Category Archives: Launches
YVA II (Yelda) + Win Boat Show Tickets
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YVA II (Yelda)
Woody Angus Rogers sent in the above photos of Ivy II (originally named Yelda) on Lake Whakatipu, for the overseas readers – Lake Whakatipu is the 3rd largest lake in New Zealand, situated on the southwest corner of Otago in the South Island.
Angus commented that she was not what he expected to see on the lake. Interested to learn more about her & when & how she arrived at the lake.
Photo below ex Russell Ward , taken 2003.
Input from Richard – owner
I purchased Yvalda via Ted Church (Picton) in 2002. Sailed her down to Port Chalmers then got Fulton Hogan to truck her down to Lake Wakatipu where I used her commercially for tourist trips on the lake. Had lots of fun doing it but did not make a fortune!! Christmas parties, hen parties (the worst), weddings, stag parties, N.Y.E. parties etc etc.
The O.D.T. had a great photo of her going thru Dunedin on the back of the F.H. truck.
Yvalda, ( Yes, her original name) was built by Mc Gruers at Clynder Scotland in 1936. ( I think a G.L. Watson design) for a couple of wealthy brothers who were manufactures of biscuits. Not sure how or when she came to N.Z. but she must have been shipped here.
She was beautifully built, ( as were all boats built by Mc Gruers). Teak on oak frames, all as good as the day she was built.
Still had her original 4L2 Gardner engines coupled to massive Gleniffer gearboxes controlled by a couple of wheels mounted either side of the helm station. You had to have your wits about you as to which way to turn them to go fwd. or aft. but after a while it became automatic.
Quite a lot of untruths about her relationship with Winston Churchill and I suspect he never had anything to do with her. I thought she may have been one of the Dunkirk little ships but there is no record of that. I believe she was use for the degaussing of much larger metal ships during W.W.11
What vintagesteamer commented was more the truth and I too was told of her so called association with Churchill when I bought her but as they say, ” Why let the truth get in the way if a good story” ( I was advised) I’m sure those deck stepped masts were perfectly aligned when I had her. Vintagesteamer, you must have had too many Speights to drink when you saw her!!
WIN TWO TICKETS TO THE AUCKLAND ON THEW WATER BOAT SHOW
Today & tomorrow I’m giving away tickets to the boat show – 2 each day. Just answer the simple question below & email your answer to waitematawoodys@gmail.com . All correct answers received before 6.00pm today (27-09-2017) will go into the draw. Winner will be notified by email.
Q: Name the location at the Show where the America’s Cup will be displayed. You’ll find the answer on the Show website http://www.auckland-boatshow.com
Woody Trip Down South
Woody Trip Down South
Nathan Herbert has just returned from a trip to Dunedin & snapped a collection of woodys that he saw – the first one to be shared on WW is the lovely wee clinker day boat above.
Can anyone enlighten us on her provenance ?
And I’ll use the post to segway into my next topic – The 2017 Classic Yacht & Launch Exhibition, on Oct 7>8th, refer below for full details. This year the focus is on the classic New Zealand clinker boat.
So woodys get the pen out & put a big circle around the weekend in the diary. The team at Tino Rawa Trust do an amazing job hosting these events & 2018 will be a cracker, I understand there will be over 30 clinkers on show. I’ll be reminding you closer to the date;-)
Also I have some tickets for this weeks On-the-Water Boat Show, so to be in to win – check out Wednesday’s WW post 😉
Mystery Launches – 25-09-2017
MYSTERY LAUNCHES 25-09-2017
A couple of mystery launch questions today. Last year Robin Elliott sent in a collection of photos from the Whangarei Cruising Club Collection, as far as Robin knows, all are from the 1940’s early 1950’s & and were taken by Palmer Photography in Whangarei (1910-1999). Most by the late Graeme Palmer and possibly some older ones by his father.
So woodys who can ID the one above?
Now the photo below – I suspect it is Jason Prew’s My Girl at full chat 😉 but the photo shows only 3 portholes versus the 4 seen in most photos. Jas ?
Lady Alice
LADY ALICE
Today’s vessel is the Lady Alice & the photo ex ‘paperpast’, sent in by Nathan Herbert.
A very unusual mix of design features on display, can anyone help out with more detail on Lady Alice? The #957 will be a help.
25-09-2017 Harold Kidd Input
LADY ALICE was a 30 footer built by George Roberts of St. Heliers for himself and launched in January 1940 with 957, her wartime reporting number, on her bows. A later owner (or of another LADY ALICE) was C.K. Edmonds of Allenby Road, Panmure who owned her as late as 1973.
George Roberts later built GAYELLA and GEORGELLA, well-covered in earlier WW postings.
UPDATE 17-05-2018 ex Peter Thorpy-
Auckland Transport, (Auckland city council) have a launch ‘Lady Alice’ listed on their site as being derelict and advertised for disposal.
While at Greg Lees yard yesterday I was advised that a gent that has ‘rubbed-up-against’ some of your best presented classic woodys last week had a very bad oops & has just come out of surgery & ends some help – see below.
A Great Evening for a Great Guy
Sponsored by Dixon Stainless
On Friday 16th September Dale Collins (Greg Lees’ foreman) suffered a bad fall on the hardstand injuring his back which will mean months of recuperation.
To support Dale and his family you are invited to join many who have experienced Dale’s generosity and skills over the years at a dinner evening next Friday – 29th September at 6pm at the SYC Club House. Cost: $80 per head (limited to 30 couples only). First in first accepted basis. Cash Bar
To book your place, contact Rosie Fowler 021 884949 email rosief@xtra.co.nz
A short Auction will be a highlight of the evening with master auctioneer Roger Burrill in action. Auction items will include: Harbourview Cruise, Fine Wine, $1,000 voucher from Evolution Yachts, Magical Mystery Tour
If you can’t make it and would like to support Dale, donations & auction items will be gratefully accepted by Elspeth Wilkins at the marina office.
Beats A Day At The Office
Trinidad
Beats A Day At The Office
There is a saying I like – “Some days you are the dog & some days you are the tree” – all week Friday was shaping into a tree day, so when David Cook called & asked for a hand taking Trinidad to the Greg Lees Boatbuilders, Sandspit yard – the answer was yeap I’m in 🙂
90% of the day = the 1st day of summer, the other 10% was wet, but that is greater Auckland for you.
Trinny, below, was being hauled out for some TLC before her upcoming circumnavigation of NZ (again).
Trinidad
Trinidad
Trinidad
Spotted a few classics at the new marina – scroll over photos to see names, most have appeared on WW before so a quick look in the WW search box will show / tell you more.
Nereides
Nereides
Great taste in signal horn
Taree
Taree
Taree
Taree
Taree
Shadow
Shadow
Pirate
Ngataringa
Pirate
Tamahere
Ronaki
The Sandspit Yacht Club is looking very smart these days
Lady Helen – Flash Back Friday
Lady Helen – Flash Back Friday
Today’s photo shows the 1930 Colin Wild built, stunning launch Lady Helen in Russell c.1939 & comes from the Tudor Collins Auckland Museum collection, emailed to me by Ken Ricketts.
To view the magnificently restored Lady Helen & read Harold Kidd’s article on her provenance – click this link https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/02/22/miss-helen-2/
Caroline
CAROLINE
Caroline was built by Roger Carey for Gilbert Rivas of Whitianga in 1951. She still has her original 3LW Gardner & measures 36’L x 10’B x 4′ 6″D. She still has her original 3LW Gardner. She was maintained by Howard Pascoe.
The photo above shows her berthed at Whitanga, Baden commented that it was nice to see an old girl return to her home port.
Do we know anything about her past life?
UPDATE 07-10-2019 Movie below, ex Allen Heatlie, showing Caroline underway after painting inside and out.
Ever Wondered How They Used To Make Rope? Click the link below (ex The Mariners Magazine)
https://www.facebook.com/themarinersmagazine/videos/1910327765888740/
Joanne
JOANNE
Another photo from Dean Wright’s recently scanned collection – this one shows the charter boat Joanne steaming down the Whangaroa Harbour. Dean recalls skippered by Laurie Ross.
Any of the woodys able to shed some more light on her design / builder & where she is today?
Update 17-01-2023 – photo below ex Eric Sanderson, date unknown
20-09-2023 UPDATE ex Barry Ogilvie – I bought Joanne from Gene Jacobson back in 1999. Despite the considerable deterioration in timber that was found post purchase and the subsequent cost to bring her back to a safe working standard it has been a pleasure to be her custodian for the last 24 years.
Port Townsend Classic Wooden Boat Festival 2017 – 80+ photos
Port Townsend Classic Wooden Boat Festival 2017 – 80+ photos
Kiwi woodys Jenny and Malcolm McNicol sent me the below photo essay from the Port Townsend 41st Classic Wooden Boat Festival from The Puget Sounds in Washington State USA. They were holidaying in the Sounds and got to enjoy the festival.
The McNico’s are members of The Rotoiti Wooden Boat Association and are the proud owners of Tauraka, which has featured on WW.
Enjoy the collection – sorry if I have ruined your day ……… 🙂
Remember to click on photos to enlarge 😉
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