Yearly Archives: 2019

Oiseau de Mer

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Oiseau de Mer
Todays woody is a 30’ Hartley, built by Hughie Wells and launched in 1963. Built from kauri – carvel, with a 9’8” beam and draft of 2’6”.
Her 100hp 6 cyl. Ford diesel engine is unfortunately seized hence her current status on trademe of $103 & reserve met.
Currently located in Akaroa. Could be the makings of a very low entry woodys project.
Party In A Boat Shed
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Walked into The Slipway Milfords Christmas party last night and you would have thought you were attending the waitematawoodys AGM, the SWM crew were all decked out in WW t’s. Great old school gathering, caught up with lots of woody boaters.
Stunning smoker/BBQ from Anatole Perry, assisted by Andrew Miller – the spare ribs were to die for 🙂
And yes, I’m standing on a nail box 🙂
K CLASS BOOK WINNER
Incredible number (an all time record) of entries to yesterdays quiz. Slightly worrying that so many of you knew that Flora McKenzie ran a brothel in Ring Terrace, Herne Bay. A few even owned up to having met her 😉
So folks – the winner of a copy of Jenni Mence’s book – K CLASS was Jason Prew
The runner-up prize of a WW T-shirt was Brett Evans

A Spirit of Tradition Woody + Win Prizes

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A Spirit of Tradition Woody

Today’s launch was designed American designer – Ted Brewer and appears to be based on the traditional Maine lobster boat. She was built in New Zealand in c.1989 from strip plank cedar epoxied and glassed. She measures 30’ overall with a beam of 9’1″ and draws 2’4”. A fully reconditioned Nissan SD22 provides the forward motion.

Her tme listing (thanks Ian McDonald) is very impressive and she appears to be good value for the asking price. Home port is Kerikeri.

WIN YOURSELF A COPY OF THE HOT OF THE PRESS BOOK – K CLASS

This could be the final WW competition before Santa slides down the chimney. As always – entry is via email only to waitematawoodys@gmail.com

Entries close midnight Friday 20-12-2019 . All correct entries will go into the draw for a copy of the book – K Class by Jenni Mence. Plus a bobby prize – a waitematawoodys t-shirt, drawn from all email entries received – correct or not.

Q waitematawoodys editorial assistant – Flora McKenzie shares her name with a pioneer  Auckland business women from the waterfronts past. What line of business was Flora in? Remember – enter via email only.

 

 

The benefits of a self draining cockpit

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The benefits of a self draining cockpit

The above photo is dated 1956 and the venue is Seatoun Wharf in Wellinton. Not sure how the launch got onto this situation but hopefully she survived. Anyone with a non-self draining cockpit can relate to this. One of your worst nightmares.
I’m still getting late orders for WW gear for xmas, trying hard to fill the orders and post so they get out for xmas. Even doing a few deliveries to WW loyalists 😉
Mahurangi Cruising Club Year Book – the best ever, its packed with photos of both launches and yachts – seems my constant nagging has finally paid off 🙂
Grab a copy at Boat Books, either at their Westhaven store or on-line.
And if you are stumped for the perfect Santa present for yourself (after all who else knows what you want) they have copies of:
K- Class – The Hauraki Gulf’s Iconic Racer – Cruiser. By Jenni Mence
Des Townson – A Sailing Legacy. By Brian Peet

Whangaroa Big Game Fishing Launch

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Whangaroa Big Game Fishing Launch

I have been sent a great collection of photos from the Whangaroa area, I need to digest them and pull the best together for a WW story – in the meantime I thought I would share one of the boats with you.
For once I know its identity – but can anyone give us a name and some history?
Des Townson – A Sailing Legacy Book Winner
The winner of yesterdays quiz to name the boat designer whose name has appeared the most on WW is Warren Jack. The correct answer was Colin Wild, lots of entries for Logan and Lane but the answer needed to be the designers name – not the ‘brand’ of boat. Warren was the only one with Colin Wild. There has always been a lot of discussion around the man and his yard, not just his boats on WW.
The consolation prize – a WW hat, was won by Simon Adams. Prizes in the post 🙂
Check out Fridays WW story for another great woody prize to be won.

Labour Weekend 1945 at Westhaven – Mystery Launch + Prizes To Be Won

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Labour Weekend 1945 – Westhaven – Mystery Launch + Prizes To Be Won
Check out the bottom right photo – anyone able to name the launch? I can’t but it should be easier for the WW train-spotters.

BOOK PRIZE DRAW – WIN A COPY OF ‘DES TOWNSON – A SAILING LEGACY’

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Correctly name the boat designer who’s name has appeared on the waitematawoodys site the most often and you go in the draw to win a copy of the Brian Peet book – DES TOWNSON – A SAILING LEGACY. If you don’t want to risk not winning a copy – order here today   https://destownson.co.nz
+ a bobby prize – a waitematawoodys t-shirt drawn from all email entries received – correct or not.
ENTRY VIA EMAIL TO waitematawoodys@gmail.com If you enter via the WW comments section, you will be disqualified (take note Ken Ricketts). Entries close 8pm 17-12-2019.
Todays woody model is Graeme Finch (MV Te Arahi) in front of the Cologne Cathedral. Us woodys get around 😉

The Launching of Lady Ellen

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THE LAUNCHING OF LADY ELLEN 
 
I have just finished a big few days -Wed>Friday helped Jamie Hudson take Lady Crossley to her summer home in the Bay of Islands and then on Saturday attended a day of celebrations to mark the re-launch of the magnificent Supreme Craft launch – Lady Ellen. Thanks to owner Bruce Mitchinson sending in regular update reports, the restoration of this woody would have to be the best documented project on the waitematawoodys website – refer links below.
 
The day started with Lady Ellen being transported to the Opua launching ramp, with grey skies and a forecast of rain, no time was wasted getting her back into the water. Hopefully it’s a good omen that the rain held off until Lady Ellen slipped her lines for the trip to her berth just off the Russell Boating Club. Owners Bruce and Annabel were joined by friends and family for lunch and good chat. On a personal note it was great to meet a lot of WW followers and put a face to the names.
 
Bruce’s list of people to thank was very long – some very talented folk have rubbed up against Lady Ellen during the last 4 years. The master craftsman / boatbuilder Brett Avery was singled out for special recognition – in return he thanked Bruce and Annabel for their vision, faith and tenacity thru-out the restoration.
 
A special thanks to Hylton Edmonds who assisted with the launching and provided the ‘underway’ photos and impressive video footage of Lady Ellen motoring to Russell.
 
Lastingly – I have not been to Russell in way too long – what a cool destination, the retailers lightened my wallet + dinner at The Duke of Marlborough on Saturday night was a 9/10 – great venue, great sunset and nice people (Margo & Jamie Hudson + myself & Robyn)
 
Links Below To The Restoration  – including engine
 
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RUSSELL BOATING CLUB NEEDS A HAND
 
The venue for the post launch celebration was the world famous, well at least in NZ 🙂 , Russell Boating Club. The club also hosts the truely world famous – Tall Ships Race in January each year.
Now they are a wee problem – its sinking – not sure if its burying its self into the mud or its rising sea levels – either way as you will see in the photo below urgent action is needed.
The club is funding raising to re-pile and need $40,000 – so they have set up a donation page – link below. Good news is they are 1/2 way there. So if you are feeling generous this xmas, donate a few dollars to help out 🙂

https://russellboatingclub.org.nz/club/40k-fund/

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25-08-2020 UPDATE Dean Wright spotted LE back in the the BOI (for winter I assume) and took the photos below 🙂

Dolphyn – Sailing Sunday

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DOLPHYN – Sailing Sunday

During the week I was contacted by Joe Pallante who along with his partner has just purchased the 34’Don Brooke designed yacht Dolphyn. Other than the length, possible build date of c.1970 and designer Joe knows very little about the yacht. Via the comments section on WW Robert Brooke has kindly ‘pointed’ Joe in the direction of brother Don.
The yacht was purchased off a Canadian gent and is moored in Shoal Bay, Auckland.
Can anyone help Joe out with some history on the vessel?
LADY ELLEN – Re-Launching
Have spent the weekend in Russell for the re-launch of Bruce Mitchinson’s 1950’s Supreme Craft – Lady Ellen – check out tomorrows WW story to view the action. Stunning weekend in the bay.
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Urquharts Bay Woodys

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Urquharts Bay Woodys

Heading north to Russell aboard Lady Crossley we overnighted in Urquharts Bay, just inside Whangarei Heads.
Spotted the above woodys at anchor. Can anyone tell us more about the launch – Poronui, there is an interesting mix of styles on display.
16-12-2019 Update: Check out the comments section – lots of details added 
More on the trip next week. Photo below leaving Whangarei at 5.30am – the best time to travel 😉 The Australian fires making a quest appearance in the photo.
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1958 16′ Runabout

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1958 16′ Runabout

I first saw todays Woody at the Lake Rotoiti (Nelson Lakes) Classic Boat Show and now thanks to tme & Ian McDonald, we get to see her ‘in the flesh’.
The woody is one of only 320 16’ Century Resorter runabouts built in the Michigan factory. 
She is still powered by her original (rebuilt) Ford Interceptor 272 / 150hp V8 engine.
The custom built trailer is a work of art and compliments the boat perfectly.
 
Mahurangi Cruising Club 2020 Yearbook OUT NOW
Just in time for Christmas – the Mahurangi Cruising Club 2020 Yearbook is now on sale. For most of us the best option to grab a copy is via Boat Boats in Westhaven (on-line as well) or order via the MCC facebook page. 
Design guru Steve Horsley is back on board and the book looks amazing. At $20 its the perfect Santa sack filler. 
The MCC are the powerhouse behind NZ’s biggest on-the-water wooden boating event -the Mahurangi Regatta , so pull the wallet out and buy a copy, as well as a great read you will be helping the MCC run the regatta.
MCC YB 2020 Cover

Jelly Stik

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JELLY STIK

I have been contacted by David Pattemore in regard to his recent purchase of the c.1960’s wooden speed boat. Its previous home was Cambridge and David understand she has had work done on her in the Taupo area.

David commented that from her current condition it would appear that she received a restoration job, 5 > 10 years ago.

David knows very little about Jelly Stik’s past and is keen to learn more – anyone able to help out with confirming the build year, designer / builder, past owners etc? Is there any spots on the boat where David should look for some mark or sign that would indicate boat builder and year?

She is powered by a a 2010 90hp Mercury outboard, the motor has had retro decals added – a nice touch 🙂