Category Archives: Launches

MYSTERY WHITIANGA LAUNCH

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MYSTERY WHITIANGA LAUNCH

Have not had a mystery / ID the boat story in a while. Photo taken Whitianga – late 1940’s > early 1950’s.
First woody to correctly name the boat – wins a waitematawoodys cap. Entries via email only to waitematawoodys@gmail.com
As you read this I’ll be at the Lake Rotoiti Classic & Wooden Boat Parade – lots of cool photos on Monday.
WW Caps copy
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Woody Waitangi Day Picnic – Photos

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Scott Colville

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My Girl & Pacific

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Monterey

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Centaurus

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Mana

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Ann Michelle

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Trinidad

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Arohanui

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Eileen Patricia

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Sybil Frances

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Tusk

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Shango (Ani)

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Awatere

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Sea Fever

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Ngaio

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Silvery Main

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Tuna

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Wirihana

Centaurus
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Very smart new mast on Pacific 🙂

WOODY CLASSICS WAITANGI DAY PICNIC  PHOTOS

Another great Woody Classics Woody event yesterday, we had 20+ classic woodys anchored  in Wakalabubu Bay, Motutapu Island. Most came ashore for the picnic and while the camera stayed in the bag, I can report that these casual events are a winner, so nice to catch up with old friends and meet new ones. Youngest age would have been around 6/7 years and the oldest was 92 !
If I missed getting a photo of your woody, I apologise, but with people coming and going all afternoon I suspect someone missed out.
 
The breeze picked up later in the day and so most had the old wind against the tide coming home – but it was worth it.
Big thanks to everyone the rocked up – see you all at our next event – details soon 😉
Off to Lake Rotoiti (Nth Island) on Saturday  for the Classic & Wooden Boat Parade – Monday’s WW story should be a goody 🙂
 
Oops nearly forgot anyone know the launch below, we crossed paths of Rangitoto – terrible photo, grab the phone and unfortunately had it set on some weird setting. Name is something like Tautai ??
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Goldandrina

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GOLDANDRINA

The 36’ launch Goldandrina popped up on fb late last year, all we know is she was built by Alan Orams in 1964. At the time, Lew Redwood commented about the appearance of slightly unusual clipper bow.
What more do we know about Goldandrina ?

REMEMBER WOODYS – IF YOUR LOOKING FOR AN EXCUSE TO USE THE BOAT – COME ALONG TO TODAYS WAITANGI DAY WOODYS PICNIC AT WAIKALABUBU BAY, MOTUTAPU ISLAND – KICK OFF 1.30pm

9m Oregon Mast Free To Good Home
Off the 1901 year old Moerangi – original condition, but sound.
Any takers?
Woody Waitangi Picnic
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Riwaka Woodys

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RIWAKA WOODYS
 
My woody spotter in the Nelson area, John Burland, recently sent in the above photos from the Riwaka Inlet.
The top photo is of the 36’ Varlene, built by Supreme Craft c.1940’s. She has made several appearance on WW and I last saw her in Torrent Bay, Abel Tasman National Park in early March 2019 (photo below)
 
Can anyone ID the very smart launch alongside her in the 3rd photo?
 
The work-boat it Tina, built in Wellinton to service the Flying Boats, but never did. Spent a chunk of her life pushing logs around the Sounds. Has called Riwaka home for the last 8 years.
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Katherine

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KATHERINE
 
Today woodys you are looking at what the future of classic boating could look like. Allan Hooper’s Katherine was built / launched in 2013 by Conrad Robertson at the Robertson yard in Warkworth. Her hull is glass, with a wooden top (from the green section up). The mould was taken from an old hull that was found in a shed on a farm on the Hokianga Harbour. It is apparently an old tug that worked on the Hokianga a long time ago.
The original hull was refurbished at Robertson’s and a mould taken off and is now lying in the basin at Warkworth. It was fitted out with a steam engine and run as a charter boat until the boiler failed, unfortunately Allan reports it is looking a bit sad.
The designer is unknown but Conrad designed the rest of what is Katherine. Since purchasing her Allan has designed and added the rig and quite a few more mods and improvements.
 
I went aboard several years ago at Mahurangi and she is a very cool boat. Huge volume below, powered by a 60hp Lombardini and sound proofed like a Airbus 340. She measures 38’ loa, with a beam of 9’6” and draws 3’. The Lombardini pushes Katherine along at a comfortable cruising speed of 7.5kts. 
The construction of Katherine is several steps up from the earlier Logan 33 f/glass replicas.
 
In the hauled out photo, taken Dec 2019, she was getting a lick of paint. In the last few months I have spotted her at Patio Bay, Waiheke Island and at the Mahurangi Regatta. On my WW story re the Mahurangi Regatta, Kartherine received some very favourable reviews from the woodys on the WoodenBoat Forum in the USA. “Like that, vertical stem, raised deck, spoon stern. What else would you want.”
 
The very smart tender, is a Townson design, built by Allan at the NZ Traditional Wooden Boat Building School. More on the dinghy soon – you may be able to build one yourself at the School, fingers crossed 🙂
(photos ex Colin Pawson, Allan Hooper & myself)
 
THE WAITANGI DAY WOODY PICNIC IS SHAPING UP TO BE A GOODY – 18 BOATS CONFIRMED ALREADY
If you have not RSVP’ed – time to get off the couch and do it 🙂 email to address below. The venue is – Waikalabubu Bay, Motutapu Island.
waitematawoodys@gmail.com
Woody Waitangi Picnic
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Ocean Angler

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OCEAN ANGLER
 
Chatting recently with Paul Pedersen the owner of the 42’ Ocean Angler and Pauls has asked for some help filling in the gaps in the boats past.
So, firstly – what we ‘know or have been told’.
Built c.1960 on the Panmure River, possibly a Lane (aren’t they all) or could have been built by a retired electrician, who then on sold her to the late Noel Maker. She appears to have spent a large chunk of her life in and around East Auckland. She also spent time in Kerikeri and the Clevedon River area.
Noel possibly had a partner in the boat, named Murray Forsythe and they may have used her as a dive charter boat. The current owner, Paul, bought her of a gent named Dan Monroe, who kept her at West Harbour, Dan only had her for a short time.
 
When Noel purchased her she had twin Ford 4cyl. engines in her, Noel swapped these for the 120hp’s she still has today.
She is of diagonal construction with three layers of plank kauri and has since had a layer of fiberglass cloth and resin added to the bottom to make her water tight with out caulking.
Paul and partner Jo Whiteman have owned Ocean Angler for approx. 10 years and her home port is Dove Bay, Kerikeri.
 
Each to their own but I’d lose the hot-house if she was mine 🙂 
 
So woodys can we digest the above and see if we can confirm / expand her history.
UPDATE 04-02-2020  – photos below from the ‘past’ 😉
 
THE WAITANGI DAY WOODY PICNIC IS SHAPING UP TO BE A GOODY – 18 BOATS CONFIRMED ALREADY
If you have not RSVP’ed – time to get off the couch and do it 🙂 email to address below. The venue is – Waikalabubu Bay, Motutapu Island.
waitematawoodys@gmail.com
Had a few woody yachts asking if they can join – of course, the more the merrier 🙂
Woody Waitangi Picnic
 
 
Any One Need / Want An Old Style Ford Engine Manual
Baden Pascoe sent these in, he thinks they are for the old style Trader type engine. Free to a good home.
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Auckland Anniversary Day – Classic Launch Race – 26 Wooden Boat Photos

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RUNNER UP – STERLING
THIRD PLACE – FANCY FREE
WINNER – NGAIO

Auckland Anniversary Day – Classic Launch Race

Over the long weekend we had a smorgasbord of boating events to chose from, one being a ‘classic’ launch race on the Monday, as part of the 2020 Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta. The format is a handicapped race around a set inner harbour course, effectively a drag race. Handicapping for these races is a challenge, there are so many variables that come into play.
Reviewing the results, the handicapping appears to have done a good job.
The day was near perfect and a delayed start meant that I was able to take the above photos. I was heading back for Mahurangi and was not planning to be at the event.
As you would expect, there were numerous mechanical problems and a few DNF’s.
Photos a little ‘hairy’ – long lens.
Results:
1st:   Ngaio
2nd: Sterling
3rd:  Fancy Free
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WINNER – NGAIO

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RUNNER UP – STERLING

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THIRD PLACE – FANCY FREE

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TIO

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TIO

I recently received the above colour photo of Tio from her owner Richard Cross, the older b/w photos popped up on fb. 

Richard commented that he had fully re-corked her 3 years ago,and was chipping away at the interior fitout. He has purchased the majority of big ticket items including new solar set up and batteries.
The engine – a Detroit 671 two stroke, had a  top end rebuild last year and the real reason for today’s story is Richard is looking for advice on what to do. A bottom end bearing has now gone and having spent a lot of money last year on the engine, he is looking for advice of what options he has, as he is currently not in a postion to engage last years mechanic – so is there someone knowledgable whose brain Richard could pick?
Also looking for input on the design layout for the stairs to the old hold, which he is thinking will be two double cabins, storage, office and workshop.
 
Tio is 55’ in length, 28 ton, designed by Hubert Levy, built in kauri in 1953 by Jack Guard at Putatea Bay (French Pass) for the Marine Dept as an oyster research boat. Later served as a Navy Pilot vessel (registered ship number 316485).
Also did time as a Great Barrier Island passenger ferry. These days she is a live-aboard and I have to say sports midships, what would best be described as a ’shed’ 🙂
 
Any mechanically minded / qualified woody able to help Richard out with some advice? I’ll throw in a WW t-shirt and Lake Rotoiti Wooden & Classic Boat 2020 calendar to the most helpful – Richard can decide who that is 😉
 
VENUE DECIDED FOR WAITANGI DAY WOODY PICNIC – WAIKALABUBU BAY 
After hours of reviewing weather forecasts, the WW weather guru has selected Waikalabubu Bay, Motutapu Island for the venue. Of course this could change but for now, that  is the spot. 
If you haven’t RSVP’ed – click the email link below . Great numbers already confirmed for next Thursday 🙂     waitematawoodys@gmail.com
Woody Waitangi Picnic
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Not All Woodys Are 30’+ And Coated In Varnish

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Not All Woodys Are 30’+ And Coated In Varnish

Fast small woodys have been carving up the Waitemata Harbour for over 100 years. In the top photo ( ex Winkleman collection) we see the launch Eena in 1906 trying very hard to plane.
The colour photos are from Mondays 2020 Anniversary Regatta launch drag race, show Murray Deeble’s launch – Waikiore, doing the same 🙂
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Mahurangi Weekend – Biggest On-The -Water Wooden Boating Event Down Under  – 200+ Classic Wooden Boat Photos

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Mahurangi Weekend – Biggest On-The -Water Wooden Boating Event Down Under  – 200+ Classic Wooden Boat Photos

I think I should start today by apologizing to all the partners and bosses out there – I can see a very slow start to the week, might take a few hours to digest the above photo gallery – a selection of photos from Friday night thru until my trip home on Monday.
The weather for Auckland’s long weekend was just ace – for everyone, launches and yachts, for the whole 4 days.
As always the turnout for the regatta was incredible, I would predict record numbers afloat. The woody launch parade saw 25 launches register and another 17 (approx.) joined in on the day. One of the photos above shows some of the parade launches snaking across the harbour. Well done woodys.
If the attendance count was based solely on the number of dinghies at Scotts Landing for the Saturday night party, again it would have to be a record.
I apologize for the lack of photos from the Saturday night party at Scotts Landing, I was unable to attend, I was banned . Now I can imagine maybe one person on any committee could be a dog hater, but for the ‘Mahurangi Action’ (formerly  known as ‘Friends of Mahurangi’) committee to agree on a total 48hr dog ban ashore is hard to believe. But then I was told by a very public figure in the area – none of them have ever had to buy contraception in their lives – they use they personalities. So my question – Is it actually their ‘role’ to decide on whether boat owners can bring Fideo ashore?.
Maybe Mahurangi Action should stick to their core reason for being i.e. the Mahurangi Harbour.
I can imagine the relationship between the Mahurangi Cruising Club, the promoters of the actual boating regatta – the reason we all attend and Mahurangi Action, who run the shore based activities at Sullivans Bay and the Saturday night party, must at times be interesting. If I was MCC I would be appointing an event manager and running a solo event, including a function that the revenue from, would help fund the club. The weekend has got too big – I and a lot that I have spoken to would buy a ticket to attend – food for thought MCC ……..
Ps There were numerous dogs ashore, I was just one of the unlucky one that were apprehended coming ashore. What a waste of rate payers money to have professional security there + a dog ranger……….
A special thank you to Roger Mills for the aerial (drone) photos of Scotts Landing and the launch parade. Also Graeme Finch for topping up my photos with some of his own – thanks Graeme.
The photo below, while out of focus due to distance and 2 moving boats – sums up woody boating perfectly. The launch is Linda and the gathering of life jackets on the bow is the Brooke clan 🙂
Monday also saw the CYA running a launch race as part of the Auckland anniversary day regatta – coverage of this later in the week.
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WAITANGI DAY WOODY BEACH PICNIC – FEB 6 – Put A Circle In Your Diary, All Woodys Welcome. RSVP Below
Woody Waitangi Picnic
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