Woodys On The Northern Wairoa and Kaipara Harbour
Todays collection of craft comes to us from the Kauri Museum at Matakohe via Diane Wilkinson’s fb.
From top to bottom:
1. Unknown launch – can we ID her
2. Swanee – featured on WW in 2015 – link https://waitematawoodys.com/2015/08/29/swanee/
3. Unknown launch – can we ID her
4. Rona W – possibly this boat – 2021 WW story https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/04/15/could-this-be-rona/
3 Minutes Of Wooden Boat Porn
Last month I bombarded you with a several photo galleries of the 2023 Australian Wooden Boat Festival. As part of the wrap up of the festival, the organising crew have pulled together a 3min short film that utilises a lot of aerial film footage. The video gives us a wonderful overview of the festival, the Hobart harbour and waterfront – if there is any saw dust in your blood – Hobart February 2025 needs to be circled on your calendar. As festival director – Paul Stephanus says “This festival is one of a kind” . And its the largest event of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere and surprise surprise woodys – its free, no charge – we like that.
Find a comfortable chair and prepare to be wowed.
TIP: To enlarge screen size – scroll over the screen above and click on the icon I have highlighted below
RSVP (boat name & approx crew #) TO waitematawoodys@gmail.com
Jack Brooke Mystery Launch
Todays woody is only a mystery because the seller didn’t disclose the vessels name 😦
What we know is she is 36’ in length, with a 10’ beam. Built in kauri utilising carvel construction and launched in 1962.
Powered by twin Ford 65hp Diesel engines, cruises comfortably at 8>9 knots.
Anyone able to tell us more about the boat – name, builder, history etc 🙂
WOODYS STILLWATER / WATERFRONT PICNIC – NEW DATE – APRIL 15TH
LADY GAZELLE (GAZELLE) On The Rocks
It saddens me to report the demise of the launch – Lady Gazelle (formally Gazelle), designed and built by Jim Young c. late 1950’s. During the recent Cyclone Gabrille, Lady Gazelle was put on the rocks in the Coromandel Harbour. Owners Mitch and Cathy Edwards commented that she had been struck by another drifting boat and cut from her mooring.
While she will no doubt be written off, the Edwards hope that the four years they spent restoring her has not all gone to waste and that someone will tender for her and hopefully repair her.
Princess – Lake Taupo
Ian McDonald also reported in that the launch Princess was blown off her mooring in Acacia Bay, Lake Taupo. Hopefully re-floated – can anyone advise. Previous WW story on the launch here https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/01/05/princess/
CORINNA
WW was sent the above photos of the launch – Corinna, by John Burland. John was mooching around the marina at Havelock.
Corinna is an unknown to WW so very keen to learn more.
INPUT EX TRACY & ALAN GILDER – She looks similar to Kokoru. Definitely a Jack Morgan design / build. There were 6 Jack Morgan vessels built in the fleet along with Kokoru, her being the last. We saw Hawaiki on the hardstand at Waikawa Picton Feb 2020 (photos below), looking very forlorn and neglected.
INPUT EX DICK HALL – Hawaiki was the first of Jacks design about 1950.The others being Gerola (only one with focsle head & now called Kiwa),Safari Queen, Siren (aft W/House) Corinna, Kokoru.. Pania was built to the same design but I think 2ft longer. Corinna built new for the Teece family and I think still in their ownership
POLL – LAUNCH CRUISE TO PAEROA HISTORICAL MARITIME MUSEUM AND PARK – INTERESTED ? To help with planning for a potential Easter Weekend cruise up the Waihou River to the – Paeroa Maritime Museum & Park. Link below to last years cruise. Can we ask that you complete the simple poll below – THUMBS UP = Interested THUMBS DOWN = Not Interested Many Thanks 🙂
2022 Cruise Story https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/04/19/woodys-classic-launch-easter-river-cruise-to-paero
ALIBI – A Peek Below
In early Jan 2023 we featured the 42’ Mason Clipper – Alibi, entering the Sandspit shed of Greg Lees Boat builder. That story generated a great inside into her past, link below to that story.
https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/01/02/mason-clipper-alibi/
Today thanks to the ‘Mason Clippers’ group and Lew Redwood’s fb we get to see her interior. The photos show her almost unchanged in 42 years with the original upholstery still in great condition.
Looking forward to seeing what Alibi well look like after the Greg Lees team have rubbed their magic over her. (Nudge nudge Greg)
Woodys Stillwater Picnic + Next Event Announcement
Sadly Saturdays waterfront picnic was postponed based on weather forecasts and sea state. The right decision on Friday night and probably the wrong one at mid-day Saturday. There will be announcement later in the week re a new date. But moving on – the next Woodys event is a long overdue lunch cruise to the historical Riverhead Tavern.
See below flyer – but quick overview – Sunday 26th March – meeting at 10.am off Lucas Creek / Herald Island.
RSVP with vessel name and approx. number aboard to waitematawoodys@gmail.com
RATA – A Peek Down Below
The launch Rata is 35’ in length, has a 9’ beam and draws 3’.
Rata was built in 1926 from Kauri, carvel method by Dick Lang in St Mary’s Bay. Powered by a 85hp Ford Lees Marine diesel, giving her a 7 knots cruising speed.
And that is all we know, lots of craft named Rata on WW but this ones a newbie. Was hauled out on the hard at Waiheke Island for an extended period. Thanks Ian McDonald for the heads up.
Mystery Whangaroa Launch 1930’s
Todays woody is a big ask to identify – the caption is captioned ‘1930’s Whangaroa’ but the vessel is unnamed.Its mooching around a large school of Kahawai so no doubt is trolling a lure.
The photo comes to us from the British Museum via Lew Redwood fb and the photographer is probably J.M. Booth.
Are we able to put a name to the launch?
REMEMBER – WOODY STILLWATER DOCKSIDE PICNIC TOMORROW
CLEONE – A Peek Down Below
The Jim Young built, Couldrey design launch – Cleone, has appeared on WW before – link below, lots of details and photos. Now thanks to Ian McDonald and tme we get to have a peek down below.
Quick over view- built c.1950, triple skin kauri, 30’ in length, 10’ x 5” beam. Powered by a Ford 72hp diesel. Previous WW Story https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/06/11/cleone-2/
MYSTERY NAPIER LAUNCH
Todays woody is what appears to be a very smart sub 30’ double-ender launch, seen in the above photo anchored in Napier’s Inner Harbour.
The photo comes to us from a late 2022 Maurice Sharp fb post.
Would love to put a name to the launch and an approximate date to the photo.
Tall Ships At The 2023 Australian Wooden Boat Festival Short video to given you a quick overview of the Tall Ship eye candy at the festival – all earning their keep doing inner harbour cruises. Enjoy 🙂
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