Mystery Wellington Launch
The caption on the ‘NZ Cars, Boats etc’ facebook page (via Lew Redwood) states the photo was dated 21 April 1959 & the venue is Wellington. The lady on the right is Miss Clarissa Christian & the launch is hers.
Can we ID the launch, what became of her & is Clarissa still with us?
Nana
Mahanui
Volantis
Korara
Classic Woody Riverhead Hotel Cruise
Not wanting to sound like a parrot but the CYA has an amazing track record of aceing the weather for its launch cruises to the waterfront Riverhead Hotel.
The forecast was average, but it just never eventuated & subsequently the boats that made the trip had a great day.
So cool to have one of our yachties make the trip, that center-board helped 😉
Highlight of the day for me was seeing John Wright’s recently restored launch – Nana. Nana was designed by C. Bailey Jun. & built by C. Bailey & Sons in 1934. You can view more on Nana’s amazing journey, from rescue to re-launch at this link https://waitematawoodys.com/2017/02/01/nana-resuced-restored/
John has one of the best eyes for how a woody should look, the final details on Nana make her look perfect, in my eyes. John, you should have finished the trip & come up to the hotel, I have a WW tee-shirt for you – email me your postal address – waitematawoodys@gmail.com
Also had a peek at the publican’s – Paula & Stephen Pepperell’s 1967 Jorgensen launch -Volantis, that is nearing the end of an extensive re-fit, Stephan is another woody with a great eye for detail.
Below are a collection of photos from the camera of Simon Smith who was perched on the Greenhithe Bridge – they give us another perspective on some of our classics. Pity Simon wasn’t there for the return trip – Raindance & the motor-sailer Korara, were just passing under the bridge, being good woodys, traveling to starboard of a large plastic yacht (a Hanse) that was approaching the bridge – when all of a sudden the yachts bow shot up out of the water & the yacht shot backwards. The reason – you guessed it – mast hit the bridge (photo of dent to the bridge, below) luckily they were travelling slow, any faster & they might have lost the mast. I suspect there was a change of undies needed for the crew.
Raindance & Nana
Lucinda
Lucille
Mahanui
Arohanui
Korara
Upper Harbour ‘V’s’ Yacht Oops
HDML – Kuparu – P3563 Looking Rather Smart
Kupara
SUSANNE
Woody Nathan Herbert snapped the above photo of Susanne, recently will mooching around Havelock.
The B/W photo is from Brian Worthington’s site – NZ Classic Game Boats & states that she was built by the Lane Motor Boat Company.
Can we flush out more details on her past?
Harold Kidd Input – She was registered with Lloyds’ Yacht Register in 1964 when owned by E S Nichol of Bluff. Her builder was given as Lane Motor Boat Co in 1956 and designer as Frederick R Parker. Dimensions were 35’x33’6×11/2’8″ and power twin 125hp 6 cylinder petrol Chryslers.
Who was Parker?
TUARANGI > SILVER FIN – Update
I was recently sent the above photo of Silver Fin (Tuarangi) by Brian Wagstaff & Bryan was able to supply some background on her below – from past WW stories we know that Tuarangi was built by Lidgard Bros for a H.S White & launched in 1950. White sold her in 1951 to Bruce Winstone. She was 42’x40’x12’x4’3″ and originally had twin 90hp 6-cylinder Redwing petrol engines. During Whites ownership, she blew up while refueling at Whitianga. You can read the story in detail here https://waitematawoodys.com/2015/06/13/wairangi-2/
Eric details the post incident recovery, sale & rebuild below. By 1959 she was renamed Silver Fin. I’ll let Eric tell the story.
“My father Eric Wagstaff purchased the boat from the Bruce Winstone. I would assume some insurance company might have been involved . The boat was collected from Whitianga and towed to Tauranga by a boat called “Rainbow” which was old bridge decker owned by Eric. The Rainbow had a marinised Rolls Royce engine and was built for the Mills Bros who I believe were Bay of Plenty farmers. The roof section from Silver Fin was basically upside down and pretty much in place on collection. The boat was beached at Beach Road, Otumoetai.
The boat was lifted onto a transport trailer by Bert Godfrey, the founder of the NZ Lumber Company and moved to Eric’s joinery factory in Judea. We enjoyed many a trip on the Silver Fin. She was chartered for game fishing for a while in the days of Bob Gray etc. The top was replaced with what you see and Eric consulted with Willy Oliver, who was a friend, on the design of the new cabin. Eric was born in Wellington to a well-known yachting and boat building family and had it not been for the 2nd World War (he was a fighter pilot) and returned to Maunganui at the end of the war were he meet my mother (now 96 and still alive) in Tauranga where he stayed and established a joinery business. The motors were replaced with 60hp Fordson diesels converted by Lees marine, I believe. The boat was sold to Dr. Kennedy the family doctor (who delivered me in 1949). He for some reason painted the boat green which I remember clearly. The rest of it you pretty much have on record. I will try to find some old photos of the rebuild.”
Yachts at Kawau Island – Sailing Sunday – Win A WW T-Shirt
This Mansion House Bay, Kawau Island photo from the ‘NZ Car, Boats, >>> Utes Pre’75’ FB page shows a great collection of classic yachts (& a few launches).
I’ll put up a WW t-shirt to the woody that can ID the most yachts – given my launch angle – I’ll get a yachty to verify the answers. To stop copy-catting, entries ONLY via email to
waitematawoodys@gmail.com
LIPTON CUP RACE – SATURDAY – MARCH 17th
The 97th Lipton Cup race is set to take place on the 17th of March. 22 miles of blood, sweat and tears is to be raced by the 22ft L Class ‘mullet boats’ to see who will triumph as the winner of the esteemed Lipton Cup trophy. This is a highlight of the yachting calendar and this year it appears there will be fierce competition with a number of the mullet boats performing exceptionally well in recent racing. With only 3 years to go until the 100th you can expect there to be a lot more competition and boats coming out of the wood work to compete in following years. Previous crew and owners are always welcome to come down and watch with the club open all day with food and refreshments (with a lift for the weathered yachties).
The days events are as follows:
7am – Hot cooked breakfast (Prebooked)
9am – Race briefing
11am – Race commences
3pm approx – Race finishes
6pm approx – Prize giving and after party
Watch Video footage from last years race here https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3&v=LAZotynoqiA
Lady Ellen’ Restoration – Report 1
I have just received an update from Bruce Mitchinson that details the amazing work being undertaken on Lady Ellen – My comment to Bruce was the she was a very lucky lady – not many launches get this amount to TLC – I’ll let Bruce tell you about the work. Photos below:
“Bilge cleanup done and engine beds re-built to remove rotten sections. New laminated floor at the back to help spread the load of the engine and gearbox, where there was very little support previously. Damaged frame ends removed and new laminated sections spliced in, to run continuous across the keelson. Foredeck re-fastened and fibreglassed to make watertight and to take out the springiness. Bulkhead linings all stripped and new plywood lining has been pre-primed and undercoated ready for installation next week. Rod steering system has been modified, using all the existing components, so that all the workings now sit below the floor, and the wheel lowered to suit the new steering position. New fuel tank beds are being fitted to support the new tanks. Only another 250 copper nails and rooves to replace and we can start painting the inside of the hull.”
You can see & read details on the past work here https://waitematawoodys.com/2017/07/14/lady-ellen-restoration/
13-06-2018 Update from Bruce Mitchinson – Report 2
One year pretty much full time and we have now started on the bits you look at.
Cabin sole framing and floorboards all fitted, and the makings of the new cockpit seating and aft storage. Up to the engine bay, working forward, painting the inside of the hull.
Second coat of epoxy wood primer on over the weekend, should be all white in two weeks’ time, and ready for the engine. Everything that makes it go has been reconditioned or replaced including new shaft bearings, new propeller shaft, and new rudder bearings. Even the windlass has had a complete overhaul, along with the starter motor and the alternators.
Two weeks ago we finished off the last of the hull fastenings and fibreglass so we are all locked up for winter and ready for fairing.
Set up the helm again so we can practice driving when we knock off for a beer at the end of the day.
CYA Classic Yacht Regatta 2018 – Day Two – Race 2 – 50+ Photos
Popped out early on Raindance to catch the start of the regatta – not much of a day for photos, overcast………. but the stick & rag boys would have been happy with the breeze.
If there appears to be a high degree of repetition with the photos – thats because there were not a lot of classics competing. A-division had a good turn out but you could count the rest with out having to take our shoes & socks off.
Maybe everyone sleep in & they turned up for the afternoons race ?
Numbers aside – bloody impressive sight when they are all powered up. Things got a little tense at the start – some very un- corthinthian yachting language was heard, more often then not, the worst culprits always seem to flying a small blue burgee…… 😦
Below – My Pick For Best Photo (not mine, ex Jason Prew’s FB page)
When you arrive 5 mins late for the start you have to do whatever it takes to get into the race – it’s not often you see Jason out of the cockpit, let alone on Wairiki’s rail 🙂
Lake Rotoiti 2018 Classic & Wooden Boat Parade – 240+ photos
Last weekend marked the 21st birthday of the Lake Rotoiti Classic & Wooden Boat Parade.
The parade is one of the icon wooden boating events in New Zealand, with each year between 70 & 100+ classics on display. The LRC&WB Association are very active & hold many events thru-out the year, but the parade is the highlight. You would struggle to find a more inclusive, welcoming group of people that each year open the parade & picnic to anyone with a classic or woody boat – sail, power, big, small.
On the day we ‘enjoyed’ a mix of weather from fine > light drizzle > rain > fine, this didn’t stop everyone having a blast but taking photos was a challenge at times – a little bit of editing hopefully has help out 🙂 The photos of the ‘speed’ boats doing a demonstration run (health & safety red tape means it can not be called a race) were shot with a very long lens, so a little soft focus.
Post the picnic, several boats headed off to the Manupirua thermal pools, which are only accessible via boat. To an Auckland boaty the concept of pulling up at a jetty, tying up, & enjoying a soak in a hot thermal pool is rather special + its licensed, so one can enjoy a refreshing beverage, very civilised.
I would like to thank LRC&WB Association past commodore – Fraser Wilson, for the generous loan of his RIB, sure makes getting around & taking photos easy.
Each year my LRC&WBP experience is extended & 2018 saw Robyn & I hosted at Florence & Rod Prosser’s waterfront property. Berthed at Rod’s jetty is the 1882, 25’ counter stern day launch – Firefly, which now has a playmate in the recently acquired 1930, 23’ Chas Robinson built motor-launch – Rainbow. There are several more boats in the stable but I won’t out Rob on the exact number 🙂
In addition to their holiday home, Rod & Florence run a very funky, cool lakeside bach called ‘The Love Shack’ – its available for rent (via BookaBach, see link below). If you a ever looking for accommodation in the Rotorua area I would highly recommend it – see photos below – AND its got WiFi !!!!! https://www.bookabach.co.nz/baches-and-holiday-homes/view/2381
I hope you enjoy the photo gallery as much as I do attending the event.
AS ALWAYS – CLICK ON PHOTOS TO ENLARGE
THE LOVE SHACK
MOVARIE
I received the above photos of Movarie pictured at Mansion House, Kawua Island. Taken by Tudor Collins, most likely in the late 1940 > early 1960 period.
The photos are marked with “Goodfellows aboard,” the Collin’s & the Goodfellow’s were local identities in the Warkworth Takatu region & both families owned properties, at Takatu Peninsula, pre &post WWII.
Movarie is featured elsewhere on WW but these photos are so good they deserved to appear on their own, rather than be added to an existing story 🙂 (photos ex Ken Ricketts)
Just back from Lake Rotoiti Classic & Wooden Boat Parade weekend – 100’s of photos – will do a WW story on Wednesday, when everyone is back from holiday 😉
REMEMBER – CYA PICNIC AT MOTUIHE ISLAND ON TUESDAY
Mahurangi Regatta 2018 – Classic Woodys Weekend – 100+ photos
For the first time in yonks I missed the regatta, my excuse – I was boating elsewhere. Today’s photo gallery comes to you from numerous sources – but special mention to Jason Prew, Peter Loughlin & Nathan Herbert for sharing their cameras with us. Stunning photos guys. Mixed in with their photos are ones from – James Dreyer, Nick Davidson, Ken Ricketts, & John Bertenshaw.
The Classic Launch Parade had a great mix of familiar favourites & some new CYA members & a few who have not seen the light & joined the CYA yet 🙂 . From all reports, the sailing on Saturday was a challenge with wind / no wind / wind & very hot conditions – but as always with Mahurangi a good time was had by all.
As always – click photos to enlarge 😉
Great Video Footage below – the launch parade starts at approx. the 3min stage.
waitematawoodys.com #1 for classic wooden boat stories, info, advice & news - updated daily - 15+ million views 