Mystery Whitford Launch
Todays photograph, taken c.1965 by D.J Shaw comes to us via Lew Redwoods fb. The location is the Turanga Creek, Whitford and the caption states that the bulldozer was cutting through the sandstone bar.
Can we identify the launch – angle of the photo makes it a tad difficult but the two larger cabin windows (TVOne & TV2), are quite distinctive, so fingers crossed they jolt someones memory.
1937 Mystery Woody Photograph
We have been contacted by Tony Evans from the Richmond YC in Auckland concerning the 1937 photograph above that the club have been gifted.There was no family connection from the ‘gifter’, so the club are unsure of its history. Tony commented that the picture is likely taken at the original RYC Herne Bay club house, with Chelsea Bay hills in the background.
So woodys are we able to help the club and share some intel on the significance of the photo eg the name of the boat, was it (probably) performing the rule of racing committee boat and any info on the regatta / event. Or given the crowd onboard just she a spectator boat?
Input From Barry John Davis – This is the A. & G. Frankham coaster Coronation, built 1902 as a ketch in NSW, you can just make out the vestiges of a clipper type bow, dimensions 83.7′ x 22.7′ First registered at Auckland the same year. Still trading out of Auckland up to the early 1960’s when sold and went to Gisborne as a motorised lighter
OMG – How did this happen
A woody mooching around the gulf over the weekend spotted the above craft at Scotts Landing, Mahurangi.
Can somebody explain how it all works , if in fact it does work.
And just to remind you what a boat should look like – the 1910 HN Burgess built launch – Florence, at anchor in West Bay, Rakino Island.
Mystery Yacht – C2
All I can tell you is that the photo is dated c.1920/30’s and the yacht is sailing in a regatta in the Hauraki Gulf.
Should be an easy one to ID for those that have access to yacht registers ??
Input below from Denis O’Callahan –
“Back in the 1930s Scout was owned by one of my father’s buddies Ted Hay, who I think changed her from gaff to bermudan rig. From 30 December 1932 to 20 January 1933 Scout cruised to the Bay of Islands, the crew being Ted Hays, Jack Callagher, Bob O’Callahan (my father) and Copper Speight, who represented New Zealand at Rugby in 1893, playing 7 matches on tour. Copper was older than the rest of the crew and died at 65 years in 1935.
In 1932 it was the depression time, Ted, Jack and Bob may well have been unemployed and reading between the lines I think Copper paid for the cruise. He enjoyed it so much that he had a log typed up and I inherited a bound carbon copy. I have passed this log on to the present owner of Scout, Martin Farrand. (Of course I first scanned it and kept an electronic copy.) In return Martin gave me a copy of the excellent history of Scout “100 years astern”, written by Sandra Gorter, who also wrote the book about Ranger. To celebrate Scout’s 100th birthday in 2009 Martin took her to Newport Rhode Island to compete in a 6 Metre regatta where she was the oldest boat in the fleet. She now sports the sail number NZL-1. Unfortunately there are no photos from the 1932 cruise but I attached the cover photo from the book.”
Mystery Picton Launches + Win A WW T-Shirt
The above Picton photo popped up on Lew Redwood’s fb earlier in the week, at the time Nathan Herbert commented that two of the launches are theses days moored alongside each other in Orakei Basin. I’m guessing the one on the left side of the dock (with people on cabin top) is Silver Spray, but I’m more often wrong than right 🙂
I’m sure at some stage during the day Nathan will correct me.
First woody (excluding J Prew esq) that emails the correct boat names to waitematawoodys.com wins a WW T-shirt. Mr Herbert will be the judge.
Mystery Bay of Island Yacht REGULUS
On morning of 13th March Dean Wright spotted the above yacht off Moturua Island in the BOI.
A mystery to Dean and myself – can anyone put a name to the boat and tell us about her?
Input from John Bertenshaw. -the mystery schooner is Regulus , a William Hand design originally from San Francisco. Its been in the bay for some here. Circa 1928 build or so IIRC. Photo below
The Mence armada, below, sharing the Slipway at Milford this week 😉
The Balmain Bug
Hugh Gladwell sent in the above YouTube link to a very cool video on the Australian Balmain Bug – the six foot skiffs that hav been racing on Sydney Harbour for over 130 years. As Hugh joked – perfect for someone wanting to get into classic yachting without the marina fees 🙂
WHO CAN NAME THIS YACHT
Today’s woody photo comes to us from the Auckland Maritime Museum via Nathan Herbert.
The only clue, I’ll give out is – its been restored and is regularly sailing on the Waitemata.
I’ll put up a WW t-shirt for the first correct answer sent in – via email only to waitematawoodys@gmail.com
Photo below of the prize being modelled in Russia (not very PC)
MYSTERY LAKE ROTORUA LAUNCH – 1946
The photo above popped up recently on Maurice Sharp’s fb. The only details we have is its dated 1946, was taken by N. Bennett for the NZ Herald.
It is a very cool photo and given the year, just after WWII so the boat could have been abandoned while her owner was doing their bit overseas for all of us. I’d like to think some of these rascals went on to own their own boat.
It was commented that the small yacht was an Idle Along.
Anyone able to put a name to the launch – big ask I know 🙂
Mystery Lake Launch 24-02-22
Today’s woody launch photo comes to us ex Lew Redwood’s fb – I apologise in advance if it has appeared b4 on WW – so many stories, so many boats…..
It would appear that it was either a postcard or the sender wrote a note on the back. I have enlarged the note – hopefully someone can make-out the name of the lake, it is beyond my eye sight 🙂
And maybe even the boat name?
Mooching Around Tinopai Harbour
Woody David Campbell-Morrison sent in the above gallery of woodys berthed at Tinopai. For the out of towners – thats the northern end of the Kaipara Harbour, on the west coast of the north island (refer chart)
Very delightful looking spot, while the tides on 😉 , can anyone help us ID some of the craft?
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