MYSTERY CLASSIC LAUNCH + COASTGUARD TO THE RESCUE

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MYSTERY CLASSIC LAUNCH + COASTGUARD TO THE RESCUE

The b/w photos above were sent in by Mark Sorrenson (MV ), Mark spotted the framed photo in a 2nd and shop in Thames last week. The sale sticker said ‘Auckland Pre WW2.’

Mark bought the photo with the thought that someone following WW may own this boat and would like the photo. Mark commented that he was happy to hand it on. So woodys – can we ID the boat. My guess is – LINDA or WIRIHANA

INPUT ex NATHAN HERBERT – the vessel is ALCESTIS refer HAROLD KIDD input below.

INPUT ex HAROLD KIDD – Nathan is right, it’s MOLLIE, built by Joe Slattery in 1919 for Percy Colebrook, heavily modified by Colin Wild for the Guthries in 1928 and renamed ALCESTIS. Alf Seccombe of Lion Breweries bought her in 1936 and renamed her RAIONA (Maori version of LION). The image from the book came from Richmond. My memory is that it was miscaptioned “MARION D” at Richmond. MOLLIE, as originally built in 1919 looked nothing like this image. It’s not the first time people have been confused about the boat. Even at the time she was confused with GLADYS II / RONGO as well as IMANOTA (I) / MARION D which were also extensively altered out of recognition.

COASTGUARD MEMBERSHIP CAN BE GOOD VALUE

The owners of the launch – WAIKARO got their monies worth from their CG membership over the weekend. WAIKARO was off Leigh on route to Whangreai when they had a mechanical issue (the two joined sections of the water pump pulley decided they no longer liked each other and parted company). Kawau Volunteer Coastguard towed WAIKARO to Tiri where they handed WAIKARO over to theHibiscu CG to continued the tow back to her Auckland marina berth. The Kawau CG commented that conditions weren’t pleasant – “20 knots+ from west-southwest with gusts over 30 knots + a confused 1m sea” Check out the video below. I think the skipper of WAIKARO was very fortunate that Mrs WAIKARO wasn’t on-board 🙂

The boys at the Slipway Milford came to the rescue with a replacement pulley harvested off CONNIE V.

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11 thoughts on “MYSTERY CLASSIC LAUNCH + COASTGUARD TO THE RESCUE”

  2. Nathan is right, it’s MOLLIE, built by Joe Slattery in 1919 for Percy Colebrook, heavily modified by Colin Wild for the Guthries in 1928 and renamed ALCESTIS. Alf Seccombe of Lion Breweries bought her in 1936 and renamed her RAIONA (Maori version of LION). The image from the book came from Richmond. My memory is that it was miscaptioned “MARION D” at Richmond. MOLLIE, as originally built in 1919 looked nothing like this image. It’s not the first time people have been confused about the boat. Even at the time she was confused with GLADYS II/RONGO as well as IMANOTA (I)/MARION D which were also extensively altered out of recognition.

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Further to Angus’s second thought, it is not the DUCHESS, she is older has less flare in the bow & the belting runs right forward past the front porthole, almost to the stem, whilst ALCESTIS’S stops between portholes 2 & 3 in the flare, in the bow, & she may also have a slightly bigger cockpit, but not certain about that.

    ALCESTIS as original, had 3 portholes in the coamings, — (refer past earlier posts on her,) — but lost her 3rd pothole, which became part of the aft cabin, which was added quite a while after she was built, & more in her RAIONA era. — KEN R

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  5. A book all supposed history buffs should have in their collections: Lee Rail – A Centennial History of the Richmond Yacht Club 1903-2003

    by H. Kidd and R. Elliott. page 25 James Donald’s launch Marion D

    Liked by 1 person

  10. Have now cross checked against a copy of an image of ALCESTIS, (RAIONA), as she was built, which had 3 portholes in the coamings & 3 in the flare of the bow originally, the same as this boat, & there is no doubt in my mind, that this boat is definitely the ALCESTIS (RAIONA) — KEN R

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  11. I’ve closely examined this boat & all known possible contenders to her name, including LADY GAY, WHIRIHANA, LINDA & RAIONA & it is my view t ha it has to be The RAIONA (ALCESTIS) as all the others have 4 portholes in the flare of the bow she is the only one with 3 & she also has 3 in the coamings in this image, but with her modernized aft cabin, one of these could well have been lost to the alterations, also the belting ends in the right place at the bow between portholes 2 & 3

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