WHAT BECAME OF THE YACHT – MAIRANGI A21 MARANGI

Late last year Mark Newcomb sent in the above photos of the crew of the yacht – MARANGI A21and enquired if we knew what became of her. One photos shows the crew aboard after a arriving in Auckland (date unknown) after a trip from Wellinton. Mark commented that they ll looked very happy so maybe it was a race and they had won.  The crew have been tagged on the rear of the photo and at a later date someone has had an attempt at matching the crew names with the photo.Those mentioned are – Percy Thode (Owner? Con’s father) , Pat Newcomb (my father), Don Commons, Hal Newcomb (my uncle), Bowser Toogood, Ben Tosswell, Ted Dacre, Stan Jervois, Cobs Mays, Jacko Medik, Cecil Pittar, Bob Walton and 3 unnamed crew.

Mark believes the photo may have surfaced when the likes of Arthur Angel, Cove Littler, Ray Talbot, Bob Fenwick, and Hugh Littler et al were reminiscing over a gin or three onboard Ariki.  

The date is unknown but Mark suspects it was pre WWII – if thats the case and given their ages in the photo – you would have to wonder ho many survived the war.

And given there is no boat photo – below have a lucky survivor of the weekend storm – if you believe fb the boat broke her mooring at Maraetai Beach and ended up washed ashore at Duders Beach on the Devonport waterfront. She was successfully re floated. 

INPUT ex RUSSELL BROOKING -owned for many years by proud Wellington owner. Campaigned in both inshore and offshore races. Circumnavigation of the South Island in the early 2000s. Sold to an Auckland owner 2024. With that many crew in your photo there may not have much freeboard left.

22-04-2025 INPUT ex JOHN HUNT – Photos below ex Ivor Wilkins book ‘Classic’. Seems there was some confusion re spelling in the Newcomb family 🙂

24-04-2025 -INPUT ex CHAD THOMPSON – Marangi is now moored at Blackpool on Waiheke and owned by Liz Waters. 
She had it trucked up from Wellington last year after first having sailed on her in her teenage years when she lived in Devonport.