Category Archives: Events

SUNKEN CLASSIC LAUNCH (VACUNA) & TWO CLASSIC YACHTS ON THE ROCKS

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SUNKEN CLASSIC LAUNCH & TWO CLASSIC YACHTS ON THE ROCKS

Woody Ian Gavin (MV FLORANCE DAWN) sent in the above photo of what appears to be a classic launch in serious trouble. The photo appeared in the NZ Herald, online Northland edition and the location was tagged ’Near Parua Bay jetty, Whangarei’ . The article appeared on 21-01-2025.

From what I can see it does have several Lidgard design events visible.

Can anyone ID the vessel and give us an update on what became of her – hopefully recovered.

Update ex Ian Gavin – didn’t sink below the waves and has been re floated.

UPDATE ex Paul Drake and Ken Ricketts – the ;launch is the 36′, 1958 Owen Woolley built  – VACUNA. Which also sank in 2016 and is one of WW’s most revealing stories https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/11/25/vacuna-2/

SATURDAY NIGHT AT MAHURANGI WAS EVIL – To quote John Bertenshaw (EX FB) – “Last night at anchor was , let me search for a phrase which might best capture the experience…oh yeah, it was hell. Crowded anchorage, serious wind, nasty chop , wind against tide, etc etc. No one dragged on us though, choice.”
ELSE WHERE NOT SO GOOD – 2 WOODYS ON THE ROCKS – I took the photo below of RANUI and CORONA at 6.15 am on Saturday morning. Post the yacht race they must have made the call to head to a ’safer’ anchorage , in this case – Islington Bay, Rangitoto Island. The storm was that bad that RANUI dragged anchor and both her and CORONA went onto the rocks. Dockside chat says the damage was superficial only.

Big WW day tomorrow – a photo gallery from the Mahurangi Regatta and happenings around Kawau Island. Enjoy the last day of the long weekend and if in Auckland check out the classic boating activity on the harbour for the anniversary day regatta.

MOOCHING AROUND WEST-PARK HAUL OUT 

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RANUI
MANAPOURI
STERLING

MOOCHING AROUND WEST-PARK HAUL OUT 

Earlier in the week I had a good excuse to visit the West-park Marina, so I took the opportunity to do a lap of the hardstand area. Very few boats out, but given we are in the height of summer, there shouldn’t be many there.

It was great to see the 48’ classic cruiser – RANUI – built in 1948 by Lidgard out for some TLC. Read more about her here https://waitematawoodys.com/2019/07/08/ranui-a-peek-down-below/

The second woody in the line was the 43’ – MANAPOURI, built by Hector Parks. She is on the down hill run of a 2+ year restoration – read more on the project at the link below. https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/11/28/manapouri-refit/

Update ex the Mahurangi Regatta – MANAPOURI did a sneaky launching and made it to the regatta – photo below

Lastly the 1909 Bailey & Lowe built woody – STERLING, out it appeared for a shave in anticipation of her appearance in Mondays anniversary regatta tug & work boat race. This old girls is very quick, I suspect the handicappers will have a good memory and she might struggle to win on handicap, but always a contender for line honours 😉

IF YOU ARE AT A LOOSE END TOMORROW MORNING (MONDAY) GET DOWN TO WESTHAVEN / WATERFRONT – there will be some spectacular motorboat action on the water

10am The Tug & Workboats start their race from off Westhaven / RNZYS

11am The Jason Prew celebratory classic launch race starts also off Westnhaven / RNZYS

BOAT LESS THIS LONG WEEKEND  – PROBLEM SOLVED 

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MAHURANGI REGATTA 2024

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

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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 

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Photo #1
Photo #2
Photo #3
Photo #4
Photo #5

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

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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

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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

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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 ❤️

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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

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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