The Lidgard built 42’ launch – TANDARRA has made several appearance on WW , links below, lots of chat so be sure to read the comments sections.
Today thanks to Ian McDonald and Alan Sexton we get to have an updated look at her.
Quick overview – 42’ x 12’5”, built from triple skin kauri (+f/glassed), currently powered by twin 300hp 6 cyl Ford Sabre engines.
With a build date of 1976 and those varnished coaming she sneaks into the spirit of tradition category. Her original owners were the Opperman brothers.
Sure to get a rise from the Lidgard fan club but its been commented that there is some Salthouse influence in her profile, she looks very similar to a Corsair 😉
Todays woody – ZACA was built by the legendary Cal Crooks as his own boat. Launched in 1986 she is cold moulded 3 skin kauri.
It has been commented that her lines take cues from Herreshoff but below the water she is fin keel with a spade rudder. So woodys you have the classic look with agility and pace. Her approx. specs are 42’6″ LOL and 39’44″ on deck. ZACA has been graced with good owners who undertaken both annual maintenance and system upgrades – A new Yammer 40hp was installed in 2020 + new exhaust system, new shaft, new 3 blade feathering prop. You will see from photos that numerous other enhancements have been commissioned. Her interior fit out is very special and matches her classic looks.
PARADE OF SAIL – 2025 AUSTRALIAN WOODEN BOAT FESTIVAL
One of the big events during the Australian Wooden Boat Festival in Hobart, Tasmania is the ‘Parade of Sail’ – the offical opening event. Conditions allowing they get 11 Tall Sailing Ships and over 200 craft sailing up the Derwent River and into Sullivan Cove to mark the start of the festival.
Today you get to experience the spectacle from about the media boat – a rather large twin hulled motorboat that was perfect for the task. Conditions were a tad challenging for the smaller craft but everyone was well behaved and followed the marshals instructions.
Enjoy the gallery – only a selection – could only capture what the skipper deemed of most interest 🙂
ONLY TWO THROTTLE SETTING ON MY GIRL – IDLE AND FULL CHAT
Some woodys are pure speed demons eg MY GIRL (#51) below and others with the help of a heart transplant can still lift up their skirts and show a good turn of speed – NGAIO (blue boat) and PACIFIC (white) two good example below.
TUGBOAT RACE START
2025 ANNIVERSARY DAY INNER HARBOUR MOTORBOAT RACING
Due to the weather on the weekend I was able to attend the anniversary day regatta motor boat events on board Jason Prew’s launch – MY GIRL.
The two gigs are the Tug & Workboat Race and the Classic Launch Race – known around the waterfront as as the Tug Off and the Drag Race.
The commercial boats were first away and are always a sight to behold – so much horse power – and great to a mix of very old – WILLIAM C DALBY and current working waterfront tugs.
The main event for me is the launch race, pulled together each year by Jason Prew – it is a handicap race but the adrenalin kicks in and the launch skippers are going at full throttle most of the race. Race results below.
I wouldn’t be true to my DNA if I didn’t comment about the continuing demise of the regatta – each year less and less vessels turning out – aside from small beach launched yachts, the motor boats would have to be the two biggest categories in the regatta. And a very concerning sign – no Navy ship in the harbour as the VIP grandstand………. just saying.
Enjoy the photo / video gallery.
NOTE – AFTER A TECH ISSUE UPLOADING VIDEOS YESTERDAY – WE HAVE RESOLVED THE FAULT AND HAVE ADDED SOME GREAT SAILING FOOTAGE TO YESTERDAYS MAHURANGI REGATTA STORY – SCROLL DOWN TO VIEW.
The painting above was commissioned by Gary and Yvonne Sterling when they owned her 1983-1987.
CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – MASEKA – A Peek Down Below
Todays woody is – MASEKA, designed and built in 1968 by Chris Robertson. When launch she was 36’ but now measures 40’ that includes the normal protrusions + a 800mm hull extension.
Her owner Grant Keighley commented that she was built the same year as the launch – WAIMIGA however each owner wanted different looks, WAIMIGA the more traditional style while MASEKA’s wanted the modern look. WAIMIGA has made numerous appearance on WW and was once one of the ‘poster childs’ of the classic wooden launch movement. Photos below for comparison.
MASEKA”s hull is all kauri, double diagonal planking on stringers and frames, originally only glassed to the waterline. Her combings are solid teak. Decks and flying bridge (later addition) are plywood.
Some History Below Ex Her Owner (as they know it ) Any help in adding to this would be appreciated. Its so great when we get such extensive details of a vessel – also always a good sign that she is well cared for, and we like that.
OWNERS
• Built for a unknown family with a business in Newmarket It is possible that the name was from family members eg. Mary, Sera, Karen? 1968-?
• Brian Purdy, who owned North Coast Builders ?
• John Priestley ?
• Gary and Yvonne Sterling 1983-1987
• A partnership of 3 airline pilots 1987-1995
• Grant and Lee Keighley 1995-2025
POWER
• 145hp lay over Perkins, going by the cut out in the starboard engine bearer to accommodate the vertical heat exchanger
• 175hp lay over Perkins
• 2004, 240hp Yanmar 4HLA
The Perkins broke it’s crankshaft so it was decided to bite the bullet and install the Yanmar (non common rail marine diesel) matching 8 degree angled ZF gearbox, high tensile SS prop shaft, Briski 22×18 four blade prop, this transformed the boat giving, reliability, much better performance and economy
To strengthen the hull to cope with the extra power, additional laminated floors installed between the frames in the engine room, frames flinched for additional strength
OTHER WORK (carried out by the Keighley ownership )
Todays report comes to us from the camera of Bay of Islands photographer – Dean Wright. Dean snapped this gallery of craft over the xmas period in and around the bay.
Some familiar faces here and a few newbies – Dean commented that “Just when you think you’ve seen it all, along comes a Maritimo with a XOS six person island pool float. Every wooden boat should have one or two… Yee gods what next” – photo below Enjoy the stunning photos – As always – click on photos to enlarge😉
What you buy when you can’t quite afford a beachfront bach at Omaha
The video below showing LADY ADELAIDE leaving Bon Accord Harbour, Kawau Island gives you a look at some of the weather closer to Auckland. Sent in by Andrew Sunde.
Todays 42’ classic launch – DOLPHIN V made a. brief appearance earlier this year (Feb – link below)) where we learnt that she was designed and built in 963 by Swanson in Queen Charlotte Sounds, South Island. She is carvel kauri construction and powered by a Detroit 6v53. Feb2024 https://waitematawoodys.com/2024/02/28/dolphin-v/
Now thanks to Bruce Ryrie – we get to have a look below decks. Enjoy.
31-12-2024 INPUT & PHOTOS ex LEW HENDERSON – Our extended family owned the Dolphin V from about 1965 to 1973 having bought it from the original owner. She was kept in Paramatta and completed many fantastic trips to the Sound with our families – often sleeping 11 for weeks at a time. I believe she was built at Swansons yard in Picton across near where the Echo finished her days. At that time she had a Ford 100 engine. When sold she was reengined to work with a barge out of Paramatta to Mana Island. She was put into survey at that time.
She was similar in design and layout to many of the Swanson boats but one of the biggest they constructed. Originally fitted with a tall mast stepped on the forward cabin. Latter a raked mast was mounted on the main cabin.
When we first had her she was moored in Browns Bay in Paramatta but at nearly 6 ft draft this area became unsuitable. Also lowering a large mast every time to get under the bridge was a challenge. She was then moored in front of the Mana Cruising club before the marina was built. We also had a mooring in Double cove near Picton for the summer months. (photo captions) • Early – about 1966 • Then at the end of our time 1973 – I was only15 and driving her in this photo while Dad was on a rock taking the photo. • A family shot • On the slip at Mana – looks about 1968
Saturday was a great day for the classic wooden boating community – 13 classic craft (twelve launches and one yacht) made the journey up the river to the waterfront Riverhead Tavern for lunch.
In addition to the 13 woodys we were joined by 5 skippers and partners who made the trip by car.
As seems to always be the case – the weather and sea conditions was perfect for the trip and everyone had a great time.
Nice to welcome several newbies to the flock – these gathering are ideal for meeting fellow classic boating enthusiasts – the anchoring, coming ashore to the wharf and dining make it a shared experience and helps break the ice with ’strangers’. These days people seem loath to row up to another woody in a bay and say hi, some anything that grows the classic woody community is to be encouraged.
Saturdays cruise was the last event on the Classic Woody Calendar for the year, we will be back to you in the new year with details on more events. As always click on photos to enlarge – photos thanks to Margo Hudson & yours truely.
NEWSFLASH – as I have told anyone and everyone, the Mahurangi Regatta in late January is not to be missed. PLUS – details soon on an exciting new activity for the Sunday – the heads up – old school yachting and launch race/cruise to Kawau Island and a party at Kawau Boating Club on Sunday night. Perfect for those wanting to enjoy Mahurangi / Kawau longer eg not heading back to Auckland on Sunday morning.
A sad reminder that we were missing one of our family awaited us on the tables at the tavern – RIP David Cooke 😦
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