Historically we have ordered bulk stock and had it printed / embroidered with the WW logo, this results in a significant upfront outlay of $$ and also we end up with a collection of odd sizes that do not sell.
So for the 2024/25 Season we have turned the process upside down. You tell us what you want and we will order and deliver. You don’t have to pay until we despatch the item/s. This new process also allows for all sizes from XS > 5XL
CAPS – Cotton, embroidered logo – 3 colours – black / camel / mushroom – $42
BUCKET – Wide brim, embroidered logo, light/mid weight cotton + chin strap – colour = Dark blue – $45
BURGEE – cotton, screen printed 2 sides $45
T-SHIRTS s/s – DARK BLUE – $39
NOTE: In the last 12>18mths everything has increased in cost – printing and embroidery has almost doubled and post/courier charges are up 50%+ – We do our best to keep prices down but there are some small increases.
CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – TANTALUS – A Peek Down Below
THE 36’ Classic Wooden Launch- TANTALUS made a cameo appearance on WW back in late Dec 2021. The top photo above I took then, now today thanks to a recent tme appearance and Ian McDonald’s hawk eyes, we get to have a gander down below.
What we know about her is that she was designed by Tim Windsor and built c.1963 by Tim Wilson and Jack Taylor at the Shipbuilders yard. Construction is kauri plank, her beam is 9’ and she draws 3’3”.
These days her forward motion is from a Ford 120hp diesel engine.
THE COMEDOWN OF A CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – CARA MIA
Last weekend at the Kawau Spring Splash Regatta I spot a launch named – CARA MIA, the name ringed a bell but the look didn’t match the tone of the bell ringing.
When I got back to the WW data base I did a search and jackpot, there she was but the old girl has had several trips to the plastic surgeon over the years.
Built in 1961 by Maurice Palmer in Devonport, Auckland, her specs are 36’ x 11’3”x 2’9”. She spent the 1960>70’s game fishing out of Tutukakak, Northland.
Each to their own, an owner can do what ever they like to their vessel, but I wasn’t sad when they headed off up the harbour and didn’t participate in the Woodys Classic Launch Parade 😉
KAWAU ISLAND SPRING SPLASH REGATTA REVIEW – 70+ CLASSIC WOODEN BOATING PHOTOS
WoW what a long weekend – our first long weekend as we slide out of winter into summer. The on-the-water boating season kicked off this year with a new event on the calendar – the ‘Labour Weekend Spring Splash Regatta’ at Kawau Island, in the Hauraki Gulf. Going forward the hosts – Kawau Boating Club and race organisers – Ponsonby Cruising Club intend to ran the regatta every year. The weather gods were against us at times – but the weekend was a winner with everyone that attended.
Firstly I’d like to thank all the skippers, family and crew that took the leap of faith and pointed their craft north in conditions on both Friday and Saturday morning that can best described as character building for the skippers and testing for the craft.
I went north at mid day on Friday and all I saw in terms of other craft afloat was a procession of yachts returning to Auckland after pulling out of the Coastal Classic race to Russell. Big ups to the yachts that pushed on and completed the race, I’m sure most skippers will have trouble rounding up crew for next years race 🙂
Fridays race to Kawau was light on numbers due to the weather but the fleet pushed on and most made it to KBC to swap stories. Mike Mahoney commented that his majestic 1935 Logan built classic – TAWERA spent more time going thru the waves than on top of them.
Saturday’s around the island race was cancelled due to high winds, but the KBC turnover was the winner. A great night ,with a DJ on hand.
Sunday we had the Waitematawoodys classic parade and 15 woodys (one yacht) did a lap of BON ACCORD Harbour – a brilliant turnout for the opening year. Those participating were recorded with stunning weather.
Post the parade, the yacht race got away, check out the video below of TAWERA coming in hot to the finish line – perfect timing by skipper Mike and crew, Only problem it was to decide 3 and 4 place 🙂
Sunday nights prize giving was a hoot and most people left with a prize and a smile.
Other activities over the weekend were a children’s lolly scramble and the KBC AGM on Sunday morning. Brilliant turnout at the AGM and very positive vibes.
The weekend report wouldn’t be complete without a mention of the recently refurbished KBC clubroom / bar / bistro – the presentation of the interior is a perfect fit for a boating club of the KBC’s standing.
And the food and staff…………… 10/10 – the food photos tell their own story.
The winner of the major prize for parade participants – SPONSORED BY THE SLIPWAY MILFORD – was Jill Hetherington and her 1939 C. Bailey built launch – TUNA. Jill’s prize is a haulout and 3 days hardstand at the classic friendly railway slip.
I have to sign off now, I’m falling asleep at the keyboard.
Enjoy the photo gallery & videos, several people clicking the camera (phone) over the weekend, so thanks for everyones contribution.
The ex 38’ workboat Wai-iti was built c.1960’s, kauri hull and powered by a Detroit 471 Diesel engine.
That woodys is all we know, would be nice to fill in the blanks, she still retains a very salty look.
BUSY DAY ON THE WAITEMATA TODAY – The Coastal Classic is starting off North Head around 10am, then we have Kawau Boating Club / Ponsonby Cruising Club Spring Splash Regatta staring at 12pm at Westhaven. Could be a long race for the Coastal Classic boys, no records this year 🙂 To the classic woody skippers heading to Kawau , see you there, check out yesterdays WW story for full details.
WOODEN LAUNCH NICOLA + LABOUR WEEKEND WOODY DETAILS
Todays woody photo was sent in by Ken Ricketts who ‘uplifted’ the image off fb.
The 36’ launch in the photo is named – NICOLA and from the NZ Herald press clipping (29th August 1930) we learnt that NICOLA was referred to as a ‘Hired Launch’, which I assume means she was in charter eg day cruises / trips.
She drifted from her mooring at Devonport and came ashore on the new city side waterfront road, again assume in the Orakei area.
The press clipping stated that NICOLA was extensively damaged – do we know what became of her and who designed / built her.
WEEKEND – OVERVIEW
Hopefully by now you will have been significantly exposed to the boating activity at Kawau Island this Labour weekend – so much on, starting on Friday with the ‘race’ , open to all vessels, from Westhaven to the Kawau Boating Club, this is a combined KBC and Ponsonby Cruising Club gig and sees the inaugural hosting of the SPRING SPLASH REGATTA, an event to mark the start of the summer boating season. Saturday, Sunday and Monday have action a float and shore side – see flyer below for details.
IMPORTANT INFO FOR CLASSIC WOODY SKIPPERS
# WOODYS ARE MEETING ASHORE AT 5PM AT LIDGARD HOUSE FOR A CATCH UP – ALL WELCOME BYO (note if wet > KBC clubhouse, but not BYO)
# SUNDAY MORNING AT 11 AM THERE WILL BE A PARADE OF CLASSIC VESSELS AROUND BON ACCORD HARBOUR – MEETING OFF KBC WHARF.
LOTS OF COOL waitematawoodys PRIZES TO BE WON, INCLUDING A LIMITED EDITION BREW OF THE WORLD FAMOUS IN DEVONPORT TOMATO SAUCE AND THE BIG PRIZE – A HAUL OUT AT THE SLIPWAY MILFORD RAILWAY HAULOUT YARD, INCLUDING 3 DAYS ON THE HARD. To be eligible for the haul out prize draw you must during the parade by flying one of the following burgees – KBC, PCC , waitematawoodys.
What happened to the classic wooden yacht – MAHAKI
WW was recently contacted by Chris Leech who was reaching out to establish the whereabouts of the c.1894 built Logan designed 2 1/2 rater yacht – MAHAKI.
The primary reason for Chris’s interest is that the Devonport Yacht Club have been presented with the NZ Yachtsman Cup that was presented to MAHAKI in 1910. At the time the yacht was owned by George Sim and the cup remained in the Sims family ownership ever since.
DYC will be adding the cup to its impressive collection of silverware.
Chris suppled a collection of historical articles on the yacht, attached below as a PDF file for reference for those that want to go done a rabbit hole. The readers digest of (potentially accurate) known, recent intel is – bought by Eric Wing (McMullan &Wing) in the mid 1980’s. Partially restored by Wing and then on his passing in 1994 was purchased by Peter Blunder who finished the project in Clevedon. From there the current location and presentation of the yacht is unknown.
So woodys can we learn what became of MAHAKI
Photo below of the trophy presented to DYC by Gavin Sims.
INPUT ex ANDREW LUSTY – Still owned by Peter Blundell and still in Clevedon
INPUT ex MARK NEWCOMB The article on Mahaki refers to a previous owner, “Russell”. This will be Russell Going, an Auckland architect with a practice in a lovely old restored building on Newton Road. He was my wife’s uncle, and I occasionally sailed on Mahaki, possibly around 1983sh. I had been raised on our family yacht, Tamatea A20, and had spent some years crewing on Ariki A3, and thought I knew all about wet sailboats. Mahaki was another level of wet, but a lovely craft and Russell loved her.
JACKPOT – WE FOUND HER – Andrew Lusty was spot on – on a shed in Clevedon
CLASSIC WOODY BOAT FESTIVAL AT THE WHANGAREI TOWN BASIN – 48 Photos & Videos
The weekends weather in Auckland certainly wasn’t conducive to boating so on early Saturday morning I pointed the car north and headed to Whangarei for the 2024 Maritime Festival at the Town Basin.
Year two and a quick overview, – more tie-dyed tee shirt vendors and food trucks, a lot more general public – less launches, more large cruising yachts. Steam boat rides were the most popular offering – long queues of kids that probably walked away with a life time memory – well done to all the steam boat skippers and crew.
Nice to see a couple of woodys from the Waitemata make the trip north – RAWHITI and JOHN DORY.
As always when she makes an appearance anywhere Dick and Colleen Fisher’s ex pilot boat – AKARANA was the start of the show.
THE AUCKLAND WOODYS HAD AN INTERESTING TRIP HOME ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON 🙂
The 38’ Swanson designed / built classic launch – YVONNE was launched in 1954 in the Marlborough Sounds and I think has resided there all her life.
We last saw her back in Dec 2022 in a WW photo gallery from Dean Wright who had been mooching around the Waikawa Marina.
Before that in April 2017 she appeared on WW and was for sale at the time (last photo) now thanks to woody John Dawson spotting her on fb we get a close up view.
She is a unique style and appears to be very well cared for – we like that 🙂
Earlier in the month we reported that the 34’ John Salthouse built classic wooden launch – SEA FEVER was hauled out at the Slipway Milford for some TLC.
Yesterday afternoon she slipped down the railway into the Milford creek looking very grand.
#1 job was a Jason Prew Paint Job but her newish owners also upgraded some systems, repainted the decks, converted the old compressor driven freezer to 12V and removed / replaced a few spots of boat cancer. She was also fitted with a bow thruster to protect the new paint job 😉
As per most owners the project is a rolling restoration and next winter the cabin coaming bright work will get a birthday.
SEA FEVER is one of John Salthouse’s best sedan designs and enjoys a light and airy saloon with large windows that makes for a very comfortable vessel both on route, at anchor or in the marina.
And if you are ever in doubt as to the best way to haul out > launch your classic woody – check out the video below – railways rock ✔️ your boat will repay you for the kid gloves.
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