Category Archives: Launches

Disappointing Classic Boating News

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DISAPPOINTING CLASSIC BOATING NEWS
On the topic of the Classic Yacht Association’s new 40 berth Heritage Basin marina,12 days have passed and all we see is a CYA email > website link to a presentation that we are told was presented at the AGM, from my recall a lot of what is in this ‘just released’ written presentation was not mentioned on the night, in what could best have been described as verbal chat.
The Chair of the CYA states ‘Just to reiterate – nothing is confirmed, it is still being negotiated’. We get that, thank you – but there is still no clarification or confirmation of what the CYA general committee > sub-committee is negotiating on behalf of CYA members and their classic vessels. So could someone answer this simple question below –

WILL ACCESS TO THE NEW 40 BERTH MARINA BE OPEN TO ALL CYA REGISTERED BOATS -OR WILL IT BE YACHTS THAT MEET A PRESET DEGREE ?

Read the back story here https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/08/04/why-you-should-hold-off-paying-your-classic-yacht-association-subscription/


THIS WEEKENDS WOODY CRUISE UP THE WAIROA RIVER

As you read this, 18 classic woody launch owners will be waking up berthed alongside the dock at the Clevedon Cruising Club after a BBQ ashore at the clubhouse on Saturday night. Hopefully on departure the skippers will be better behaved than the yachts in the above photo. Check out WW tomorrow for a full trip report and photos 🙂

Busy Morning at Milford

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Busy Morning At The Slipway Milford

  1. Final prep to Eileen Patricia for a relaunch this weekend (photo below)
  2. The very regal Brooke family launch – Linda, was eased out of the shed after nearly 2 months of serious TLC, most at the hands of grand daughter Grace and partner Calvin. Fantastic to see 3 generations helping with the relaunch. Robert Brooke commented to me the other day that Linda has never looked so good – thats high praise from Robert. Also nice to see Robert back on the tools, my lips are sealed as to why his services were called upon :-)I caught up with son Russell and he was full of praise for both the standard of workmanship and facilities at the Slipway Milford, the project was split between the family and the Slipways Cam and Jason delivering another showroom the paint job + a few engineering odd jobs. Russell was also like Robert, over the moon with the kids (his word) diligence on the project. The future of the classic wooden boating movement is looking very rosy when you see two early twenty year old piloting Linda down the Milford Creek on their own.
  3. As soon as Linda had slashed, the Slipway boys were hauling Nathan Herbert’s launch – Pacific, out for her turn in the shed – photo/video below.
Eileen Patricia
Pacific
READ MORE https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/08/04/why-you-should-hold-off-paying-your-classic-yacht-association-subscription/

Exciting Classic Boating News

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EXCITING CLASSIC BOATING NEWS

Last night I attended a function at the Vos Boat Shed to celebrate the completion of the restoration project. It has been a long time in the incubation phase (16 years) and a lot of good people have evaporated along the way, but moving forward, this is a big moment for the classic boating movement

On a personal note I’m very happy to hear confirmation that the New Zealand Traditional Boat Building School will now have a permanent home. NZTBS trustees, past and present, we thank you for your doggedness and patience.

If you haven’t been into / down to the viaduct after dark lately its looking very cool, only problem very light on people. I wouldn’t want to be in the hospo game.

READ MORE https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/08/04/why-you-should-hold-off-paying-your-classic-yacht-association-subscription/

Olive Rose + Woodys Kawau Island Weekend

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OLIVE ROSE
Earlier this year , woody – Paul Drake sent me the above photo of the 1925, Snorky Inglis built launch Olive Rose. For many years she was part of the Auckland ‘Blue Boat’ fleet, run by Auckland Launch & Tow Boat Company. The photo above is most likely from those days, at a guess there is 75+ passengers on-board, and no sign of a life jacket 😦

She last appeared on WW back in November 2017, where we got to take speak down below. WW link below. Lots of chat and details in the Comments Section.https://waitematawoodys.com/2017/11/18/olive-rose/

Hopefully Olive Rose is still cruising the waters off Waiheke Island – can anyone comfirm? 

WOODYS LABOUR WEEKEND KAWAU ISLAND LAUNCH CRUISE

Get the pen out and circle these dates – October 23rd > 25th – Woodys Long Weekend Cruise to Kawau Island (Labour Weekend) – Sunday evening dinner / gathering at Kawau Boating Club. Also a possible dinghy trip up the river to the Matakana Markets on Saturday morning – tbc

READ MORE https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/08/04/why-you-should-hold-off-paying-your-classic-yacht-association-subscription/

Seaway

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SEAWAY

The above photo of the launch Seaway comes to us from the Tauranga Library collection via Nathan Herbert.

Photos below – ex Ken Ricketts hauled out at Te Atatu Boat Club

Update 12-08-2021 Photos below ex John Wright – current owner

READ MORE https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/08/04/why-you-should-hold-off-paying-your-classic-yacht-association-subscription/

Mystery Launch 10-08-21

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MYSTERY LAUNCH 10-08-21
Today’s photo comes to use via the Andrew Donovan collection, I’m sure a lot of you will recognise the launch, but my grey matter is fried after reviewing and filing 50,000+ photos since starting WW 🙂

Getting a little tired of posting the CYA Tui billboard below – hopefully we will not have to wait until the next committee meeting (Sept 7th) to get some clarification on the committees stance re the vessel eligibility policy for the new 40 berth Heritage Basin……………………..

READ MORE https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/08/04/why-you-should-hold-off-paying-your-classic-yacht-association-subscription/

Steamboats at Hipango Park

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Steamboats at Hipango Park 
Back in February Russell Ward was twisting my arm to join him and a group of steamboat enthusiasts on a trip on the Wanganui River for a meet up at Hipango Park. The park is only accessible by boat, and is a tranquil rest point for kayakers and people making a day trip in a boat up the Wanganui River. I can’t remember my excuse but I missed a great weekend in early March.

In the 2nd photo above we see three steamboats rafted up at the upper part just below the steamer Dancer, They are Romany, Janice and Gypsy –all 3 boats once owned or owned by Russell. Russell reports that Janice and Gypsy are now in the hands of devoted owners who obviously enjoy polishing brass and copper. Gypsy has infected more people with steam enginitas (as Pete Culler said “don’t go near it or you’re hooked” than any other boat 🙂

Russell had promised to pen some copy around the weekend, but life got in the way – so today is a photo essay. Photos ex: Russell Ward, Phil Pollero and Chris Rabey

READ MORE https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/08/04/why-you-should-hold-off-paying-your-classic-yacht-association-subscription/

God or Wooden Boats

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God or Wooden Boats
A chicken and egg question today – did the crowds turn out to view the great collection of wooden boats in the bay or to support the 150th anniversary of Rev Samuel Marsden conducting the first christen service in New Zealand, held at Marsden Cove, Kerikeri.

The date was December 1964. Photos come to us from the PG Parsonson collection via Mitchell Hutchings (nephew).
ps google tells us Marsden was Church of England, so he must have been ok 🙂

READ MORE https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/08/04/why-you-should-hold-off-paying-your-classic-yacht-association-subscription/

Pot of Gold

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POT OF GOLD

Uncovered today a treasure trove of b/w photos of Waitemata classic woodys. Happy as a dog with two tails (I do learn Murray D) .They will take a while to ID, less than 1/3 are tagged.

Today’s photo is of Royal Falcon the 1934 Cox & Fimer built launch. These days owned by Collette & Steve Pople and just relaunch after an extensive refit – see below links for details.The back of the photo has the RF name, a 4sale price of £3150, and her specs – 38’ x 10’6” x 3′
Lots of history and photos here https://waitematawoodys.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=33345&action=edit&calypsoify=1
Almost ready for relaunch https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/05/31/royal-falcon-restoration-2021-update/

for sale £3150
July 2021
READ MORE https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/08/04/why-you-should-hold-off-paying-your-classic-yacht-association-subscription/

Iona – SOS

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IONA – SOS
The 33’ launch Iona recently was recently damaged on her Tauranga mooring during a storm, according to the tme listing (thank you Ian McDonald) the winds pulled out the bollard from the deck, and due to the weight of the warp on the fairlead, the stem at the bow has pulled forward and has resulted in the planks being sprung.

The launch was discovered bow down on its mooring. The stem and planks were patch repaired to enable a salvage to tow vessel to the hardstand. The 60hp Ford still runs.

Iona is for sale via the insurance companies loss adjusters. She has been for sale in the past – photo below from the marine hub listing.Iona made a cameo appearance on WW back in 2018, a lot of chat re builder, age etc – link here https://waitematawoodys.com/2018/12/07/mystery-launch-at-omokoroa-boat-club/

The tme reserve is $1.00 so either a low-priced project boat or budget fittings.

07-8-2021 Harold Kidd Input: A few recently gleaned facts.

  1. IONE was built for W.J. Wilson, Chief Engineer for the Wilson Cement Works at Mahurangi.
  2. She was built in August 1905 by the great Auckland launch-builder David Reid (and not Bailey & Lowe as I earlier postulated)
  3. When Wilson retired in late 1909 he brought her to Auckland and joined NZPBA and RNZYS.
  4. He raced her consistently with those and other clubs. She was fast with her 12hp Sterling engine.
  5. Therefore her pedigree is as long as your arm and she should be rescued.
Read more https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/08/04/why-you-should-hold-off-paying-your-classic-yacht-association-subscription/