I’m sure most of you will have seen the TV coverage of the Southern Right whale – nick named Matariki thats decided to adopt the Wellington Harbour as its new home.
The Uivel family, owners of the stunning 1928, Joe Slattery built, now Wellington based woody – Mataroa, ventured out last week for a peek, never expecting the close encounter they got, seems the whale likes woodys.
Also included above are some nice shots of Mataroa in Clyde Quay boat harbour.
Photos ex the camera of Sue Dorrington & thanks to Rob Uivel for the on-board video and Bryan Saul for the Drone footage (link below)
You can view more photos of the re launch of Mataroa at the link below. Or just WW search the name, there is a lot of photos / info on her. Named Kenya, when launched.
Big tides yesterday – I suspect this old woody in the Milford Creek has had a few tides thru her 😉 See WW comments section for info on the yacht (named Ra Kesha) ex Geoff Brebner (heyday photo added below)
The above photos come to us via Bruno Redwood’s fb, & show the Opawa River, Blenheim & are dated 1913.
The river, on which Blenheim is situated, is a tributary of the Wairau, & is navigable for small craft as far as Blenheim.
It is thought that the vessel in the ‘middle’ is Twilight. Photos ex A. McCusker
Harold Kidd Input – TWILIGHT was built by Ernie Lane at Picton and owned by Thomas A Smith who used her for fishing. Later he had the mail contract at Port Underwood with her. She was licensed for 35 pax and had a Dunedin-built Shacklock 10hp twin; her dims were 34′ x 8’3″ x 3’9″.
And below some eye candy – a wee video on the 2 year restoration of the 1926 N. Herreshoff designed NY40 MARILEE – its a great insight into the work of French & Webb in Belfast, Maine. Grab a cup/glass of something & sit back & enjoy 🙂
I was sent this video clip (film) by Cameron Pollard of the planning, building & launching of a traditional wooden boat. It is great viewing, but be warned the music is bad 🙂
It is reproduced with the permission of the Scottish Screen Archive & the National Library of Scotland.
Enjoy- it is very good.
And on the same subject, boatbuilding, a wee reminder to CYA members of today’s visit to Lees Boat Builders on-the-water yard at Sandspit. Kicks off at 11.00am, free sausage sizzle. It’s a working boat yard, so wear sensible shoes. See you there.
I have been contacted by Don & Teresa Windley, the new owners of Leisure Hour. Teresa & Don purchased Leisure Hour from master boat restorer John Wright and sailed her from Westpark Marina Hobsonville to her new home at Mahurangi Marinas. Built some 82 years ago she is built strong and has strong standing rigging. Her little Arona diesel engine performed well and didn’t miss a beat on the trip. Don told me that they will continue with the good work John Wright started in keeping this lovely old sail boat in good sailing condition, 1st project being rewiring all the internal electrics. This winter a planned haul out will include masts out which need re-varnishing.
Don thanked WW for publishing Leisure Hours story a little while ago that included some of her history from Harold Kidd. The WW story and the trademe ad helped them to make the decision to purchase a classic they could manage to sail together, as they had been looking for some time. It is always nice to hear that WW is helping people discover the classic wooden boating movement.
09-01-2021 Update from Angus Rogers – photos below taken at Gt Barrier Island 2020-21 xmas/ny period
As a bonus today – below is a link to a 30min video of the Melbourne based classic yacht Sayonara, in Sydney for News Eve 2001 , sent to me by Alan Good – enjoy it’s a cool look back at yachting 17 years ago.
Bonus Story Today – Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta – 2018 Tug Boat Race Video
The video below was taken by CYA member Brett Evans, lots of footage of Te Haurakei, but hang in there, there is footage of the ‘wall’ of tug boats behind Te Haurakei.
In the past I have published several links to retired Australian boat builder, Ian Smith’s blog (Smithy’s Boatshed) on the building of his 24’ Ranger Class yacht. Today’s link is to the full blog; it is a truly amazing record of how to build a wooden boat. If Ian was to appear on the TV program Mastermind, his specialist topic would be ‘Australian Open Boats’, the man is a living legend. Read / view the story, if you are too busy, bookmark it for later reference.
(thanks to Robin Elliott for pointing me in the direction of Ian’s build / blog)
Shanty was built by Jim Cottier on Motuarohia (Roberton) Island pretty recently (in the last 10 years). Jim has been the caretaker there for a long time, as far back as 1980.
The above photos of Shanty sailing off the Purerua Peninsula in Nov 2016, are from Dean Wright, who commented that he thinks that Jim used to own the beautiful double ender Skagen that featured last week on WW. Dean remembers her living on a mooring out there.
Click on this link to view a short video on Jim, he’s a bit of a master mariner / living sailing legend
Well known on the waterfront as a skipper of square riggers, including the Breeze (which he took to Mururoa with the N-test protest fleet) and more recently the Soren Larsen.
Great photo above of the 1929, Riley 9 twin cam that Baden Pascoe recently finished restoring. The Riley is parked in front of Aumoe, the 1913 Tom Le Huguet built classic launch owned by Andrew Pollard.
Streaming Planks
The above link to the very cool youtube clip on steaming Huon Pine planks onto Ian Smith’s (new build) 24’ Ranger class gaff rigged sloop, was sent to me by Robin Elliott
Looking for Scorpio – Sail # 1025
I was recently contacted by John McIntosh who is endeavoring to locate the current owner of ‘Scorpio’, a Californian Bear design about 23’ loa. Built in Milford about the 1950s by a professional boat builder (Gladden?) I’ll let John tell the story – read below.
The story is that she was built for Rush Clark snr who was the Auckland Pan Am representative, and as a young boy I went out for a picnic sail on her. I was calibrating new Raymarine instruments on Monday 30th Oct. on my boat, when I noticed a small keeler doing leads off Princess wharf. Later we past close by her transom and I noticed the word Scorpio carved on her stern. I immediately looked up at the mainsail and noticed a black bear on all four paws was near the peak, together with the registration number 1025. Because we were out “on business” I couldn’t go back and check on anything. Needless to say she was much smaller than I recalled.
When I got home I checked my old 1977 NZYF register, and the name and number were in there, but no owner. I got in touch with a friend who remained in touch with Rush Clark jnr in Atlanta Georgia. What must have amounted to reply the same day, I got an enthusiastic reply from Rush jnr, telling me “Scorpio” was only 23’ long and had been built in Milford. He went on to say that it was a testament to NZ Kauri and the skill of Kiwi boat builders that “Scorpio” was still sailing.
Rush is intending to come out to NZ early in the New Year and says he would love to see her again and would I please do my best to track “Scorpio” down.
I have rung all the marinas, most recognised yacht clubs, & Yachting New Zealand, but none could help me. The Harbour Master’s office promised to ring back, but haven’t done so. I have been to Gladden’s workshop, but John has been gone for decades, and workmen having a beer after work suggested that I contact your site.
There is a nice story about the name “Scorpio”. Rush snr and his wife Anne were captured by the Japs in the Philippines and in the prison camp they would look at the stars and think that somewhere in the world people were still free and one day, if they survived, they would also be free.
My father occasionally raced on “Scorpio” with the Squadron and said it was the slowest boat in the fleet. Sometimes when they crossed the finish line at Orakei wharf, they could see that the tower was all closed up and the race management had gone home.
So woodys hopefully we can locate the where abouts of Scorpio for John.
Once again WW delivers
Just received an email from Neil Chalmers, with the below photo of Scorpio. Neil was sent the photo by Dan Ranall back in June 2016. Dan had been mooching around Okahu Bay & snapped the photo, then sent it to Neil to see if Neil could ID the yacht. Boom connection made 🙂
Neil commented that he thought there was another Bear Class in Auckland (sail #577), called Little Bear. Anyone able to confirm?
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)
Given that in the first photo above the A-class keeler, Arohia is flying a Logan flag I assume that she is a Logan design, odd that her owner would leave that out of her 4sale listing……….. We do know that she was built in 1949 by Colin Wild for John Seabrook. The timber was supplied by Gordon Pollard on the proviso that he would get first option to buy if ever it was sold. As a result the best NZ kauri was used, hand picked by Gordon Pollard. Full length (47′) planking, triple skin kauri.
Arohia has an impressive racing history both local & off-shore & is now for sale by her owner of 34 years.
(sorry for the photo quality – that is all there was & wont be helping the sales process)
A Little Classic Sailing Porn
The video below is from the recent Vela Classic Menorca-Mahon Regatta – its 15mins of stunning classics & race footage.
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