Category Archives: 36′>38′

Classic Wooden Boats on the Waitemata

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Raindance
Poco Lento
Poco Lento
Maristella
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Moana

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Quo Vadis

Asereht
Bon Voyage
Proteus
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Miss Helen

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My Girl

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Pleasure Lady

CLASSIC WOODEN BOATS ON THE WAITEMATA
Last weekend we decided to slipped away to Rakino Island, and in an almost unheard of event, we departed early and dropped the anchor in West Bay at 9.30am.
On route and in and around the Island we spotted a healthy collection of woodys. Some familiar faces and some newbies. Scroll over photos for captions
The sunset on Saturday night was a stunner. When I popped the head out of the hatch on Sunday morning, I did a double take – a very large cruise ship was sliding down the Rakino Channel, spotted again later in the day off Waiheke Island.
Enjoy the photos – can anyone tell us more about the launches – Asereht, Bon Voyage, Poco Lento ?
Input from Geoff Bagnall – Asereht was built by himself and Bon Voyage by Dave Jackson.
IMPORTANT DATES FOR THIS WEEKENDS WOODY ACTIVITY 
SATURDAY 25 JAN
Mahurangi Regatta Classic Launch Parade (meeting at 10.15am off Scotts Landing – parade will be in alpha order)
SUNDAY 26 JAN
Most likely mooching around Kawau Island area
MONDAY 27 JAN

Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta – Classic Launch Race

Ariana

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ARIANA

The build / launch date of Ariana is unknown but she was formerly a Nelson fishing boat named ‘Glenrowan’. Her current owner purchased Ariana in Picton in 2005, after extensive re-building by McManaways of Picton. She was relocated to Napier, where she still is to this day.
Her zoom zoom is from a near new Perkins Sabre model M225Ti installed 2015, current engine hours are only 25hrs, the Perkins gives her a cruising speed of 9 knots. She is 37’9” in length, with a 10’ beam.
Her trademe listing (thanks Ian McDonald) lists a very extensive inventory.
Can anyone help us got with details on builder > year of launch etc?

Woodys Cruising The Bay of Islands – Summer 2019/20 – Part One

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Linda – 1927 – Colin Wild

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Nautilus – Oliver & Gilpin

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Darleen – 1920 – Possibly Bailey & Lowe

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Echo – 1935 – Les Coulthard

Echo – 1935 – Les Coulthard
Echo – 1935 – Les Coulthard

 

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Thetis – 1955 – Lane Motor Boat Company

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Lady Crossley – 1947 – Colin Wild

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Lady Ngaio – 1928 – Collings & Bell

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Manapouri – 1960 – Parkes

Omega – 1965 – Quality Boats
Waimana

WOODYS CRUISING THE BAY OF ISLANDS – SUMMER 2019/20 – Part 1

Just got home yesterday from 10 days mooching around Waiheke and while clearing the in-box I spotted an email from Dean Wright, now Dean is a Bay of Islands based professional photographer with a passion for wooden boats. He even owns one  – the 1917, Arethusa.

Now any email from Dean normally contains some stunning photos and yesterdays one was a cracker – too good to run all as one, so I will split them in two.
Today we have featured pleasure launches – the first being one of the smartest classic wooden launches in our fleet – Linda. She has appeared on WW many times so if you want o know more just enter Linda in the WW search box.
I love the photo above because its the personification of our classic wooden boating movement.
Below I have included a photo of the 2018/19 built ‘spirit of tradition’ launch – Grace, and with her beautiful lines, she could only ever be a Salthouse 🙂
I have captioned the Woodys that I have been able to ID. To read more on the boats featured, use the WW search box 😉
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Grace – 2019 – Salthouse

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CONNIE V – Saved

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CONNIE V – Saved

It makes me happy to be able to announce that Connie V the 1949, Lane Motor Boat Co. built launch has been purchased and is now in very woody ownership. She will be restored to better than as-launched, more details in the New Year, but we will follow this restoration in detail.

In todays photos / videos (ex Jason Prew) we see her being relaunched at Panmure after a lengthy period on the hard. Lots more of photos and history at the WW link below

https://waitematawoodys.com/?s=Connie+V&submit=Search

Photos below ex Gavin Cook and Harold Kidd of Connie V looking a lot smarter.

Well That Was A Short Splash – Now out again in her new home (photos ex Nathan Herbert)

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Classic Launch Race Announcement 

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If you are a woody launch owner and like to open the pipes up i.e. race against other woodys – Auckland’s Anniversary Day Regatta wants you and your launch.

In 2019 we saw the re-birth of classic launch racing to the regatta after an absence of some 100 years. 2020 is the 180th anniversary of the regatta. So woodys, if you are going to be back in Auckland on January 27th, after the world famous Mahurangi Regatta, click the link below to learn more about the regatta and the handicap launch race. Plus read how you could walk away with prize money including a $1,000 cash prize if you enter by 31 December, plus spot prizes including a Hawaiian holiday.

https://www.regatta.org.nz/enter

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Lady Margaret Back Home (briefly)

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Lady Margaret Back Home (briefly)
There has been some robust debate on WW in regard to the 38’ Lady Margaret’s pedigree, for WW records it goes like this. Built in Mt Albert in 1955 by L. Deacon. As launched she was named Lady Mary, sadly her builder / owner passed away in 1956 and Lady Mary was sold to Mr John Senior, who changed her name to Happy Wanderer. At some stage she was renamed again to Lady Margaret (what must be the most popular name in classic motor boating).
When launched she was powered by a 6 cylinder Perkins later changed to a Ford 6cyl. 90hp diesel engine. This was upgraded to a 120hp version in the late 1990’s >early2000’s by her then owner at the time Steve Varley. Steve has commented on WW that he sold her to the South Island (Blenheim) around this time. LM remained in the South Island until recently purchased by Alistair McRae, who over the last week has relocated LM to Auckland, but sadly for Auckland woodys, her time here will be short, home port will be Whangarei.
I caught up with Alistair last Monday at the Orams yard in Westhaven as she was unloaded from the transporter and re-launched. I briefly went aboard for a chat, sorry didn’t take many photos as she was in ’transit’ mode. Alistair has promised more when he sorts her out. I can report that she is a very fine woody and with some TLC will be a stunner.

16-07-2020 Photo below hauled out in Whangarei for some TLC

Lady Margaret Jul2020

Classic Wooden Boat – Waiheke Island – Patio Bay Party – 50 Woody Photos And Video

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Classic Wooden Boat – Waiheke Island Party – 50 Woody Photos

At the weekend anyone thats serious about classic wooden boats headed to Patio Bay, Waiheke Island for the best event on the calendar – the Classic Yacht Association yacht race + Xmas party BBQ at Margaret and Bert Woolicott’s waterfront bach. Last year was cancelled due to bad weather, so we were all way overdue for this years gig.
As is almost always the case with woody events – the sun shone, the wind blow at the right time and everyone had a blast.
The race down saw an impressive mix of yachts – the numbers boosted by great support from the Townson fleet.
Lots of new faces and a healthy mix of ages. To those that think Patio Bay weekend is a ‘boys weekend’ – check out the photos, the movement is in good health 🙂
If someone could bottle the smell / taste of the Pohutukawa fired BBQ’s – I’d buy it – whether its bangers or venison steaks, everything gets equal status on the BBQ’s.
CLASSIC WOODY LAUNCHES IN THE BAY
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YACHT RACE FINISH
PARTY TIME
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Hamish R
MORNING CHAT
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HOME TIME
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See below another stunning video of the race / passage down by master camera man Roger Mills 
Patio Bay Race 2019 from Roger Mills on Vimeo.

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Silens

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SILENS
Another woody making the trip to Clevedon was the 1912 Harvey and Lang built launch – Silens, owned by Rosanne and Brian Fulton. Pictured above on the outside of Trinidad.
As fate would have it, she popped up yesterday on Derek Hislop’s fb page (b/w photos above).
There are four great photos at the WW link below showing the evolution of Silens.
A Call For Help
Recently Errol Keegan’s vehicle was stolen and in the boot was his 34′ Carl Augustin Bonito – rudder and sleeve ( shaft housing and admiralty gland ). Errol is wondering if any woodys would have a second hand one or plans, so he can have a replacement made?

Woody Classics Weekend BBQ Cruise to Clevedon Cruising Club – 60+ photos

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Liberty

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Impressive Haul Out Area

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Heading Home

Woody Classics Weekend BBQ Cruise to Clevedon Cruising Club – 60+ photos

Morning woodys, as you will see from the above photo gallery the weekend woodys cruise up the Wairau River to the Clevedon Cruising Club was a great trip – had the 3 F’s that always make for good times – Fun, Friendship & Fraternity.
To hit the right tide window it was a very early start for most i.e. 6am at the marina – the smart ones, left Friday night.
We assembled at the river mouth around 9.30am and were met / piloted up the river by Barrie Abel, and woodys I have to say – just as well Barrie volunteered, because if you believed Navionics at times we were traveling over dry land, when in fact we had 3m of water under us. So a big thank you Barrie. Barry owns the 1912 woody – Matira, I will do a WW story on her on Wednesday.
Several boats missed the rendezvous but still safely made their way up the river.
After arriving at the clubs jetty late morning, the group split up – some went walking, some snoozed, and the rest hopped in the dinghies and ventured to the upper reaches of the river. We got very close to the Clevedon township before the fuel starting running out. Luckily a few had spare fuel so it was passed around like a good wine and everyone took a slip. I was aboard Dave Gidden’s dinghy and we had about 1cm in the tank when we switched off. Spotted a few interesting woodys along the way – Nathan Herbert and I would love to hear more about the launch – Liberty (tagged below).
Some wowser decided that 5pm would be drinks time, so a few of us had to retire to Dave Giddens floating man bach – Allergy for a cup of tea…..
The evening centred around a BBQ at the CCC, which is a fantastic set up and the members hospitality was first rate.
As a thank you for hosting us, we presented a donation to the club and rewarded Barrie Adel for his services with a bottle of Appletons finest Jamaican Estate golden rum. Club Commodore – Bruce Robson also now sports a WW T-Shirt 🙂
In return we have a CCC burgee for our virtual clubhouse.
On a personal note I would like to thank all the woody boat owners for ‘opening’ your boats up for the club members to inspect thru-out the day. Good chat was had.
We must have behaved ourselves, as we have been invited back – so woodys, more details to follow, but we will be repeating the cruise early 2020 e.g. April.
🙂 a visit to the GENTS was amusing – the uninitiated were in for a foot wash – the system was good old kiwi DIY at its finest 🙂 I can report that the LADIES was Regent Hotel standard.
Photos: myself and Nathan Herbert
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Now I’ll bore some of you with the below video of my Raindance, taken by Nathan Herbert aboard Jas Prew’s launch – My Girl. I think it’s the only time Jason has ever let me pass him 🙂

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2019 Thames Traditional Boat Festival – 100+ Classic Wooden Boats

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2019 Thames Traditional Boat Festival

Woody Ian Gavin was travelling with family in July and included the Thames Traditional Boat Festival (Henley-on-Thames) in the itinerary.
Its an event on my bucket list, so I was a little envious when Ian handed me a USB stick with 100+ photos of the event. Special thanks to Ian for sharing.
Included in the Festival was a special Dunkirk Little Ships section. As you would expect it was a very civilised affair with the boats moored up to the river bank and they took turns at parading up and down the river.
The large rowing barge is an ex/retired Royal barge that has been recently restored.
Included on the day were a selection of old motorbikes and cars, including a few amphibious one.
Enjoy the gallery 🙂

 

Thames River Rats

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Thames River Rats

Last month I did a quick trip to Thames and called into the ‘marina’. The tide was out in the estuary so you get to see the marina looking it finest.
Lots of old girls there, resting up, contemplating life.
If you’re down that way The Wharf bar and Thames Wholesale Fisheries shop are ace. Same owners, so they deliver your newspaper wrapped dinner to the bar – we like that.  Worth a visit just for a cold one & the snapper & chips.

Off to check out another river today – the Wairau River, Clevedon – David Cooke and myself are doing a recky for the upcoming Woody Classics Weekend BBQ cruise (Nov 16>17th). Via car 🙂

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RSVP   waitematawoodys@gmail.com