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.
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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