Category Archives: 32′>34′

Woodys Holidaying In The Bay Of Islands

Posted on by
5

5E192A7A-A186-4302-885A-E0C16728009E

7DFFCEED-536F-472D-A06D-E3EE62503203

868D0376-B3D5-4A88-82FC-F0964DCAC882

F082A3FB-D5D4-464A-9EC6-FA0AA33BADA3

37D5DD83-429B-4467-9B8B-ED64C89E1F9C

Woodys Holidaying In The Bay Of Islands

Todays photos are from the camera of woody Dean Wright, taken over the Xmas / NY period, I love the one on Wirihana rolling around, sent it to her skipper Chris McMullen & he commented “We were coming into the bay from Cape Brett. A nasty on the beam sea. Any boat can roll when bit by a wave. Its when they keep rolling after the event…….” Chris commented the Wirihana handled it very well. Even with a roll on, Wirihana still looks beautiful – always does, from any angle.

I have to say Marie J is looking very smart, well done to the new(ish) owners. Also what do we know about the yacht Tuahine?

Woodys On Holiday @ Waiheke Island

Posted on by
5

P1250935

P1250947

P1250964

P1250967

P1250988

P1250991

P1250998

P1260045

Woodys On Holiday @ Waiheke Island

 Good morning Woodys – the 1st ‘live’ post in 2 weeks & I have to say I have enjoyed the break from the daily task of creating a WW story. Sometimes with everything else that happens in life its been a challenge, I’ll keep on with the daily stories but just a heads up, the frequency may change……… but business as usual for now.

I was amazed at the viewing audience over the Xmas / NY period, there were some huge days – the “Gunk-Holing Up The Weti River’ story had over 6,000 views in 24hrs, not bad for a ‘re-run’.

Despite the weather forecast & a broken freezer we got away on Raindance for 8 Days, came back a little early due to the weather bomb, & so glad that we did. 

For the 8 days we just mooched around Waiheke Island & had stunning launch weather + the water temp was amazing, warmest I can recall in a long time. 

I spotted quite a few woodys around the bays, if I missed getting a photo of you, either the light was all wrong or I was doing something else – so sorry in advance.

Last ones of Raindance were taken by Richard Darke from aboard his launch ’Seafarer’, many thanks Richard, I do not get many of Raindance, normally she is the camera platform.

A word of warning, last weeks storm has deposited some very ugly logs around the inner harbour, so keep a look out. It amazes we no-one (Akl Council etc) gathers them up, they will find there way back into the water & be an even bigger hazard. The one below was on Cheltenham Beach, Devonport.

If you have any photos from the holidays – email them in to waitematawoodys@gmail.com

F61E033F-6873-4604-AB1A-529439FDE85F

While ashore at Oneroa I picked up a flyer for The Island Grocer store, very clever piece of creative 😉

Island Grocer

Royal Saxon – Revisited

Posted on by
2

ROYAL SAXON
photos ex Mark Javis

After the amazing response to yesterdays post on Arohanui, which set an all time ww record for the most views in a single hour (1,707) it was always going to be a challenge to back it up. So when I received out of the blue a selection of photos of one of my favourite boats – Royal Saxon, from Motueka resident Mark Javis the challenge was solved.
Mark lives near a little old-world estuary where boats were once built and scows traded at the remaining wharf. A small number of woodys are still berthed there, one being Royal Saxon.

Royal Saxon was built by Colin Wild for Whangarei surveyor Harold Frederick Saxon Charlesworth and launched in October 1930. She is 33ft loa, 9ft 6in beam and draws just under 4ft. Lots more details & photos + a few good yarns found on the ww link below.

Royal Saxon

She is a very pretty boat & was once owned by Rick McCay who owns Luana, Rick is a man with a very good eye for beautiful things 😉

waitematawoody t-shirts – remember to get your order in – limited print run, full details here https://waitematawoodys.com/2015/11/22/waitematawoodys-t-shirts/

Old Logo ww shirt

Classic vintage 1936 ketch – Leisure Hour

Posted on by
2

Screen Shot 2017-12-21 at 4.05.45 pm

Screen Shot 2017-12-21 at 4.06.03 pm

Classic vintage 1936 ketch – Leisure Hour

The above 32’ x 9’ beam ketch is named Leisure Hour & was reportedly built by Jimmy Reid in 1936 in his family yard at Sulphur Beach Road Birkenhead, close to the Auckland Harbour Bridge location.

The Reid family being reputable boat builder of vessels in early 1900 in Mechanics Bay area Auckland, had two sons who produced sail and power vessel for notable New Zealanders of that era.

Leisure Hour has been on the harbour for approx. 81 years and is in need of a tender loving owner to take on as a project vessel to keep Auckland boating history alive.

She has had work completed with a tidy up and new paint. Her engine is a two-cylinder Arona diesel, with mechanical transmission and shaft drive.

The current owner on trademe says he has one too many boats and is motivated to sell – so with an asking price of $19,500 Leisure could a perfect entry into the classic wooden boating world J

 

 

New Zealand Classic Wooden Boat Register – 200+ Photos

Posted on by
7

image1

New Zealand Classic Wooden Boat Register – 200+ Photos

Stoked to be able to share with you the 2018 edition of the CYA Classic Register. Big ups to the CYA team behind it, pulling everything together is a massive undertaking, I’ve been there & done that, having been involved with the first 4 issues – 2018 is a winner, so make a cup of coffee or pour something a little stronger & sit back & enjoy over 200 photos. Click link below

to view https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/fullscreen/59612422/cya-classic-register-2018-yum

Lucky CYA members will be getting a free hard copy version in the post very soon. Almost worth joining to get a copy 😉 Membership details here  http://classicyacht.org.nz/joinus/

Telstar – Sailing Sunday

Posted on by
12

Unknown

TELSTAR – SAILING SUNDAY

I was recently contacted by Drew Thompson, who is trying to track down details on his grandfathers yacht – Telstar. Telstar was designed and built the grandfather, Ivan Vitali, in 1970 from solid kauri, then glassed over. She was based on an Alan Buchanan bermudan sloop and was 33’ 6” in length.

Ivan registered Telstar with NZ Yachting so he could race and was given the sail number 1263. NZ Yachting told Drew the name was changed to Goldline – Drew tracked that lead but the owner (Murray Smith) said the yacht was never called Goldline, but Kishmul.

The history that Drew is aware of it that she was sold in 1974 when Ivan died to Chris Smith (who owns Moana at Devonport YC) who sailed her around the world before selling her in 1985. Chris believes she ran around in Noumea around 1989, but was recovered and brought back to Westhaven and repaired and that’s where the trail goes cold. Any info, insights that we can give Drew, would be much appreciated

Drew commented that the photos, from the 1970’s are not good. The writing on one picture is from Drew’s 90-year-old uncle, Lolly Vitali – the picture has been on his wall about 40 years 🙂

 

10-10-2023 UPDATE ex Drew Thompson – Telstar is still sailing and still extremely well looked after (photos below) by the now-former Commodore of the Dar es Salaam yacht club, Mark Hart. Mark and I converse regularly – and I’d even planned a trip to sail her on her 50th birthday but Covid stepped in. We caught up via skype on the day – December 16th, 2021 to celebrate. Mark has since mounted a photograph of my grandfather and Telstar designer/builder, Ivan Vitali, below deck. I hope to one get there one day to sail her myself.

Mystery Location With Lots of Woodys at Anchor

Posted on by
10

Unknown-1

Mystery Location With Lots of Woodys at Anchor

The photo above was sent to me by Heather & Keith Nicholson, it was originally posted on the ‘Whangarei Way Back When’ facebook page – Heather thought it might be Mansion House Bay but it could also be Russell.

Whatever the location, there is a great collection of launches in the bay.

Can we confirm the location & ID a few of the woodys at anchor?

 

CYA Patio Bay Weekend – 2017 – 50+ Photos

Posted on by
7

P1250526

P1250630

P1250596

P1250681 (1)

 

 

 

P1250732

P1250733

P1250725

CYA Patio Bay Weekend – 2017

The photos show that 2017 was another cracker Patio Bay year, but what photos don’t get across is what a great group of woodys were there. The numbers were down a little on previous years but those that made the trip will remember it as one of the best. Plenty of room to walk around & mingle without standing on someones dinner plate.

Several Riviera owners, did they bit to re-confirm that they all have big egos & small brains – motoring thru the race finish line at 25+ knots & creating wakes you could surf on. A little exciting if you are sitting in an 8’ dinghy taking photos & wondering if the Riviera is on autopilot & the skippers playing with his small willy 😦

One of the Patio Bay race traditions is the winning skipper of the A Division has to fill the trophy barrel with rum for the following years party. Last year Prize was the winner & based on dock chatter, a sample was drawn off for analyse at the Mount Gay distillery –  purity & alcohol content results to follow 😉

(remember to click on photos to enlarge)

P1250726

Arohanui

Posted on by
7

1-DSC_0523

AROHANUI ARCHANUIE

Today’s photo of the launch Archanuie was sent to me by Pam Cundy, back in August 2015, for some reason it had slipped off the radar………

In the photo Archanuie is anchored in Whangaroa Harbour. To my eye, she has to be a Roy Parris, but I’m often wrong 🙂

Anyone able to supply more intel on the vessel ?

 

OPPS – someone was having a spec-saver moment – the name is actually Arohanui , not Archanuie  – & she is a 30′ 1974, Roy Parris built. Thank to Dean Wright for correct us & the photo below. More details here https://waitematawoodys.com/2015/12/17/arohanui-2/

 

Unknown

07-08-2018 – Update – A peek down below, thanks to trademe (via Ian McDonald)

 

West Auckland Barn Find

Posted on by
5

Unknown-17

 

Unknown-5

West Auckland Barn Find

 Morning woodys – I was contacted yesterday by serial classic woody collector / rescuer – Keith Munro, Keith advised that a woody in need of rescuing had been pointed in his direction – but Keith’s toy box is overflowing 🙂 thence contacting me.

The woody needs 2 things – a home & a woody with vision, from the photos she appears to have the makings of a nice looking classic launch.

 Nothing is known about her – no name, builder, dates etc. – her specs are – 32’ long & 5’9” across the ransom. Hopefully a woody reader will be able to shed some light on her.

 The boat could be acquired for not a lot of money, currently located in Kumeu, West Auckland; there is even an offer of free delivery .

From the photos it appears there has been work done on the boat & she comes with all the doors, mast, floorboards, hatches & other sundry, including the cradle.

Open to offers – contact Jeff or Bob on 027 834 5285