WHAT WE USED TO DO BEFORE BOAT HAULAGE CAME ALONG
Todays woody photo was sent in by John Dawson who found the photo on a Paul Lishman fb post. Paul commented that the location was Vine Street, St Marys Bay, Auckland and taken by M. Friedlander.
In the comments section there was debate on both the design of the yacht and the possible date. Paul commented it was 1970 but others felt based on the cars shown it was more likely in the 1950>60’s period.
Comments that the yacht looked like a Townson design, possibly 30’.
Any woodys able to help confirm the approx. date and design.
A scary observation – when this photo was taken you could have bought a house in Vine St for around $5,000 – did a search on a random number e.g.10 Vine St = $3,650,000 …………
INPUT ex JIM LOTT – Definitely a Townson 30 with higher freeboard than the 26 ft earlier design. Looking in the Townson book, Magic Flute was finished by Alan Warwick who took delivery of the hull in 1966 and lived in Herne Bay. Des built all the hulls himself. Owners finished them off. Names include Firebird, Mercury, Falcon, Anitra, Finesse, maybe about 4 others, so probably 1967 or 68.
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It is far more likely the photographer was the very well known Marti Friedlander!
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I believe Jim Lott is spot on with his conclusion. In addition to the hull shape, the cabin widows, seen through the main cabin companionway confirm the existence of a forward cabin dog-house – a Townson 30 feature.
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Plus one for Jims summation of the yacht design and date, from a serial Townson owner
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Perhaps the big clue is the Buick Tourer in the picture. Its Rego is still live.
Its a plate that should have made it a 1969 plate (FB8020) but carjam shows it effective from 1966. Its not unusual to find mistakes in Carjam.
If it is a 1969 plate the 1970 date could be correct
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More info added. Alan H
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Wonder if the photographer was the owner,& was Michael Friedlander the well known Auckland lawyer. – His family owned considerable property in the area at that time. — KEN R
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