BOAT LESS THIS LONG WEEKEND – PROBLEM SOLVED
Today’s WW story is a flash back to the 2014 Mahurangi Regatta for all the boatels woodys sitting at home this long weekend. Enjoy and remember to come back on Tuesday to see this years event :-)2024 Mahuranghi Regatta Launch Parade Flash Back https://waitematawoodys.com/2024/01/30/2024-mahurangi-regatta-classic-woody-launch-parade-130-photos/
The zoom zoomers arrived late avo on Friday.
CROSSING THE BAR
Pretty short post today – lacking a bit in motivation.
Yesterday afternoon we celebrated the life of David Cooke, one of the classic boating communities seriously good guys.
I had the pleasure of spending a lot of time with David on and off the water and any conversation with the man always made me smile.
The photo above of David aboard his motor launch – TRINIDAD was taken in the Marlborough Sounds in February 2018 , the Cookes had invited myself and Jamie Hudson to share the Whangaroa > Picton leg with them on their circumnavigation of New Zealand. Probably the best time afloat I have had. This photo is David in his happy place – peeling the spuds for dinner, a glass of chardonnay nearby and tray of snacks.
Link to the cruise here – so many memories https://waitematawoodys.com/2018/02/26/my-big-woody-adventure/
David and Barbara were one of the tightest couples I know and there is a quote that I think goes like this – “Death ends a life, not a relationship”, so woodys to those that had the pleasure of knowing David and Barbara, going forward don’t be a stranger, make the effort to keep Barbara in the communication / invite loop.
RIP David Cooke 04-12-2024
WOODY CLASSIC WHALE BOATS
Something a little different today – whale boats. The photos above come to us from Don MacLeod and were taken at the recent regattas – Kawhia on Jan 1st and Te Waiter on Jan 4th.
The photos show the 5 boats that took part, Kawhia Harbour is the only place in the world that holds rowing regattas for whaleboats.
Don commented that the competitors range from 10 years old to the aged, everyone is welcome. The crowd was fantastic and the beer cheap.
Two of the whale boats were built in Auckland in the 1880s and shipped to Kawhia in 1910. The other 3 were built in the 1990s.
The construction is Kauri plank with bent hardwood frames.
Photo #1 Kawhia whaleboat – built in Auckland in 1880s, shipped to Kawhia in 1910
Photo #2 Kawhia whaleboat – built in 1990s
Photo #3 Te Waitere whaleboat (brown) built in the 1880s in Auckland
Photo #4 Te Waitere whaleboat (blue) – built in the 1990s Kawhia waterfront on regatta day
Photo #5 Oparau whaleboat = built in the 1990s
MAHURANGI DOCKSIDE MOOCHING + MAHURANGI REGATTA
Just prior to the xmas break I had cause to visit Warkworth, ok I’ll tell the truth – I was buying a pie on route to Sandspit marina 🙂
Rather than fill the car with crumbs, I went for a stroll down to the riverfront dockside. As always there was a very salty looking collection of craft tied up.
Most of the craft will be attending the 2025 Mahurangi Cruising Club Regatta later this month (Jan 25th) – the biggest gathering of classic craft afloat in New Zealand, refer flyer below.
The scow – RIPPLE is a seriously good-looking craft – read more on her at the link below. https://waitematawoodys.com/2024/09/04/the-sailing-scow-ripple-can-we-learn-more-about-her/
Todays story is a shameless plug for the MCC regatta and other activities in Kawau Bay over anniversary weekend.
MYSTERY CLASSIC LAUNCH + COASTGUARD TO THE RESCUE
The b/w photos above were sent in by Mark Sorrenson (MV ), Mark spotted the framed photo in a 2nd and shop in Thames last week. The sale sticker said ‘Auckland Pre WW2.’
Mark bought the photo with the thought that someone following WW may own this boat and would like the photo. Mark commented that he was happy to hand it on. So woodys – can we ID the boat. My guess is – LINDA or WIRIHANA
INPUT ex NATHAN HERBERT – the vessel is ALCESTIS refer HAROLD KIDD input below.
INPUT ex HAROLD KIDD – Nathan is right, it’s MOLLIE, built by Joe Slattery in 1919 for Percy Colebrook, heavily modified by Colin Wild for the Guthries in 1928 and renamed ALCESTIS. Alf Seccombe of Lion Breweries bought her in 1936 and renamed her RAIONA (Maori version of LION). The image from the book came from Richmond. My memory is that it was miscaptioned “MARION D” at Richmond. MOLLIE, as originally built in 1919 looked nothing like this image. It’s not the first time people have been confused about the boat. Even at the time she was confused with GLADYS II / RONGO as well as IMANOTA (I) / MARION D which were also extensively altered out of recognition.
COASTGUARD MEMBERSHIP CAN BE GOOD VALUE
The owners of the launch – WAIKARO got their monies worth from their CG membership over the weekend. WAIKARO was off Leigh on route to Whangreai when they had a mechanical issue (the two joined sections of the water pump pulley decided they no longer liked each other and parted company). Kawau Volunteer Coastguard towed WAIKARO to Tiri where they handed WAIKARO over to theHibiscu CG to continued the tow back to her Auckland marina berth. The Kawau CG commented that conditions weren’t pleasant – “20 knots+ from west-southwest with gusts over 30 knots + a confused 1m sea” Check out the video below. I think the skipper of WAIKARO was very fortunate that Mrs WAIKARO wasn’t on-board 🙂
The boys at the Slipway Milford came to the rescue with a replacement pulley harvested off CONNIE V.
CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT PENTHOUSE + Win A Woody Calendar
I have commented many times about additions to classic boats that resemble a block of flats – todays photo opens up an entirely new category – Penthouses !
You would like to think she never leaves her mooring…………….. the roll upstairs would be a tad uncomfortable.
I have x3 Lake Rotoiti Classic & Wooden Boat Parade 2025 Calendars to give away – so the 1st three people that tell me via email the correct date of the 2025 Parade will win a calendar.
Remember entry by email only to waitematawoodys@gmail.com
MERRY CHRISTMAS ❤️
Merry Christmas to all the WW readers and as 2024 draws to a close I hope you have everything all under control and have something special to look forward to this coming week. Like a lot of people the family are scattered around the world but this year we are lucky to have 2/3 of them back in NZ and for the first part of the xmas/ny break we are land based and enjoying time together as a family. So for now we have swapped a cockpit for a Bure (still NZ based)
If you are afloat or at home I wish you fair winds and calm seas and encourage you to make the effort to pick up the phone and call (no txting) those that hold a special place in your life.
I’ll sign off with a special thank you to all the woodys that make my life easier by sending in stories and photos – publishing a weblog 365 days a year is a challenge but its very enjoyable and I savour the people I get to rub up against.
One of the few WW rules is there is always a boat photo – today I share one of my favourite woody photos – in fact its my laptop screen saver – the 1922 launch – TEINA, designed by Glad Bailey and built by Ted & Ray McLeod at Bayswater, Auckland. In the photo below she is entering Bon Accord Harbour at Kawau Island.
2025 AUSTRALIAN WOODEN BOAT FESTIVAL – The Perfect Xmas Present
Starting to get a little excited about heading over the ditch in early 2025 (Feb7>10th) for the 2025 AWBF. Have confirmed by support crew, booked flights and accommodation = so its locked and loaded. NZ is getting its day in the sun this festival with a focus on the pacific region. But 95% of the show content will be beautiful varnished wooden craft, which WW will be reporting on.
If you’re at a loose end in early Feb and have a few pennies to spare – consider treating yourself this Christmas and get over to Hobart. Air NZ fly direct these days, and I can assure you as a woody lover you won’t regret it.
Link here to the offical 2025 Festival https://www.australianwoodenboatfestival.com.au
CLASSIC WOODY WORKBOAT MARISSA – GETS A NEW LIFE
When my phone rings and the ID says John Wright I always answer – why? Aside from the fact he is a great guy. John has a great eye for our classic craft and if he tells me to get my A into gear and do a yard / dockside visit, I know it will be a goody.
This time the woody was the semi-ex 24’ workboat MARISSA, a 100+ years old and owned by the Monaghan family for a very large chunk of that time.
Home port is Great Barrier Island and after her re-launch at Te Atatu Boating Club she will be heading back to the barrier.
Some of her history – at one change when she was a cray boat she went ashore at GB and was abandoned on the beach. I may get this wrong, someone correct me if I do – either Don Armitage or the Monaghan family saved the wreck and concerted here to something along the lines of what we see today.
Photos below of her post the wreck / rebuild. These days she is powered by a 4 cyl. Isuzu diesel engine.
INPUT ex KERIN QWEN – Don Milne rebuilt her and crayfished from Wairahi. Then to Whangapara as support vessel for the lodge, then to Monahan’s I believe. That’s from about 1980 on. I would like to know more of her earlier history. I believe she was converted from a launch configuration.
CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT PUB CRUISE TRIP REPORT 40+ Photos
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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