CYNTHIA C
Todays woody photo comes to us ex the Tauranga City library collection, via Nathan Herbert. The launch is Cynthia C and that folks is all we know at this stage – so throwing it out there to see if we can uncover more about her.
INPUT ex Nathan Herbert – Cynthia C at Cowes bay 1930s (ex Auckland Libraries Kura)
18-07-2022 INPUT FROM HAROLD KIDD – CYNTHIA C was bought by Hector Clarke in 1936. Prior to that she had been owned in Tauranga by W. Hamilton as PIERRETTE. Hamilton bought her in 1933 from the estate of Henry Thode of Herne Bay. Thode bought her from R.H. Meynell as ALPHA LASS with an Alpha marine engine.
She was probably built in 1925 by the Alpha agent Peter A. Smith who contracted out his hulls, often to Dick Lang.
Also Ron Wattam has sent in the photo below of a yacht sailing west in front of St Mary’s Bay and would like help to identify the yachts name and sail #.
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CYNTHIA C was bought by Hector Clarke in 1936. Prior to that she had been owned in Tauranga by W. Hamilton as PIERRETTE. Hamilton bought her in 1933 from the estate of Henry Thode of Herne Bay. Thode bought her from R.H. Meynell as ALPHA LASS with an Alpha marine engine.
She was probably built in 1925 by the Alpha agent Peter A. Smith who contracted out his hulls, often to Dick Lang.
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More photos added. Alan H
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There is another pic of her side on on Brian’s site, coupled with this one I would almost say she has the exact same hull as My Girl, but with a stepped sheer and tram top.
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The yacht pic looks like a bermudan rigged Mullety, possibly an ‘L’ class.
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The Tauranga history of Cynthia C is it was owned by Hector Clarke who owned a farm at Te Puna near Tauranga and he moored Cynthia C at the Wairoa River. 1930 to 1960 I believe. He later built an Owen Wooley designed launch which was called Lady Rosaland which was built by Oliver and Gilpin whos yard was also near the Wairoa river. Lady Rosaland was launched 1963.
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CYNTHIA C to me looks like a tram topper of about 32 to 36 feet by what we can see of her dimensions, & also, she is in outstanding condition, with probably no bridgedeck, as she looks to have a horizonal steering wheel, & circular steering seat in the cockpit.
The clothes that the crew are wearing would indicate to me, the image was probably taken between the mid 1940s & 1960s.
Am interested to read the thoughts of others — A lovely looking example of a really good boat of her era, by what we can see, & really loved, by her obvious condition, at that time. KEN R (edited)
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