METEOR III
Last week we ran a story on the very fast Meteor II, the 33’ Collings & Bell built ex Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown, tourism launch. Link below https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/03/15/meteor-ii-comet-ii/
I was subsequently contacted by John Bullivant who supplied the above photos of Meteor III. John advised that his research uncovered that all of the Metero’s (1 / II / III) were owned by Frank Haworth, who ran a very successful tourism business in Queenstown in the 1950’s>1960’s.
It is believed that Meteor III was NZ’s first hydrofoil , but built in the UK. Meteor III cruised at 55 kph and topped out at over 70kph.
I understand that she operated on the lake until the mid 1990’s, but these days is run by a charitable trust and occasionally comes out of retirement.
When she first hit the lake in the 1950’s, based on the photos it must have been an impressive sight.
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According to his obituary sunstrike was to blame for 2 deaths. “Tragedy struck in the 1960s when he was driving the hydrofoil and hit a dinghy killing a father and child fishing aboard. Sun strike was blamed”
See his obituary here:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/news/68765903/queenstowns-tourism-pioneer-frank-haworth-passes-away
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Thank you so much for that Michael. — Must have been a huge capacity engine to get her on top of the water loaded with passengers. — The accident sounds ominous?? — KEN R
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Hi Ken,
Meteor 111 was powered by a large Chrysler petrol v8, and was an impressive sight on Wakatipu. One fault, though, was obscured vision forward at speed, and I understand her tourism business faltered soon after a serious accident.
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Does anyone know what she’s powered with? — KEN R
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