HELENA 8363 – Sailing Sunday
Recently WW was contacted by Daniel Keat who owns the yacht – Helena. Daniel was reaching out to uncover more on the craft. Daniel has owned Helena for approx. 4 years and is working away to bring her back to her former glory.
Story goes that she may have been built c.1920’s and built in Helena Bay, hence the name. She’s made from 1&7/8” thick kauri. When the wind is off-duty there is a Perkins 6.354 to help the forward motion.
In her early days Helena fished out of Dunedin and Lyttelton , and fishing out of Nelson when in 2012 an Irish boatbuilder bought her and completely rebuilt her except of the hull (thats an Irish statement). Recently Helena has been at the Norsand Boatyard in Whangarei, Northland where Murray Wilkinson commented that she maybe older than the stated c.1920’s.
So woodys – can we help Daniel out re Helena’s past.
27-02-2024 UPDATE – photo below of Helena on sea trials off Onehunga ex Baden Pascoe
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New photo added. Alan H
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Built by Les Coulthard of Onehunga as a fishing boat. I have details on her somewhere. Original motor was a Kelvin K4 of 88 hp. Mid 1930’s from memory.
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Helena spent a bit of time around Stewart Island and is mentioned in “Stewart Island Boats”. Prior to the Perkins she had a 2cyl Bolinder, a 5LW and then an 8LX Gardner. Unfortunately, there is no mention of builder but there are some earlier pictures and a list of past owners.
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