Category Archives: 35′

PATIO BAY CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT WEEKEND – 2023

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Moerani + Ariki
Tawera
Message To Santa – I Want One
Cake Day Entries – It Did Not Win But The Chocolate Cake Was The Best

PATIO BAY CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT WEEKEND – 2023

Todays story wasn’t meant to happen, the 2023 Patio Bay Weekend was not on the radar but several woody skippers told me late in the week that they were going so I shuffled the plans around.

Saturday mornings weather and sea state was average but sometimes you just have to make the call and head out. I was also suffering from serious cabin fever, so little boating in the last year.

As the day unfolded the weather improved but from the fireside chat post race, the classic yachts racing down did not have a pleasant trip.

CYA numbers were down significantly from previous years , in fact I was the only launch in the bay. 

The venue hosts, the Mahoney family, ensured a great time was had by all, with the emphasis on an old-school / retro boating gathering e.g. open fire / bbq, Pohutukawa and driftwood smoke and the legendary barrel of rum……….. on that subject most were amused when the yacht “Prize” won her division – part of the winning is having to re-fill the rum barrel the following year – I was told Prize’s skipper historically has gone to great lengths to sidestep the expensive.

The assorted collection of photos above is simply to give you a glimpse of the weekend, and showcase the magic of Aucklands woody fleet and Patio Bay. Enjoy (passage photos B15 Frances & dark hulled yacht ex Dennis & Sue Rule) – (some photos below average in definition – long lens the camera).

Xmas Boat Reading – 10+ years ago I asked at my local 2nd hand book store, about an out of print copy of a book titled “Hemingway’s Boat’ by Paul Hendrickson – out of the blue last week I got a call telling me one had turned up – I started to read over the weekend and after just 10 pages put it down, just a gem, to be saved for the summer xmas /ny trip. Best $15 I have spent. If you see one for sale, grab it.

CAPLIN

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CAPLIN

Todays woody has one of the best back stories we have had on WW – the giff-rigged auxiliary yawl yacht – Caplin  was built in Penarth, Wales (UK)I in 1937-38 at the Anderson & Sons shipyard for Commander Robert D. Graham (R.N. ret.). 

Graham set off in late 1938 on a circumnavigation of the world, whilst cruising the Pacific he was alerted to the out break of WWII, he headed to New Zealand first stopping in Nelson then Wellington. In Wellington he placed Caplin  on the market and returned to the UK to reenlist.

Caplin  was purchased by an Oamaru family* who kept her in Oamaru Harbour for nearly 60 years.She then moved to Queen Charlotte Sound , then Akaroa, where her current owners bought her in 2015 and moved her to Golden Bay. Culpan now calls Auckland’s Waitemata Harbour home. Her current owner is the granddaughter of the GT Gillies* (George Thomas Gillies), who purchased Caplin from Cr Graham in Wellington in April 1940.

Caplin  is built in pitch-pine planks over oak frames with mahogany and teak trim – specs > 35’ length overall, 9’6” beam and draws 5’4”. Power is via a Yammer 3GM30F diesel. 

While her owners have invested significant time and funds to ensure that Caplin  retains her original aura, character and pedigree, they have also carefully integrated modern systems and technology to provide peace of mind and comfort – for example –  new galley, new toilet , completely rewired + panels and fittings, new bronze winch, diesel heater to name just a few.

Her light and airy saloon makes for a spacious and comfortable vessel both on route, at anchor or in the marina. Caplin attracts admirers anywhere.

12-11-2024 UPDATE – Below decks has been feeling the love, new owner Geoff Fiebig is a man of style and good taste.

Summer Wine Gets Some TLC

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Summer Wine Gets Some TLC

Visitors to {the} Slipway Milford yard last month would have seen the launch – Summer Wine hauled out getting a serious refresh in & out.

Summer Wine was designed and built be Noel May, Buckland Beach, launched in 1993 so slips into the spirit of tradition category .

The weather last Friday when she slipped back into the Milford creek as not very pleasant but she still looked very smart. Launch day photos via cadet WW photographer Jason Prew 😉

In the on the hard photos we also see the 1953 A Couldrey designed, Brin Wilson built launch – Endeavour , hauled out for some cardiac surgery – the engine is being reconditioned.

Read / view more about Summer Wine at 2013 WW sorry – link below https://waitematawoodys.com/2013/07/24/summer-wine/

Chamberlains Bay – April 2022

RSVP TO1 waitematawoodys@gmail.com

Defender At Speed

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DEFENDER (Scripps III)

The above photo of the launch Defender, previously named Scripps III, was taken by H Winkelmann and appears to have been ’torn’ out of a 1918 copy of NZ Yachtsman.

In a 2013 WW story Harold Kidd commented that Scripps III was pretty quick with her 4 cylinder Model K Scripps, bore 5.5″ and stroke 6″ = 475 cu ins =7.6 litres. It was a straightforward side-valve engine with twin ignition, producing vast gobs of torque. The above photo was tagged as saying on the day of the photo she nearly hit 17 knots.

Her specs were 35’ x 7’6” beam. At the time she was owned by a Mr. E. LeRoy.

Question of the day – can anyone ID the white hulled launch (race #94) in the background.

(Photo ex fb sent in by K Ricketts)

WW 2013 https://waitematawoodys.com/2013/08/15/how-did-they-keep-their-hats-on/

WW 2018 https://waitematawoodys.com/2018/04/20/scripps-iii-defender/

Woody Euro Tour

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Siesta – approx. 45′ canoe stern bridge-decker – Stockholm
Vasa – 17th century warship – Vasa Museum – Stockholm
Oslo, Norway
Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Gothenburg
Probably steel

WOODY EURO TOUR

Todays story comes to us from the camera of Rick McCay, owner of the 1920 MT Land built 47’ launch – Luana. Rick has been tripping around the northern hemisphere. Rick didi a similar trip back in 2017, you can view that story at the WW link below. https://waitematawoodys.com/2017/11/02/a-woody-on-tour/

Where known I have tagged the locations – enjoy the photo gallery.

GAY DAWN – Gets A Refresh 

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GAY DAWN – Gets A Refresh 

Todays woody is the 35’ Bill Waters 1953 built bridge-decker  launch Gay Dawn –  lots of back info and photos on WW – this link will take you there https://waitematawoodys.com/page/2/?s=Gay+Dawn&submit=Search

Back in July 2019 we had a peek down below on Gay Dawn, thanks to a tme listing, link belowWW July 2019 https://waitematawoodys.com/2019/07/05/gay-dawn-down-below/

GD has always been a lucky boat in that her past owners have kept her in good nick, and that continues to right now as GD is currently hauled out for a new shiny paint job. 

UPDATE FEB 2026 – at anchor in Bon Accord, Kawau Island. Photo ex Angus Rogers

The Exquisite – VALERIE

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The Exquisite – VALERIE  

The photo above of the launch Valerie shows her on the slipway at the Lane Motor Boat Company (designer and builder), Mechanics Bay, Auckland just after her sea trial.

Everyone has their own favourite style, but in my eye this is an outstanding example of the pure, uncluttered designs that were being built in the late 1920’s > early 1930’s – then we got greedy and wanted more space at the same waterline length, so the boats got wider and higher ………

Thanks to an earlier Valerie story on WW in June 2022 we learnt from Robin Elliott and Harold Kidd that she was built for a Mr M G King of Whangarei – 35’ in length, beam of 9’ and when launched powered by a 35hp engine.

This WW link will take you to several stories on Valerie – lots of photos  https://waitematawoodys.com/?s=Valerie&submit=Search

(todays photo ex fb via K Ricketts)

2021

KAWAU BOATING CLUB NEW CLUBROOMS OPENING DELAYED

So woodys that means the woody gathering this Labour Weekend is postponed until we get confirmation of the new date. If you are in the bay I understand you can poke your nose in the door for a work-in-progress peek 🙂


WHANGAREI MARITIME FESTIVAL TRIP REPORT

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WHANGAREI MARITIME FESTIVAL TRIP REPORT

A little late posting todays story – its been rather a full on weekend – on Saturday we had our general election, which resulted in a change of government (very happy with that). Then early Sunday morning the All Blacks had a do or die clash with Ireland in the Rugby world Cup which resulted in a well deserved win for the AB’s. 

After the final whistle I was in the car and heading north to Whangarei to check out the Whangarei Maritime Festival. The temptation to stay in Auckland and enjoy a celebratory breakfast was very strong but wow I’m so glad I didn’t – I was rewarded with a most enjoyable day out.

I’ll start by thanking Druce Dunlop for alerting me to the upcoming weekend and also say that the organisers did an great job promoting the event on social member. Anyone contemplating hosting a similar event  could learn a lot from mirroring the WMF. It ticked all the boxes and was rewarded with a huge turnout.

A wonderful collection of mostly wooden craft on display that given the location / layout of the dockside, allowed the public to get up close and experience the vessels.  

Well done to everyone involved – both on and off the water. Enjoy the gallery of images.  As always – click photos to enlarge 😉

KURANGI

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KURANGI – 4sale

Earlier in the year we ran a brief story on the 35’ launch Kurangi, at the time we didn’t generate much intel on her but today we can share more.

Built in 1960, from single skin kauri carvel, her builder is unconfirmed -15 years ago when her owner purchased her he was told Kurangi was a Oliver & Gilpin design / build but this doesn’t sit well with the O&P gurus 🙂

Who ever penned the design, she has very good lines and is well built.

Kurangi is propelled by a Ford 6cyl. 100hp diesel and has a speed range of 7.5>9 knots.

Unlike so many woodys – Kurangi has an impressive service history and has been well maintained – in recent times – new frig/freezer, new toilet, new starter motor and batteries, new canvas canopies, heat exchanger serviced.

The boat has also just had an out-of-water survey for insurance purposes.

After 15 years of family cruising her owners are now at a stage in life where boating is a challenge so have made the decision to pass Kurangi onto new owners. OBC marina available tbc.

Interested parties looking for a turn-key classic launch , ready for summer cruising – contact the Wooden Boat Bureau for more details  waitematawoodys@gmail.com

VICTORIA CLASSIC BOAT FESTIVAL – Vancouver – Dockside Tour 

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VICTORIA CLASSIC BOAT FESTIVAL – Vancouver – Dockside Tour 

Last week we had a story about Peter Knowles and his travel to the Victoria Wooden Boat Festival vis his v-blog ‘Boat Life – Travels With Geordie’. Peter very briefly showed us some of the craft arriving – today we get a dock-side wander, complete with captions for the classic woodys.

I hope the people at Auckland’s maritime museum see this video – re their upcoming Auckland wooden boat festival next year. The stand out observation is the mix of yachts + launches + work boats + small craft – it is all mixed in together and thats what works all around the world – not rocket science……………..

INPUT ex Neil Chalmers – Great video , at 2 56 there is the NZ yacht ‘Two Sisters’ (was sail no. F3) . Has a Woollacott look about her. I often wondered where she got to .

A picture of her at Bon Accord Kawau appears in the ‘Cruising in NZ Waters’  by GR Paul (below). This was the go to book in the 1960’s before to the RAYC Cruising Guide was published.

REMEMBER BOAT BOAT SALE 11am SATURDAY @ MILFORD SLIPWAY – 5 OMANA ROAD, MILFORD $BRING CASH$ WW MERCHANDISE FOR SALE