Mystery Launch On The Tamaki River I spotted the above launch a couple of weeks ago while mooching up the Tamaki River onboard Angus Roger’s launch – Centaurus . She looks very well cared for and well rugged up for winter. Can one of the river rats tell us the name and any known background on the launch?
Input from Mark McLaughlin = The mystery boat is ORA-KIA, designed and built by Snow Waters in 1963.
Also Up The River
Unless you were traveling by boat, you wouldn’t normally see the dry stack (I think its called something like – Tamaki Boat Park) on the banks of the upper Tamaki River. Appears to be well populated and anything that gets people towing boat trailers off the road during weekends gets my tick 🙂 And if you are wondering what happens to all the trailers – some boats are ordered new without one, but for those with trailers, there is a smaller staking system on-site for empty trailers
Today’s tale comes to us from Bay of Islands woody – John Gander via Dean Wright and covers a wee oops that the 1967 Jorgensen built woody workboat had in Port Hardy, in the Marlborough Sounds in the mid to late 1970’s. As always,I’ll let John tell the story.
“Our phone rang in the early morning and there was a certain amount of urgency in the callers voice ‘Rutherford’, the ‘Matai’ is aground in Port Hardy, get your gear together, I have a chopper standing by at Omaka get here as quick as you can.
The caller was Bill Rutherford, marine assessor, I had done a lot of salvage work and repairs with Bill, and I knew the Matai and Gerry Fissenden her then owner-skipper.
Maitai is a carvel built launch designed and built by Peter ‘Pop’ Jorgensen at his Waikawa Bay boatyard for Ray Roach. Ray was a well known and very experienced commercial launch man in the Marlborough Sounds, and with a majority of properties in the Sounds having no road access at this time, tow boats with a punt astern or alongside were a common sight, often loaded with building materials and machinery, or farm stock.
Pop Jorgensen’s brief was to design and build a manoeuvrable, strong tow boat with a good towing post, to handle a sixty foot punt, she was powered by a 4-71. N series G.M. with a 3:1 reduction with a four blade Nalder propeller, and launched in 1967.
I arrived at Omaka airdrome as the helicopter was being made ready, a quick loading of my tools including dive gear, tanks and air lift bags. We didn’t know at this stage if Matai would be above or below water, there was one possible complication. It is very rare to see fog in Blenheim, but this day was one of those rare days, thick fog not ideal for flying in such restricted visibility. With a heavily loaded helicopter with three of us aboard the pilot’s option was to fly just above the main highway and follow it to Havelock, I was relieved to see the fog was clearing as we flew out over the water at Havelock, it was here that the pilot thrust a lands and survey map into my hand, saying you know the way guide me in the right direction.
I was a bit concerned at this low altitude flying it takes a bit of getting used to, but one thing we wouldn’t have far to go before a splash, and it was a bit of a relief for me, as we just cleared the hills at Port Ligar to fly across Admiralty Bay to Port Hardy, d’Urville island. As we flew over we could now see the predicament that Matai was in.
There was a gale of N.W. in Tasman Bay and the Cook Strait, and Gerry had left the punt anchored with a load of sheep aboard in Wells Arm, and was then making his way in East Arm towards Allman Bay when right on H.W. Matai went up on an off lying rocky point, it was about a 3.2 m.tide that was falling and we could see the urgency of the situation.
A great thing about a chopper is that a quick fly around gave us a good look and we could see that some props were needed and fast before she healed over much more, there were some sizeable Manuka trees further up the hill but nowhere to land nearby on the flat at hight tide. As the pilot brought one skid to rest on a rocky outcrop on the side of the hill, I was given instructions to keep my head down when I got out with sharp saw in hand, he didn’t have to emphasise these instructions. In quick time I was up the hill to cut three good size Manuka and then slide these down to the waiting dinghy, it was a wet job but we had these in place with not too much time to spare and Matai was made secure as she continued to dry out.
Bill put a call out and the Trawler ‘Marina May’ left Motueka to make her way to d’Urville Island in heavy seas, she had a rough passage but arrived before high water in the late afternoon and a tow line was made ready. Her skipper Robie Bloomfield positioned her just right and with a gentle hand on the power, eased ‘Marina May’ ahead quietly and with her own engine assisting Matai cleared the rocks and was afloat and away from the point.
It was three days before the sea subsided enough for us to leave and see Matai on her way, but she had comfortable accomodation and Bill and I were still on the payroll until we left Port Hardy. I think the Insurance company was well pleased with only a slipping and a small section of keel batten to be replaced”.
Following on from yesterdays teaser and results oops – I’m a launch person wont know an L Mullet boat from an H Mullet boat – no one died, its a new day, we move on.The winner of the actual Lipton Cup, hosted by the Ponsonby Cruising Club – L division (22’) was Orion, 2nd went to Limited Edition, with Tamerau 3rd.The H division winner was Corona. As of Sunday night there were no results posted on the PCC website – so at some stage soon 🙂 go there for details.
There are lots of tales around how the PCC obtained the magnificent trophy, which was crafted by the same jewellers as the Americas Cup – you can read more about the history of the cup here https://www.pcc.org.nz/history
I was land based, using a long lens so some are a little fuzzy, but you get the vibe of the day. Sorry if your boats missing – drop me an email and I’ll check the photos, took lots, but some had other boats in the background etc. As always click on photos to enlarge.
Good to see Geoff Bagnall floating around on his launch, must have escaped Gisborne for the weekend 😉 Photos below ex Don MacLeod
The Start Rounding The Second MarkFleet Leaders Second Mark – Tamatea > Orion > Tamerau > Limited Edition
Waiheke Island residents Tim & Michelle recently purchased the 1966 Brin Wilson designed, Fred Lidgard built launch – Buccaneer from Wellington and will / have relocated her to the Waitemata – we like that, far too many woodys disappear south and it takes years to get them home again. Buccaneer has spent the last 15 years in Wellington and its rumored she has crossed the Cook Strait more than 180 times. She measures approx. 34’8″ x 10’8″ v 4′ and is powered by a Ford diesel engine, HP unknown.
It has been noted that when launched she may have been Brin Wilson’s own personal boat. Keen to learn more about Buccaneer, ideally in the launch date > heading south period.
Input from Terry Gosden – In the 70s Buccaneer was berth in Milford Marina under the ownership of Graham Shaw(owner of Shaw Motors in Milford). The fly bridge was put on by John Gladden.I remember Graham been a first glass painter, the finish he got on the topcoat was like a spray finish.I also made and fitted the frd cabin top hatch for Graham. I also think she call back to the creek later under a new owner
MOBILE BOAT BUILDER
Recently I have had several people inquiring about the availability of a crafts person for small jobs e.g. repair cupboard doors, fix broken shelf, fix loose boarding platform etc.Someone that travels to the vessel and does the work on-site. Can anyone recommend someone (Auckland based), might be suited to a semi-retired person. Drop me an email if you can help waitematawoodys@gmail.com
Manaia has made several appearance on WW, link below the backgrounds her early days . She was designed by Alex Collings and built in 1965 by Percy Vos. Now thanks to a nudge from Alan Sexton and tme – we get to see the results of some of the recent work on her. She is looking very smart for an ex Harbour Board Pilot boat 🙂
Currently offered for sale but you’ll need a 25m marina. Contact waitematawoodys@gmail.com
MYSTERY RUN-ABOUT The above photo is dated 1965 and that rig (car & boat) would have been very special back then. The location is outside Pomeroy’s Garage in Hamilton, that later became Dominion Motors and then MZ Motor Corporation. Photo and details ex Lew Redwood.
Quite a distinctive car and boat – anyone able to tell us the design of the boat ?
Rakino Island This Weekend? See below – All happening in Woody Bay (open Friday & Saturday as well)
When you step aboard the 50‘ Arohanui you feel the warmth that comes from 50+ years of tender loving care and consideration.
Built using the finest materials available – NZ kauri and Burmese teak, her planks were later glassed over, this undertaking when combined with the varnished (uroxsys) cabin gives Arohanui the resilience of a modern f/glass vessel. Arohanui was designed by A. Donovan (with significant reference to the the Hacker Boat Company, USA designs of the same period) and built by the Lane Motor Boat Company and launched in 1965 – she featured on the cover and was the lead article of April 1966 issue of Sea Spray magazine, the magazine described her as a twin screw diesel gentlemen’s motor yacht. Arohanui was built to comply with Marine Department survey requirements.
A brief overview – 50’ LOA – 13’6” beam – 3’5” draft, 3 double private cabins + 2 berths in saloon, 6’4” head-room. Powered by twin 300hp Iveco engines. Cruising speed – 15knts – Max – 20knts. And the most impressive Lithium battery power management system I have seen. Her inviting interior is aided by a central heating (diesel) system installed in 2017.
In 2015 she underwent an extensive refurbishment at Lees Boat Builders – view video below to experience the attention to detail and standard to work.A full list of her inventory and specifications is available to likely buyers. Private viewing by appointment only. Contact waitematawoodys@gmail.com
If you have a serious interest in Arohanui, I suggest to go onto trademe and enter the following criteria – boats, fibre-glass, twin inboard, 14>16meter – and review what one would pay for a white plastic floating apartment of a similar size and spec, then come back and take in Arohanui again – then be quick with your reply 😉
Who Can ID The Yacht On The Rocks& Win A OCH Sailing Cap The above two photos come to us from the camera of woody Paul Drake and I have Paul’s word that they are ‘never before seen’ photos of the yacht aground off Rangitoto Island in the early 1960’s. Paul was a teenager at the time, staying with a school friend and his parents in their Rangitoto bach. They spent their time messing about in the family’s seagull powered clinker dinghy and came across the ‘wreck’ by chance. They rendered what assistance we could. Paul commented that the crew seemed quite relaxed about their predicament and no doubt she came off with the next tide. So woodys first correct answer, with the yachts name – emailed to waitematawoodys@gmail.com wins an Off Center Harbor sailing cap. Entries close at 8pm 05-03-2021
Varnish Porn
If you need a dose of varnish porn to rid the CV-19 blues, check out the 1924 Fife classic schooner – Adventuress featured in the video below. Thanks to Mark Erskine for pointing WW in the direction of the video ex Yachting World. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpAW5-60qBA
A LOCK-DOWN TREAT – FREE ACCESS TO THE WORLDWIDE CLASSIC BOAT SHOW
Our friends over at Off Center Harbor have been orchestrating a new gig on the classic boat scene – a virtual worldwide classic boat show. Its been live now for 10 days and only available via purchasing a ticket (US$5) – now woodys to help us kiwis (and the WW overseas followers) during CV-19 lock-down – the show is now free.
See below instructions on how to visit the show.
You can use the globe / map to see an amazing collection of vessel around the world + locations of museums & trade folks – but the real gem for me is the daily video presentations from some of the worlds leading lights on the classic boating scene – sailors, teachers, photographers, event promoters and boat builders. You will be addicted so I apologise in advance for ruining your day/s – but, you’re supposed to be in lock-down 🙂
If you only watch one presentation – make it the legendary Tom Cunliffe presentation – you’ll find it on Sat Feb20th under the heading ’Seas of Northern Europe’ – do not be put off by the boring title – its a cracker, the mans one of the best storytellers around, you’ll be glued to the screen for 2 hours. ENJOY THE SHOW 🙂
2. Checkout for free, and your username and password become your ticket
3. To login, go to ClassicBoatShow.com, click login in the top right corner to get full access, and enjoy the show!
If you have trouble getting your free ticket, you can always email the show’s crew for help at crew@classicboatshow.com.
If the show turns out to be an enjoyable and valuable experience for you, they have a voluntary “tips/donations” button on the top of the screen where you can contribute.
The above Bay of Islands photo comes to us via Diane Keene’s post on fb and is from the photo album of her grandmother – Joyce Simpson. The grandmother’s diaries indicate that the photo was taken on 6th Feb 1963, and the primary focus of the photo was the submarine. Diane has checked with the RNZN & they have informed her it is either the submarine HMS Andrew which attended the 1960 Waitangi Day ceremonies, or of the submarine HMS Tapir which was present in 1963 when HM Queen Elizabeth was in attendance aboard HMY Britannia.
Putting subs to one side, Dianne enquired about the identity of the launch on the left – if my life depended on it I would say – Menai, the 1937 built Sam Ford launch, but there is no mast and she seems to have always sported one, as a second option I would say – Ian Gavin’s family launch – Florence Dawn, built in 1947 by Richard Hartley. Anyone agree or have another suggestion?
THE WORLDWIDE CLASSIC BOAT SHOW – Feb 19>28 created by the folks at Off Center Harbor
This is very cool and worth checking out – there will be hundreds of the world’s finest boats, each with its own web page with photos and description + interviews with top boat builders, museums, sail makers, festivals, etc. Effectively everything happening in classic boats around the world, all in one place.
THE “WHY?” BEHIND THE SHOW: When the pandemic started the festivals, schools, yards, and museums that are the lifeblood of the classic boating world began shutting down for distancing. At that moment, Off Center Harbor committed to utilize our worldwide audience to highlight those doing great work and bring everyone in the world of classic boats closer together. That dream becomes a reality with the Worldwide Classic Boat Show.
HOW IT WORKS:
Purchasing a digital “ticket” provides you full access to the Boat Show’s website during the 10 days of the Show. It gives you full unlimited access to everything, including the live presentations. Live presentations will be recorded and available for the entire show beginning the day after the presentation (maybe sooner). There are no physical paper tickets — as you check out and pay, you’ll choose a username and a password for logging in, and that login will be your “ticket” to the show (so write it down).
