LADY ARGYLE — CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – LATEST ADVENTURES

Tom Wieringa the owner of LADY ARGYLE the 52′ 1965 classic wooden launch built by John Lidgard, made contact with WW earlier in the week with an update on her travels and some recent photos.

LADY ARGYLE has appeared before on WW – links to those stories below. Lots of details on her past there, make sure you read the comments sections. When launched she was named Santa Rosa, then Argyle, then went all fancy and became a lady.

WW 2015 https://waitematawoodys.com/2015/05/29/lady-argyle/

WW 2025 https://waitematawoodys.com/2026/05/30/classic-wooden-launch-lady-argyle/

 I’ll hand over to Tom (edited)

“We have had the pleasure of owning Lady Argyle for six years. Five of those years we have lived aboard, from Tauranga to the Hauraki Gulf/Coromandel to Whangarei to the BOI’s, Whangaroa and back again.

She has looked after us through almost every weather and sea condition you can think of, delivering us on our adventures every time.

She is beautifully crafted in 3 skin kauri; two diagonal layers and a top longitudinal layer totalling 55mm thick; riveted together over massive stringers you have to see to believe; approx. 140mm x 70mm. The interior timbers are kauri beams and stairs and teak everywhere.

I have just moved her to Pine Harbour Marina for a few months, hoping to get out and about a little more often.

The trip from Whangamata, after waiting for the south westerlies to settle down, was a lovely 15hr adventure, averaging an easy 7.3 kn at 1300rpm using 8L/hr  total both engines.

I parked up the first night at Port Charles, having never stopped there before, it was very pleasant.“

Tom commented that he was looking to rent a marina or mooring suitable for Lady Argyle (16m+) (LOCATION: Pine Harbour, Gulf Harbour, Whangarei, Coromandel)