Final prep to Eileen Patricia for a relaunch this weekend (photo below)
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.
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.
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.
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
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……………………..
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
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 🙂
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.
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.
IONE was built for W.J. Wilson, Chief Engineer for the Wilson Cement Works at Mahurangi.
She was built in August 1905 by the great Auckland launch-builder David Reid (and not Bailey & Lowe as I earlier postulated)
When Wilson retired in late 1909 he brought her to Auckland and joined NZPBA and RNZYS.
He raced her consistently with those and other clubs. She was fast with her 12hp Sterling engine.
Therefore her pedigree is as long as your arm and she should be rescued.
WHY YOU SHOULD HOLD OFF PAYING YOUR CLASSIC YACHT ASSOCIATION SUBSCRIPTION
I apologise to the non CYA member readers – but read on, this effects all classic wooden boat enthusiasts.
Last night was the NZ Classic Yacht Association AGM, I tabled in advance the following agenda item – “a request for a report on the status of the expanded CYA classic vessel ‘marina / dock’ that is planned for the Auckland Viaduct basin area”
What I hoped to hear was the CYA were developing a new permanent marina for upwards of 40 classic wooden boats that will be the permanent home of classic boating, showcasing to the Auckland public and tourists the CYA’s diverse classic wooden boat fleet.
I was disappointed with the reply and walked away seriously concerned that this new marina was only targeting “large, gaff rigged yachts, built pre WW II, NZ designed and built, and presented in display condition”. I asked how this ‘selection criteria’ met the CYA’s constitutional description of eligible CYA vessels e.g. ‘New Zealand or foreign designed yachts, launches, dinghies, boats, vessels of all sizes, description, ages, whether powered by wind, steam, combustion or otherwise’. The answer was there could be exceptions, when asked if launches would be allocated equal space alongside yachts, there was no lucid answer.
Well woodys it is just all too loose and I raise this topic because over the last 10+ years a lot of good people have worked very hard to make the CYA a more inclusive, welcoming place for all people with a passion and interest in the classic boating movement, regardless of whether you own a classic yacht, launch or even a dinghy. This development convenes our constitution and introduces segregation into our association, and most importantly denies the public the opportunity to experience the true breadth of the New Zealand classic boating movement. This new marina should be the front window for everything that the CYA has worked towards these last 25 years, not just a classic racing yacht marina.
So my question today is – are you comfortable with this policy of segregation? Personally, I think it has a bad smell to it and have a suggestion – how about holding back renewing your 2021/22 membership subscription until this policy is reviewed by the new / incoming 2021/22 committee – I will be
Now if I sound a little loose on details and hazier than normal, that is because ‘commercial’ sensitivities limit what can be said in a public arena.
