but the old C.& W.Bailey yacht Waiata (ex Mabel c1895) was in the Evans bay Marina for many years.
I saw here there in 2000.
I don’t think it was the c1936 Miller & Tunnage Waiata because she looked more like a clone of the older Bailey Thelma/Cooee types. She arrived in Wellington from Lyttelton in 1945 and had been there ever since.
Your thoughts HDK?
Waiata is currently on the YNZ registration list as number 305 ‘Logan design’. (!!)
Why are we not surprised?
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John, yes, same yacht
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Not at all sure it’s the same boat, but one VERY like this was in Wellington fora number of years. Never knew her name, so can’t help much.
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