Category Archives: Events

NO EXCUSES – GET OUT ON THE WATER THIS SUMMER + Whangarei Maritime Festival Details 

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NO EXCUSES – GET OUT ON THE WATER THIS SUMMER + Whangarei Maritime Festival Details 

Todays story stretches the WW statute around what’s a classic wooden boat but in our book beauty always wins. I know its plywood and probably has some f/glass but at sub $10k you get a very smart looking boat the will turn heads and get admiring thumbs up.

And you get to bring it home and avoid the marina robber barons. In the last 10 yrs been garaged and mostly used on the central north island lakes. If in late summer you decide boatings not for you – re-list it , I’d be surprised if you lost anything on the purchase price.

2025 WHANGAREI MARITIME FESTIVAL

In just over a week (Oct 11>12) the salty Whangarei folks are hosting the annual –  WHANGAREI MARITIME FESTIVAL at the Whangarei Town Basin. If you haven’t attended before, it is time you did – why?

1. There will be an impressive on & off -the-water display of classic and traditional water craft

2. Hands-on maritime displays +  interactive learning experiences

3. A Kids’ Zone + live music on the waterfront, and maritime talks

4, Entry is FREE

5. With the new expressways it is less than 2 hours drive from Auckland

6. Your car needs a good run 🙂

Now do not think this is a small-scale event – last year 20,000+ people attended the festival, including me – you choose whether you go Saturday or Sunday, but my recommendation would be Saturday, the Town Basin has more of a buzz on Saturdays + lots of markets in the area for those that are bored easily with things boating related.

Link to 2024 Festival WW storyhttps://waitematawoodys.com/2023/10/16/whangarei-maritime-festival-trip-report/

KEY INTEL October 11th and 12th 2025

Whangārei Town Basin – Free Entry

More info: www.whangareimaritimefestival.co.nz

A 1908 CLASSIC WOODEN LAKE BOAT – LOGAN LINEAGE ? + 2026 WOODEN BOATING EVENT CALENDAR

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A 1908 CLASSIC WOODEN LAKE BOAT – LOGAN LINEAGE ? + 2026 WOODEN BOATING EVENT CALENDAR

Todays classic wooden launch is named – RICHMOND ROSE, and has recently made an appearance on tme (thanks Ian McDonald).

The story goes that she was built in 1908 by Logan, is 26’ in length and powered by a ‘well’ mounted Yamaha 9.9hp 4stroke outboard.

Sadly her kauri planks have been glassed over. Home is Lake Rotoiti

I suspect a name change at some stage as in/around the 1908 period most Logan launches were ‘canoe stern / double enders’.

A search of Harold Kidd and Robin Elliott’s book The Logans’ drew a blank.

So woodys can we learn more about this classic wooden launch and confirm her design / builder and year.

PUT THESE WOODYS DATES IN YOUR 2026 DIARY

MYSTERY AT LAKE TAUPO  – IS MOTORBOAT SUSIE BELLE  COMING OR GOING + Labour Weekend Classic Wooden Boating Info

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Lake Taupo – Sept 2025
OBC Marina, Auckland – May 2024

MYSTERY AT LAKE TAUPO  – IS MOTORBOAT SUSIE BELLE  COMING OR GOING + Labour Weekend Classic Wooden Boating Info

On a recent trip to Taupo to check out his flotilla of lake boats, Jason Prew spotted SUSIE BELLE on the back of a transporter. Given the heavy rain, JP wasn’t able to ascertain whether the launch was arriving or leaving Taupo. Anyone able to confirm if there is a new owner and where she calls home these days.

From the 2024 story we learnt that SUSIE BELLE is 34’ in length, designed by Don Brooke and built by Gary Wheeler. The built year is 1986 and whilst we understand built from wood, , plywood + there is a very thick layer of paint aka f/glass. Power is via a 60hp Isuzu diesel.

INPUT ex TREVOR COPPOCK – I spotted Susie Belle passing Wynyard Point on 17 September with a “For Sale” sign on her rails.

INPUT ex PAUL DRAKE –  Photo is at Motuoapa. Not previously seen at Taupo, so she is either coming or simply passing through.

03-10-2025 UPDATE ex Jay Brosnahan (Jays Towing & Boat Haulage) has advised SUSIE BELLE is sitting on his transport trailer atm and she will be getting dropped into Motuoapa Marina (Taupo/Turangi) next week to live.

04-10-20225 update ex JAY BROSNAHAN – Haul Out

07-10-2025 Splash day at Motuoapa

BOATING THIS LABOUR WEEKEND – Join Us At Kawau Island 

Labour Weekend (Oct 24>27) is fast approaching so time to lock away cruising plans. After the success of last years inaugural Waitematawoodys Classic Boat Parade at the Kawau Boating Club Spring Splash Regatta weekend, WW is pleased to confirm that we are again partnering with KBC and the Ponsonby Cruising Club to make the holiday weekend extra special.

We encourage all skippers to take part in the weekend – whether entering your yacht in the weekends races or cruising to Kawau to enjoy the Island / KBC vibes.

The Waitematawoodys  Classic Boat Parade will take place on Sunday 26th with a start time of 11am off the KBC clubhouse jetty. As with all things WW related we make it easy eg no entry paperwork, just rock up on the day. Link to 2024 WW event here  – https://waitematawoodys.com/2024/10/29/kawau-island-spring-splash-regatta-review-70-classic-wooden-boating-photos/

If you haven’t visited the KBC in recent years you’re in for a treat, it is truely a stunning waterfront venue with hospitality + food and beverages unmatched in NZ.

Full weekend details in the downloadable PDF file below, which includes the entry (free) form for the sailing events. 

LABOUR WEEKEND SPRING SPLASH (2)Download

REFLECTIONS ON THE 2025 PORT TOWNSEND WOODEN BOAT FESTIVAL – 80+ Photos / Videos

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REFLECTIONS ON THE 2025 PORT TOWNSEND WOODEN BOAT FESTIVAL – 80+ Photos / Videos

One of the bucket list classic wooden boating events is the annual Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival. From all reports the 2025 event was outstanding. While its easy to go on-line and find a link to a professional overview, in my eye there is something special about viewing a festival attendees collection of boats – sure the light or camera angle isn’t alway perfect but you get a raw edge, which appeals.

Today thanks to kiwi John Oates we get to share what appealed to John’s eye.

One of the festival features that sets it apart from a lot of events is the ability to go aboard the boats and talk to the owners. There is something for everyone – food & drink, live music, kids activities, movie screening and lots of opportunities to get on the water.

One of this years ket themes was tagged –  ‘A Gathering of Maritime Legends: Celebrating Shipwrights’. The festival brought together shipwrights from some of the world’s most iconic maritime institutions—craftspeople who keep the art of wooden boatbuilding alive with skill, heart, and tradition.Via  a mix of talks, presentations and hands on gatherings where the public were able to rub up against the legends.

Enjoy the gallery – I did. As always click on photos to enlarge ;-

Ps John has promised another photo report featuring more classic sail boats ✔️

Pps where did that Morris Minor Ute come from ?

1960’S NOSTALGIA – CLASSIC WOODEN BOATS AT WARKWORTH TOWN BASIN

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Same day – different angle

1960’S NOSTALGIA – CLASSIC WOODEN BOATS AT WARKWORTH TOWN BASIN

 Todays woody photos popped on the Warkworth NZ Old Time Photos fb and comes to us from Alison Wallis via Maurice Sharp. The photo was tagged – Warkworth wharf late 1960’s, around Christmas time.

The classic wooden launch alongside the wharf, pointing downstream has to be TASMAN , the 1927 Colin Wild built beauty.

The bridge-decker anchored mid stream is a mystery – at first glance I thought – LADY RAE the 1948 Chas Bailey design, but a quick WW search proved once again I was wrong.

So woodys can we put a new to the bridge-decker.

LABOUR WEEKEND WOODY ACTIVITY

Time to start thinking about boating for Labour weekend (Oct 24>27). The Kawau Boating Club’s Spring Splash Regatta is a great event and there is something for everyone. Details below. Next week I’ll supply details on the motor launch activities.

TRADITIONAL CLASSIC BOATS MOORED ON THE WAIROA RIVER 

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TRADITIONAL CLASSIC BOATS MOORED ON THE WAIROA RIVER 

Following on from yesterday’s story on the annual Classic Wooden Boat Cruise to the Clevedon Cruising Club, as promised today we share the wooden craft passed moored on the Wairoa River.

Many are semi permanent residents and its interesting to see what (if any) work has been undertaken in the previous 12 months.  All too often these back waters can become parking lots for owners that object to lining the back pockets of the Auckland marina owner fat cats.  So it was nice to see most skippers are keeping up the maintenance on their craft, and pleasing to see a lot of ’new’ arrivals. 

Enjoy the gallery – photo quality varies as the first click was at 6.30am and the light improved as the journey progressed up river. As always click on photos to enlarge.

CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT CLEVEDON SPRING CRUISE HIGHLIGHTS

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Very Early Start Up The River
Follow The Leader
Raffle Prizes

CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT CLEVEDON SPRING CRUISE HIGHLIGHTS

A tad weary writing this story so it will be short and I’ll let the photos tell the story.The weekend just gone saw a fleet of classic wooden craft making the pilgrimage to the CLEVEDON CRUISING CLUB for the annual woodys overnight BBQ.

As always the tide wags the dogs tail so we were looking at a very early trip up the Wairoa River, by early try 6.15am. The smart woody skippers travelled down Friday afternoon and anchored overnight at the river mouth. A great sunset delivered some nice photos.

I took photos of the classic woodys moored on route, it is always interesting to view the deterioration of some craft and the new arrivals. Will do a story on the river trip tomorrow.

Most of Saturday was spent boat hoping and catching up on dockside gossip. Rest assured if you weren’t there you were talked about.Captain Giddens hosted late afternoon drinks on ALLERGY and then we moved onto the clubrooms for the evening.

If you haven’t been to a Woody gig at the CCC its an all-embracing old school night shindig – bbq’s, outdoor fires, karaoke with a professional singer that could make even the worst shower singer sound ok. There are raffles, which I have to report the woodys skippers did very well at – Captain Giddens collecting 4 prizes.
Everything is BYO but the club very generously provide additional food and an impressive dessert table.

Departure home on Sunday was almost as early as Saturday and the forecast wasn’t flash eh N>30 knots. I can’t speak for the others but it wasn’t the very pleasant and if it wasn’t bolted down it ended up on the cabin floor 😦

A big shout out to the classic yachts that joined the flotilla this year, with access to the local knowledge of Barry Abel, the deeper draft yachts had an uneventful  passage on the river . Special thanks to all the woodys that attended by car, your company added to the evening.

Enjoy the photos and start thinking about the Spring Splash At Kawau Island on Labour Weekend.

UNIDENTIFIED WOODEN LAUNCH, PT CHEVALIER 1933 – ANY CLUES

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UNIDENTIFIED WOODEN LAUNCH, PT CHEVALIER 1933 – ANY CLUES

Todays woody photo comes to us from the NZ Herald archives via David Tomlinson and is dated April 1933. The caption reads – ‘Looking down from the foreshore at Pt Chev, showing visiting sailing boats on the beach’.
On the original fb post Robin Elliott did a wonderful job of ID’ing the yachts, see below.

But todays challenge is can we put a name to the launch at anchor in the middle of the beach.

“From left the yachts are: S-47 Snipe, an American Snipe class design that failed to gain popularity here and was registered in the open S-class yachts exc 14ft not exc 16ft.; T-41 14-footer Nyria, originally a 14-foot One Design (X-class) built by Colin Wild in 1921 but converted to an open T-class not exc 14ft, in 1929; V-13 Belle, 18ft racing yacht designed by Pt Chevalier identity, A.L. ‘Trotter’ Willetts. V-class was exc 16ft not exc 18ft; S-13 Kittiwake was originally a Logan built yawl that was converted to an S-class and raced with Pt Chevalier Sailing Club by the Thorpe brothers

LABOUR WEEKEND SPRING SPLASH (2)Download

ROOM FOR ONE MORE – CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH KOTARE

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ROOM FOR ONE MORE – CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH KOTARE

Today hopefully, weather permitting, myself and a collection of classic woodys will be docked at the CLEVEDON CRUISING CLUB for our annual overnight BBQ cruise up the Wairoa River.

Whilst a few boats I’m sure will be slightly over crewed, none will match the photo of the tourist boat KOTARE that we see above unloading passengers at Kaiteriteri Beach, Nelson. Seriously…… how there wasn’t a capsize I do not know, and you can be sure there wasn’t a PFD for everyone 😦

The photo comes to us from the ‘Memories of Abel Tasman National Park’ fb on a posting dated Nov 2019 by Trevor Norriss, via John Burland.

Back in April 2021we ran a story on KOTARE, lots of history and photos  – link here https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/04/24/kaiteriteri-beach-can-we-id-the-launch/

2022 Cruise

GETTING SHIPSHAPE FOR THE WOODYS CLEVEDON CRUISE THS WEEKEND

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GETTING SHIPSHAPE FOR THE WOODYS CLEVEDON CRUISE THS WEEKEND
Guests aboard the 55’ spirit of tradition classic woody motorsailer – ALLERGY , often marvel at the seemingly bottomless supply of rum, well woodys a recent visit to the Slipway Milford revealed the secret –  Captain Dave has the boating equivalent of a wine cellar.

Joking aside its not too late to join in this weekends Classic Woody Cruise to the CLEVEDON CRUISING CLUB for an overnight dockside BBQ – RSVP NOW to  waitematawoodys@gmail.com for details.

LOOKING FOR A GOOD READ / GIFT


If you’re like me and find most fishing websites and magazine articles a little to fisher bloke talking to fisher bloke, Al Brown’s new book HOOKED is a great guide and reference tool + some easy recipes.  To quote the back cover  ‘Learn how to tie knots, bait hooks, cast lures, and fillet and cook your catch’. No glossy photos , its all illustrations and line drawings – primary audience is children and adults like me. At $35 its a bargain and if you are an expert – its the perfect gift for a grandchild or someone new to the sport. FYI – my local bookshop sold out in 24 hrs.

RSVP – boat name to waitematawoodys@gmail.com