Florence

FLORENCE
photos ex Clare Jordan

Todays photos of Florence (1910, HN Burgess) are from Clare Jordan. Clare found them in an old album of her  great-grandparents (Jim Turner), they show one at sea, two with the life preserver ring and one that looks like on a creek somewhere, dated early 1920s. Clare’s not sure where the Creek area is,  but commented that it looked like her family spent a bit of time there camping.  They had a batch in Titirangi, but Clare felt it didn’t make sense for Florence to be on the Manukau Harbour area?
Jim Turner spent a lot of time with his best mate (Alexander Lewis) at Jenkins Bay, Titirangi.  Alexander (Sandy) had something to do with the VCC.
Claire’s not sure who the people are, the man in the photos looks like the same person with the captains hat on.

I have forwarded these photos to Florence’s current owner Adam Wild & as expected Adam was rapt to get them, he is currently looking at some subtle rework to the painting scheme of Florence’s superstructure and commented that these photos will assist greatly.

Enter Florence in the ww search box to see more

Harold Kidd Update

FLORENCE spent her years from 1922 in Whangarei owned by J.C. Reynolds but, if the companion pic of JEAN GRAY is anything to go by, the album contains pics of the period before that and associated closely with people in Victoria Cruising Club. FLORENCE was owned in 1919 by F. Price, like JEAN GRAY’s owner, A. Lewis and later A. Hazleman, a VCC stalwart, and was Vice-Commodore from 1920. In fact, the life ring in the lowest pic has “VCC” on the bottom. So the pics pre-date her Whangarei period. Quite where the creek pic was taken is anyone’s guess but I don’t think it could have been on the Manukau unless they fitted FLORENCE with wheels. Just to confuse things a bit, there was a FLORENCE on the Manukau, owned by Pardington, but it was only a 20 footer.
So, these are companion pics to the JEAN GRAY pic, featuring VCC notables of the time.

A Woody Labour Weekend

A Woody Labour Weekend

The weather split the CYA classic fleet in two this Labour weekend with some heading to Kawau for the opening of the ‘new’ Kawau Boating Club. From all reports it was a blast & well done to those that made the trip. The photos below of Kawau are from the camera of Margo & Jamie Hudson (Lady Crossley).
A selection of classic launches mooched around Waiheke Island & with the weather forecast –  Onetangi Bay was the most popular spot. We had to share it with a rather large number of plastic boats, I think every Rivia in Auckland was there, but for once they behaved & the hum of the gen-sets  was almost bearable 🙂
Waiheke photos ex me (I took a few more ,but they will be ‘Mystery Boat’ posts)

PS If you were away on the boat or at the bach, you may have missed the last 4 ww posts, which featured the boats of Norm Fairlie. Stroll down to enjoy 😉

WAIHEKE ISLAND

KAWAU ISLAND

Somethings wrong here – why is the oldest rowing?

Is This NZ’s Finest Classic Yacht Afloat?

Little Jim – A16
42’10” LOA – 28′ LWL – 9’11” Beam – 6′ Draft

1934 bermudan-rigged gentleman’s racer / cruiser – designed by Arch Logan. Arguably New Zealand’s best classic yacht afloat in terms of pedigree, condition & sail-ability. Restored & maintained by artisan boat builder Peter Brookes.

For Sale By Negociation

More detail & photos here   https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/08/31/sailing-sunday-little-jim/

Contact owner on   rm@drivenevents.co.nz

Link to view trademe listing   http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/boats-marine/yachts/keeler/auction-795988279.htm

Now Little Jim in the perfect world should be named Little Jim II, the original was wrecked at Great Barrier Island. Photos below (details below with the photos, date?)

Little Jim 1 wreck

 

 

Sailing Sunday 19/10/14 – Ranui

Sailing Sunday – Ranui

Ranui was relaunched Monday 13th after a 3 month full hull refit at Salthouses. Owner Richard Allen had lots of nice things to say about the Salthouse yard, ” really performed and they are special , providing owners with use of their facilities and advice without charge and with a wealth of knowledge and practical advice gained over 60 years building many of the finest of  ‘Waitemata Woodies’ . All traditional boaties need to remember Salthouses yard, which of course has its own dock facilities, 2 slips and various moorings in Greenhithe. Of course if you want a high tech carbon racer they love doing those too.”
Ranui would be one of the best document vessels on ww so to view / read more – click here https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/09/21/sailing-sunday-ranui/

And as a bonus –  I have included some USA photos sent to me by Randell Colker of the boat he built & has just launched. Randell & his partner Shirley Estes visited NZ in 2012 & I secured them a spot crewing on Thelma in the CYA Classic Yacht Regatta. Randell said it was the highlight of their trip down under, so much so they are coming back in late Feb/March of 2015 & hope to catch the regatta again.

CYA Launch Group Road Trip

CYA Launch Group Road Trip

While the CYA yachties were having their 1st race of the season on Sunday, the launch group hit the road & headed north to Whangateau for a shed visit to check on the progress of ‘Laughing Lady’ at the Whangateau Traditional Boat yard. Good planning ensured we were there at high-tide, so we got to see all the old girls afloat. Regular readers of ww will have seen photos of the yard from my previous posts but today was special to share Pam & George’s magic space with a bunch of serious wooden boat nuts.

James Dreyer gave a brief talk on the the history of LL & how the restoration was coming along. Probably the best question of the day & best answer was – “Are you taking her back to the USA” – “No, she is here to stay, the Waitemata & greater Hauraki Gulf is her new home”.

Post the shed visit we headed up the hill to Carolyn & Shane Anderson’s (MV Waimiga) stunning property for a a tasting of locals wines & their own estate olive oil. A BBQ followed & then a coastal walk.
There are plans to make this trip a regular on the launch calendar.

A big thank you to Pam & George from Whangateau Traditional Boats + Carolyn & Shane. And James Dreyer for letting us all crawl over Laughing Lady 🙂

Enjoy the photos – click any to enlarge – I took so many, this is just a random selection, I’ll post more over time.

Sailing Sunday – Innismara

Sailing Sunday – Innismara
This week the classic yachting fleet saw the return of the magnificent ex Bernie Schmidt built, 67′ racer Innismara, aka ‘war canoe’. She has been restored by Blanche & Ian Cooke with the team at YDL.

Innismere sold on trademe in 2011 for just over $3010, but was in very poor shape after being stored in a shed since 2002 & sustaining fire damage to the forward sections. Her keel was missing having no doubt been sold for lead. Refer below Steve Horsley photo at the time of sale & my photo of her in the YDL shed awaiting restoration.
Once again the Cookes have returned one of our classic fleet to better than new condition.

The above photos (click to enlarge) were taken by Tony Stevenson dockside as she was being prepped for the mast being re-stepped. CYA member Steve Horsley commented “that’s a party cockpit if I ever saw one”.

Given that Blanche & Ian already own the 1937, 60′ Ranger, who sails what is going to be very interesting.

Now I’m off to one of my favourite wooden boat haunts today so Mondays post should be a cracker 😉

Jack Brooke Cruise Collection #5 – Matanui 1955

Jack Brooke Cruise Collection – Matanui 1955

waitematawoodys would again like to thank Robert Brooke for making the remarkable cruise drawings done by his father, Jack Brooke, available to ww followers. Jack produced a hand drawing on each cruise. Today’s post is the fifth of several – enjoy.

The above drawing records the travels of Matanui during a ‘boys’ weekend fishing trip in 1955. They departed early Friday evening & returned on Monday morning. A lot of ground was covered with the Needles being the targeted location to the north & Elephant Cove to the east. From the sea state drawing & comments, it must have been a little rough between Elephant Cove & Shag Rock.

The crew was made up of Jack Brooke, Joe Kissin, John Ellis & Scott Wilson. Interestingly the crew did the same trip 11 years later – I will post that drawing next week.

Sailing Sunday – Tango


TANGO

photos taken at the 2014 Classic Yacht & Launch Exhibition

Tango was Jim Young’s first keel boat – designed / built in 1954/1955 & launched in 1956. As Doug Reid commented at the 2014 Classic Yacht & Launch Exhibition – Tango was 20 years ahead to the pack, with her world first, on a cruising keel boat, ‘spade’ rudder & short keel. Prior to this keelers had their rudders faired into their long keels.

Constructed of heart kauri planking  – single skin, caulked on spotted gum ribs. Her specs are: LOA – 9.45m LOW – 8.06m Beam – 1.83m Disp – 3500kg.

Photo updates from Graeme Salter (owner)
The out-of-water photo really shows off her lovely lines, which most people do not get to see, also check out the keel rudder set up.
The second photo was at the Mercury Islands February last year (2013)

2014 Classic Yacht & Launch Exhibition – A Toast to Jim Young

A photo gallery from todays opening of the 2014 Classic Yacht & Launch Exhibition.

This years theme is a toast / celebration to legendary designer & boat builder Jim Young.

The show is open tomorrow (Sunday) between 10am > 4.00pm for those that did not make it today (Sat).

Click to enlarge

 

Jack Brooke Cruise Collection #4 – Kiariki Xmas 1962- 63

Jack Brooke Cruise Collection #4 – Kiariki Xmas 1962- 63

Thanks to Robert Brooke for making  another of these remarkable cruise drawings done by his father, Jack Brooke, available to ww followers. Jack produced a hand drawing on each cruise. Todays post is the fourth of several – enjoy.

The above drawing records the travels of Kiariki during their annual Christmas / New Year Cruise to Whangaroa, Bay of Islands, Gt Barrier & all points North

Crew: John Brooke, Elsie Brooke, Peter Walker, Rob Wallace.

This one is my favourite – the detail & humour is first-class 🙂