CLASSIC LOGAN GAFF RIGGED YACHT – WAIRIKI – Ponsonby Cruising Club
Thursday night was the second event in the Ponsonby Cruising Club’s new initiative called ‘Featured Vessel Series’ , this time the vessel on display at one of the berths outside the Westhaven clubhouse was the 1904 Arch Logan designed, built by Bennett Bros & Stitchbury, 34’5’’ guff cutter yacht – WAIRIKI.
15+ years ago thanks to the talent, determination and deep pockets of Jason Prew WAIRIKI was successfully saved from a beehive restoration and totally rebuilt and relaunched in 2010. For the next 10 years Jason and WAIRIKI were a familiar sight at every classic event, then he saw the light and came over to the dark side with the purchase of the launch – MY GIRL, another total rebuild. This coincided with WAIRIKI being acquired by current owner – Keith Logan, grandson of Arch Logan. You can view the restoration at this link https://www.my-girl.co.nz/Wairiki1904/Welcome.html
Complimenting WAIRIKI was a collection of Arch Logans tools on display upstairs at the club, video below + ‘RUMBO’ spiced rum tasting 🙂
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Yep. I well remember the fleet taking off for the Christmas break. It would be off to Kawau and then north if the weather was OK. Otherwise anchor up and wait. The rest of us with small boats would be over to the Barrier then Coromandel for some the best fish and chips. Bottom end, Drunken Bay and home.
Rowing or sculling round at the end of each day -we always had a clinker dink. It was great to see the classics. The likes of Valsan and fellow bridgedeckers reeking of new varnish, fags or cigars and whisky. Easy for a kid to chat up anyone on deck.
But the noticable thing was the laughter coming from the old yachts. No blaring base-enriched stereos. Just men (mainly) sharing long tales and maybe the big foulups of recent trips and races. Punctuated by lots of laughs from the crews of the older classic yachts. Moana engineless and hoping not to have to reset the anchor if it dragged. Doubtless Wairiki, Ngataringa and the greats were there. If there was a need to ease springs and empty the bladder, the sea was nearby: Men lacked inhibition after dark.
One I remember most the Robb designed Vos built Kahurangi had the highest laughter quotient. She was a cracker of a yacht: Such class.
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