Category Archives: Events

Greyhound + Johnny Wray On TV + Bargain Woody 4sale

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GREYHOUND

Greyhound was an ex WWII 40′ high speed launch .Ex Air Force out of Hobsonville. One of four launches built in the late 1930’s >early 1940′, as Waitemata chase boats for the Catalinas. They were W44; W45; W46; and W88 (now in Wigram Museum). Greyhound is thought to be W45.  She is a sister ship to Jaguar, already featured on woodys  (16.8.2014). The above photo are ex John Bullivant & the present owner, Mark Allen (trademe) via Ken Ricketts.
Allen bought the boat in December 2014 in Tutukaka & motored it down the coast to Whangerei and then took it by road to Helensville, where it resides today. It was out of the water for 6 months being re-glassed & repainted.
During the war it had two engines and would do between 30 and 40 knots, plane over the water. These days she is powered by a 120hp Ford diesel(12 knots), that is currently undergoing repair. If you are looking for a project with some history, I understand the vessel is for sale.

Input from John Bullivant – “below is a photo of Jaguar I took in the 70s. She is on the ramp at Bucklands Beach Yacht Club having just been hauled out. The Hansens who owned her had an engineering business in Harp of Erin producing grease guns amongst other products ( I still have one of their grease guns). Jaguar definitely had two stroke diesels at the time this photo was taken (used to love the sound of them). She was moored at little Bucklands beach, pretty much straight out from the owners house for years. I lived on The Parade at Bucklands for many years and saw many well known boats come and go up and down the river including Imatra, Jaguar, Golden Lotus (Alan Harnish and later Rick Irvine who put the cabin on her for diving use) Tarapunga, Alert, Carroma, Jane Gifford, Romo, Rainbow and Rainbow ii and hundreds more. Fleetwing Junior (with cabin) was moored almost in front of our place (belonged to a school friends parents at the time)
Coincidentally there was a plywood yacht of around 45ft named Fleetwood moored about 200ft from her as well.
It was a great place to live in the 60s and 70s and 80s as the river was like Queen st most weekends, but as the price of gas went up there seemed to be fewer launches going out regularly. I’ve noticed a big drop off in weekend boating in the last 20 yrs (maybe it’s just me) but I’ve been out sailing on a few perfect days between Browns Bay and Rangi and been all on my own with not a boat in sight. The first time that happened I thought I was missing something – like a Tsunami warning, a very odd feeling to be out there on your own on a perfect day, would not have been like that in the 70s as the whole area would have been populated with boats of all types.”

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The Johnny Wray & Ngataki Story –  On TV Tonight (Sat 18th)

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Just a quick heads up that Television NZ will be screening tonight (Sat 18th) the latest series of ‘Te Radars Chequered Past’ on TVOne at 8:05pm. In the opening episode Radar retells the story of Johnny Wray & Ngataki’s creation. I’m told its a cracker & not to be missed – but if you do miss it, in this wonder digital world, you will be able to view it later ‘OnDemand’ link below.
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/ondemand/te-radars-chequered-past
Enjoy 🙂

36′ Grand Banks – ‘NO SALT’ – Must Be Sold – Offers over $50,000 will buy her
Check out the trademe link http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/boats-marine/motorboats/auction-1258171194.htm
Owner contactable on 021 025 46184

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Marangi – Sailing Sunday + CYA Events Update

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MARANGI – Sailing Sunday
The photo above of Marangi is ex the September 1910 edition of the NZ Yachtsman magazine, sent to me by Ken Ricketts.
The photo (9/10/1910)is just prior to her launch in Auckland, where she was built at the Le Huquet yard. She possibly went to Wellington. Can any of the woodys enlighten us on her details & history?

A Little Boat Porn
Check out this video of Rosemary III, designed by William Fife III & built in 1925 by William Fife Fairlie. waterline length is 25′ (38’6″ overall) with a 8’6″ beam. The video shows hr sailing in Falmouth, UK in early December 2017, post a very sympathetic restoration by a relative of William Fife III. For sale for NZD$520k – makes the Logan – Little Jim, a steal for around 25% that price – enter Little Jim in the ww search box for details.
Enjoy 🙂

CYA Event Updates – Update Your Diaries

Don’t always believe what you read – 🙂 there have been several changes to the CYA launch / cruising calendar.

  1. Firstly next Saturdays (18/02) lunch cruise to the Riverhead hotel has been cancelled. But there is a replacement event – an overnight raft-up at Fairway Bay (Gulf Harbour), we did this once before & it was a lot of fun. Note there is a tight window for entering & leaving the basin (gate/boom) so refer copy of CYA newsletter below for details.
  2. March 3>5 is the dates for the CYA Yacht Regatta, this year on the final day (5th) there will be a Launch Parade, just prior to a cruise to the Riverhead hotel.Full details in the newsletter below.

RSVP for these events to    admin@classicyacht.org.nz

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ID the Location & Any Vessels

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ID the Location & Any Vessels

Another photo above from the ‘Found Album’ ex Peter Renall. Anyone able to shed any light on the impressive number to vessels hauled out?

Drone Footage
Check out this Vimeo drone ‘video’ from the Mahurangi Regatta 2017” filmed / complained by Roger Mills. I even spotted by clinker dinghy, middle of the beach

Lake Rotoiti Classic & Wooden Boat Parade 2017 – 160+ photos

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Lake Rotoiti Classic & Wooden Boat Parade 2017 – 160+ photos

Another stunning long weekend weather wise & also on the woody front – this weekend I was down at Lake Rotoiti (Nth Island) for the annual classic & wooden boat parade. Holding hands again on the trip with Chris Miller. For the last few years we have positioned our selves in one shore based spot & snapped the boats as they have passed, this year we were very kindly offered the use of a RHIB to get out on the water & get amongst the fleet. The RHIB was provided by LRC&WB Association Rear Commodore Fraser Wilson, Fraser deserves a lot of credit for the above photos 🙂 . Given that CM is a professional photographer we decided that I would be the boat boy & helm the boat & CM would snap the photos, that was a good call because he is rather good 🙂
Being afloat meant that we could get a lot closer to the boats & the crews. So woodys the photos above are CM’s & below are a few of mine + a collection that I took while ashore for the post parade picnic.
I was asked to judge the awards for 7 categories, these awards are highly contested as they are only handed out every 5 years. The winners are featured at the end of todays story.
I would also like to like thank LRC&WB Commodore Grant Cossey for his help & support & as always the LRC&WB Secretary & event registrar – Rachel Jamieson, who is the real hero of this event & the association.
You can also view more on the event at CM’s blog – http://www.buggeritweareoff.com
Remember to click on photos to enlarge. Enjoy – we did 😉
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20th Lake Rotoiti Classic & Wooden Boat Parade 2017 Winners
BEST ORIGINAL WOODEN BOOT – CARVEL
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BEST ORIGINAL CLASSIC BOAT – WILD HORSES
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BEST CONVERSION – PIKO
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BEST DECORATED BOAT – HAUMOANA
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BEST DRESS CREW – ALBERTO
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BEST REPRODUCTION – SUZY Q
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MOST QUIRKY – MAGGIE
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Dinghy Day at the Lake + CYA Picnic Invite

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Dinghy Day at the Lake

The Lake Rotoiti wooden boating scene is not all big boats – recently the Lake Rotoiti Classic & Wooden Boar Association held their annual Dinghy Day, which always sees a great turnout. The much prized Seagull Trophy was won by Grant Brebner, pictured standing beside his boat – Saucy Sue* (on the trailer). Many thanks to Mike Johnson for sending in the photos.

Fingers crossed that the weather gods smile today & we get to see the running of the 20th Lake Rotoiti Classic & Wooden Boat Parade – I’m down there with the camera, so look out on Monday for a bumper woodys story 🙂
*ps I’ll be doing a ww feature story on Saucy Sue in the next few weeks.

AND WOODYS- IF YOU ARE IN AUCKLAND OVER THE WEEKEND OR A COMING BACK FROM A WEEKEND AWAY ON MONDAY – DROP THE ANCHOR & JOIN THE CYA WAITANGI DAY PICNIC – DETAILS BELOW 🙂

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My Woody Happy Place

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My Woody Happy Place

Later today I’ll be heading down to Lake Rotoiti (Nth Island) for the weekend & its no ordinary weekend – its the Lake Rotoiti Classic & Wooden Boat Parade weekend. Over 70 classic & wooden vessels of all shapes & sizes make the lake their home for the weekend, which climaxes with a lake front parade in Okawa Bay on the Saturday morning (starting at 11:00am), all the vessels are viewable from the roadside/ grass reserve. Following the parade the fleet will cruise to Wairau Bay for a good old fashioned picnic.
Myself & Chris Miller have been making the crusade for the last 4 years & its now a most do each year for us.
To check out the previous parades type Lake Rotoiti in the ww search box.

The photos above were taken last weekend by CYA Launch Captain, Angus Rogers who was at the lake for a wedding. The classics (Lady Kathleen, Achernar & a couple of unknowns) are a few of the boats that have a permanent home on the lake.
If you are out & about this long weekend & near the lake, check out the Lake Rotoiti Classic & Wooden Boat Association website for viewing details.
http://www.woodenboatparade.co.nz

Weather permitting there will another cracker ww post from the lake to start the week with 😉

Big Woody Weekend -120+ Classic wooden launch & yacht photos from 2017 Mahurangi Regatta

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Big Woody Weekend -120+ Classic wooden launch & yacht photos – Mahurangi Regatta

Rather a large post this morning woodys – the long weekend started around mid-day Friday when I slipped the lines at the marina & headed up the coast for the Mahurangi Regatta weekend. Late afternoon & into the evening, Sullivans Bay started to fill up with classic launches & cruising classic yachts. Given the SW breeze the classic yacht race fleet were not far behind. Makes a pleasant change to get to see the fleet finishing in daylight 🙂

Saturday dawned as a repeat of Friday in terms of the weather – 10/10, & it stayed that way for the next 3 days – maybe summer has arrived.
For the last few years we have been trying to beat the drum & build interest > participation in a classic wooden launch parade as part of the weekends activities – well 2017 was the year that the classic woodys really made a statement – 35+ launches of all ages & sizes meet off Scotts Landing & proceeded to motor over to Sullivans Bay & parade along the beach front in a special lane that was laid for the parade. To all the skippers that made the effort to join in, many thanks for making the event special. To the skippers that remained at anchor, maybe next year ……… 🙂
While I have been told on numerous occasions that its a sailing weekend, the truth is that with the growth of the classic launch movement , the Mahurangi weekend is now the largest classic wooden boating event in NZ. So lets all enjoy the event & celebrate our magnificent classics. I do have one wee bleat about the weekend, but I’ll talk about that at the end of todays post.

I have broken todays pictorial into five parts – Launch Parade, Regatta Yacht Race, General Regatta, Kawau Island & Trip home / Auckland Anniversary Regatta

At the Regatta prize giving on Saturday night I was chuffed to accept on Harold Kidd’s behalf the ‘John Cole Trophy’ (photo below) – awarded for ‘aesthetic contribution to the Mahurangi Regatta’, when I told Harold about the award he was concerned that it had taken 80 years for people to recognize his good looks, I told him I think his looks were enhanced by the fleet of classics he has presented over the years at the regatta 😉
Not along after walking up to collect Harolds award I was up again – it was my turn this time – I was presented with the ‘Handicappers Trophy’ (photo below) for helping with the Launch Parade over the last 5 years.

I saw lots of cameras out there, so send your photos to waitematawoodys@gmail.com & we will share them (the good ones) with the wider woody community.

AND REMEMBER YOU CAN ENLARGE THE PHOTOS BY CLICKING ON THEM.

LAUNCH PARADE (Hopefully I got everyone, if I missed you boat, sorry but one guy (only me on-board, family joined later) & one camera has limitations

REGATTA YACHT RACING

GENERAL REGATTA

KAWAU ISLAND – in case you did not know – the Kawau Boat Club rocks

TRIP HOME + SOME AUCKLAND ANNIVERSARY REGATTA PHOTOS

DOG FREE REGATTA

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As you mooch around classics one of the things you notice is that a  lot & I mean A LOT of the boats have dogs on-board, not big scary dogs, 99% of the time they are small / medium dogs & they tend to be very loved & very well behaved – I would estimate that 1/3 of the people that I regularly boat with have a pooch & that pooch is better behaved than most kids. So why would someone attempt to make a classic boating event dog free. Thats what the organizers of the Mahurangi Regatta tried to do this weekend, I say tried because common sense won out & the dogs stayed. But it really does worry me that they are people out there that would send the time & effort to try to change the council rules on a piece of public land just because they do not like dogs. Maybe next time they should try making it Kids Free 🙂 A word of warning, keep this up & you will lose a large chunk of your loyalists.

I will not bother to comment on the stanch of DOC & its apparant drive to make every beach / reserve dog free…….. that is another story.

Turongo + Mahurangi Launch Parade Details

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TURONGO

Woody Alan Sexton was anchored in Orokawa Bay, Bay of Islands, last week & while doing a dinghy run ashore he spotted Turongo on her mooring.
All we know about her is that she was built by Salthouses following Trinidad. Alan believes she was originally powered by twin V8 Cummins & is still Cummins powered, the exhausts suggest a pair of largish engines.

So woodys can we provide some more details on her. Given her current presentation, she is very well loved

THE BIGGEST CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT GATHERING IN NZ

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Photo by Mark Lever

This coming weekend sees the staging of the Mahurangi Regatta, without a doubt, on a fine day it is the most spectacular gathering of wooden craft afloat in NZ. For those that are newish to the waitematawoodys site, just type Mahurangi Regatta in the ww search panel & you can view the previous years regatta’s.
On the day the main gig is the actual Mahurangi Regatta yacht race but in recent times the classic launches have been doing a parade on Saturday morning. The regatta organizing committee are notorious for their laid back ‘it will be all right on the day’ attitude so things are always a tad fluid when it comes to start times etc BUT I can tell you that the assembly point will be off Scotts Landing, we will depart there at 10am (a vessell will sound its horn x3 times), so be there early. We will proceed in ‘Indian file’ to Sullivans Bay. Attempts in previous years to be in chronological order have been a shambles & nearly ended in fistie cuffs -so the order will be a gentlemanly thing i.e. just merge like a zipper 🙂

We will approach Sullivans Bay via the right hand side of the bay, past the flagship – Jane Gillord, from where a specially marked (red buoys) fairway should be roughly in line with the driveway to the right of the old homestead down near the beach. Refer photo below. And also view at this link http://www.mahurangi.org.nz/2017/01/18/small-buoys-in-sullivans-bay/

We will enter the fairway to port to motor across the bay along the red buoy fairway. We will exit the fairway on a bearing towards Pudding Island, clear of which will be a buoy, refer photo.

If all goes to plan, we will do two laps. Its really very simple, as there will be a lead boat, so just stay in line & follow her. NOTE: There will be a minimum of 2m water in the fairway area.
After the parade, boats can head off to enjoy the rest of the day. Remember, the beach side BBQ at Scotts Landing on Saturday night is a must do – BYO food & drinks but BBQ’s provided. The prize giving is schedule for 6.30pm but most people head ashore around 5’ish. The ‘Prohibition Big Band’ will be playing in the marquee till late.

Whether you own a boat or not there is something for everyone during the day – check out details here http://www.mahurangi.org.nz/2016/01/14/2017-regatta-programme/

When you go ashore, bring some cash – the Mahurangi CC Yearbook (magazine) at $15 is great value & as always a cracker read.

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Photo by Chris Miller

A Woody Cruise

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A Woody Cruise

Family commitments & the weather meant that this years Xmas / NY cruise was a tad short this year e.g. 7 days & the location was a lap of Waiheke Island. A lot of classics were in the same boat (pun) with the weather so we tended to be in the same spot at the same time – good for photos 🙂

I’m sure I missed a few so I apologize upfront, I have also saved a few for separate ww posts.
Enjoy the gallery of classics, most I have been able to name (scroll over image) & you can enlarge photos by clicking on them 😉

I can’t wait for the Mahurangi Regatta weekend……………………

Little Tasman Moves South After 91 years in Auckland Waters

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LEAVING AUCKLAND

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ARRIVING IN WELLINGTON

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Little Tasman Moves South After 91 years in Auckland Waters

Late November 2016 saw a part of Auckland’s maritime heritage leave our waters & head to her new home in Wellington.  The 1925 Colin Wild built launch Little Tasman has graced the waters of the Waitemata for approx. 91 year. While Auckland’s loss is undoubtedly Wellington’s gain, she is in good& I’m sure will return home one day – they all do 🙂
Her restoration has been well documented on ww so to view/read more on her – type her name in the ww search panel.

The montage of photos above are from numerous cameras, including Ken Ricketts, who also emailed me the photo of her below, in Mansion House Bay, taken in 1936 by Tudor Collins, courtesy Auckland Museum, for comparison of then & now. A wonderful restoration at the hands of Colin Brown & son-in-law Josh.

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