Royal Saxon 1939 Game Fishing Cruise 

Royal Saxon 1939 Game Fishing Cruise 

 I was recently contacted by Martin Howson in regard to the existence of a journal documenting a 1939 fishing cruise aboard the 36’, Colin Wild built 1930 bridge decker – Royal Saxon to Mayor Island, Bay of Plenty. The journal was penned in 1997 by a friend of Martin’s late uncle – Harold C. Clark. Harold crossed the bar not long after writing the story.
At the time of the game fishing cruise Royal Saxon was owned and skippered by Claude Kendall of Hamilton – the crew on the trip consisted of Claude Kendall, Jack Kendall (Claude’s father), Bert Craike, Harold Clark and a friend of Claude’s named Sam.
You can see / read on Royal Saxon here
Enjoy the read it is a cracker.

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Royal Saxon 13

 

Input from Mark Jarvis – photos below of Royal Saxon in her winter berth in Riwaka.

 

Woody Weekend Coming Up

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WOODY WEEKEND – THIS SUNDAY
This Sunday (14th) sees the CYA’s last launch hurrah for the summer – a cruise to the Riverhead Tavern. Conditions and timing are perfect and very civilised for a Sunday – 3m High Water @ 2.30pm, so we will be sliding up the ‘creek’ at 12>12.30pm. Leaving the hotel around 3.30.
For those leaving from the city and further east – there will be a gathering in the vicinity of the harbour bridge around 11am , with a re-group off Lucus Creek at approx. 12pm.
The occasional person comments to me “what Riverhead again” – but these trips are a great boating day and we get to mix & mingle at a cool venue, it’s also perfect for inviting friends and family that normally wouldn’t attend events ‘at sea’. If you are boat-less, its only a 1/2 hr drive from the CBD, so no excuse for not making an appearance.
The food is very good – from a simple burger & fries to sometime a little more up market 🙂 all tastes and budgets are catered for, and you don’t even have to dine – just enjoy a fizzy beverage and chat on the deck.
Remember to bring your dinghy, and if your unsure as to the best spot to anchor, just follow someone who looks like they know what they are doing.
See you there.
If you’re reading this and you’re not a current Classic Yacht Association member, tag along and find out what you have been missing.
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What Are You Doing This Winter

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BOAT CRAFTS

Today I’d like to intro boatcrafts.nz  the new initiative from the NZ Traditional Boatbuilding School – in my words its a very hands-on series of workshops where we can learn / brush-up on the basic fundamentals of maintaining, restoring or building a wooden boat. The trustees, sounds a bit posh 🙂 are just a bunch of passionate kiwi boaties that care about the future of the wooden boating movement and unlike most of us are actually doing something to help us all out.
I’ll let the NZTBBS guys tell the story, see below. Note: Links to the individual courses are at the bottom of the page. Or check out the website.
Have a read and decide what interests you the most – I’m sure the 1st – “ Marine Propulsion Systems” would appeal to all boat owners – but note – numbers are limited to 20, so get in quick. Shortly we will be running a survey asking for your help on what subjects appeal the most – more details soon.
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LINKS
MARINE PROPULSION SYSTEMS 
BUILD A 1/2 MODEL                             
ESSENTIAL SKILLS COURSE
LOFTING
WORKING WITH COMPOSITES
STEAM BEDING AND FITTING RIBS

Ladybird Splashes

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LADYBIRD SPLASHES

There were a lot of smilie faces in Devonport on Wednesday, as Mike Strong got ready to re-launch the 1949 Bert Woollacott designed ketch LadyBird. 

Mike had hauled LB out and into Kevin Johnson’s Devonport shed with the intention of a 6 months re-fit, well as they do, the list of things to do grew a little – fast forward 2+years and LB is looking magnificent.
The team at Boat Haulage, as always, did a slick job of collecting LB and transporting her to Hobsonville Marina. In anticipation of LB being a little thirsty after 2 years in a shed, there was an impressive collection of pumps on stand by, I suspect Mike will be camping on LB for a few nights 🙂
We will show you LB’s interior once Mike has finished putting all the bits back on board, in the meantime you can get a glimpse below at this link.
Question of the day – who’s next in Kevin’s shed? Be quick if you are considering hauling out, it never empty for long :-
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CAN ANYONE HELP SEABIRD OUT
Steve Thomas  the owner of Seabird has a gearbox problem (Paragon RB20 model Serial No: 5D 3527) and is looking for a replacement. Details and photos below.
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Woody Waiheke BBQ

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Not sure what these two were up too but the t-shirt gets the WW of approval

Woody Waiheke BBQ

Saturday (30/03/2019) saw a group of hardy, the barometer was not saying summer, CYA members gather in Putiki Bay, Waiheke Island for a post CYA yacht race BBQ. The photos have been enhanced, it wasn’t quite that sunny 🙂

The bay filled up with a good collection of woody yachts and launches. The CYA committee even put on a band – well done guys.
Special thanks to Chris Sadler for the use of his launch – Moeraki as the start boat for the yacht race. Moeraki is a very smart looking woody, I have always admired her – great to see her out on the Waitemata. You can read / see more on her here (lots in the comments section).  https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/03/26/mystery-launch-26032014/
Woody launches in the bay included – My Girl, Lucille, Waimea, Puawai, Lucinda, Matuku, Summer Wine, Wirihana and Mahanui – some I suspect were moored there.
Special thanks to Jason Prew and Mark Edmonds for the (phone) photos.
As a special treat for the skipper of Lucille – I have include the youtube video below 😉

Raider

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RAIDER

One of my roaming woodys sent in yesterday the above photos of the launch – Raider, on the hard at Okahu Bay. I imagine the Harbour Master has parked her there. Anyone know what happened to her?

She appears to be a Parris or once was before someone got creative with a few sheets of ply. Perhaps a sister to Cherokee / Mistral?

Ever Wanted To Have a Peek Down Below On One Of The Classic Yacht Association’s A-Class Gaff Yachts

This weekend and next, drop down to Auckland’s Viaduct harbour and you can check out the likes of – Thelma, Rawene, Rainbow, Waitangi, Rawhiti & Frances. Details below.
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1951 Launch Race + Win a WW T’shirt

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1951 Launch Race

Todays photo comes to us via Lew Redwood’s fb and is tagged ‘1951 Open launch race regatta – Waiheke Island.
First woody to correctly name the 4 launches, wins a WW t-shirt. If no one gets all 4, then it steps down to 3, then 2 , then 1 – so even if you can only ID one, enter – you could win.
Enties via email only – to –    waitematawoodys@gmail.com
WW T modelled below by Simon, owner of the c.1965 Ben Hipkin designed and built 36’ launch – Sceptre. Photo sent to me last weekend by one of my floating spies 😉
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Dionysus (Paulmarkson)

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Dionysus (Paulmarkson)

 
Todays WW story is sobering viewing, it records the fate of Dionysus, the Percy Vos built motor sailer, that went ashore at Oakura in July 2014.
I understand she was left unattended on anchor and the weather turned nasty overnight and the owners could not get out to her. Details & photos from Cameron Pollard.
 
She was extensively damaged with her decks and bulkheads popped. The decision was made instantly by insurance and council to remove the wreck asap.
Cameron reports that her Gardner engine was taken away after its salt water washing and has since been saved and is destined for a new home in a very nice fishing boat conversion.
Her rigs and tailshaft etc were dragged into a paddock and anything still intact was left with it .
 
Lots of vehicles on the beach in the photos – in fact the beach is actually a designated road.

John Salthouse Crosses The Bar

John Salthouse

John Salthouse Crosses The Bar
Sad to hear that John Salthouse, the founder of Salthouse Boatbuilders passed away on Sunday night. If you have any doubts as to the extent of the mans input to our classic woody fleet just type SALTHOUSE in the WW search box & you’ll be amazed by the craft that John either built or enhanced in his lifetime. Below is a gallery of just some of the craft that Salthouse Boatbuilders have built.
Our thoughts go out to the extended Salthouse family. While he has left us, his legacy will grace our waters for many many years to come.
TRINIDAD

Rebecca

Waiheke Coro Iron Yacht

REBECCA 

This weekend is the last chance to experience ’Sculpture on the Gulf’ on Waiheke Island, I’ll be doing the 2km walk that features 26 new sculptures along the stunning Waiheke coastline including  Oneroa village and surrounds. Organisers say to allow around 2 hrs to enjoy the walk. 

Woody Angus Rogers snapped the above photos of Rebecca last weekend, built by legendary kiwi artist Jeff Thomson from corrugated iron and to quote Jeff “she references early NZ classic yacht designs and the long history of boats moored at Matiatia and elsewhere around Waiheke Island”.
She was inspired by her namesake Rebecca, a 1902 gaff-rigged yacht, now sailing under her original name – Dolphin (see link below for more info & photos) https://tinorawatrust.co.nz/dolphin
 
Note: no woodys library would be complete without a copy of the book ‘Rebecca – The restoration of an old yacht’ (cover below) by the late yachtsman, artist and educator – Peter Smith. I currently own 4 copies, whenever I see a copy for sale (on-line or in a secondhand book shop) I grab it. They make great gifts.
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Update 10-04-2019 – looks like the artwork has found a permanent home at Gulf Harbour marina, photo es Ken Ricketts
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