CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – LOLENE

Yesterday WW was contacted by David Evans regarding the launch LOLENE. The launch was owned by David’s parents – Val & Joan Evans, who purchased LOLENE c.1975 and spent approx. 20 years cruising from the Far North to the Mercury Islands, with their many friends and David’s younger sister. David commented that this mother was devastated when in 1994 the family sold her, as Val wanted a yacht. During their ownership LOLENE was berthed at Half Moon Bay marina.

Back in April 2014 LOLENE made a brief appearance on WW, link below. At the time we learnt from Harold Kidd that Billy Rogers built LOLENE for himself around 1963. Certainly she was first registered in his name with APYMBA at his then Wiilliamson Ave., Grey Lynn address. Billy had owned the 28ft keel yacht LOLOMA as a young man and was deeply fond of her. As a result some of his boats and children had the letters LO and LOMA in their names eg LADY LOMA in 1949. Close sister ships were IOWANA (I1966) built for Dr. Kreichbaum and still in the hands of the Shorty Sefton/Pollard family and LADY FLORENCE (1966) built for Hedley Kendall. 
Subsequent owners of LOLENE have included K.D. Orell, Takapuna (1973), John Cossar 1989-95), Gary Hogg (1995) and Ken and Rhonda Blakie (2001).
WW April 2014 https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/04/08/lolene/

In the last photo we see David’s mother and father with their great friends who they cruised with a lot. From left. Betty Russell, Joan Evans, Harry Russell and then Val. (Valintine) Evans.