Category Archives: Non Waitemata

Aotea

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C.1981 Far North
c.1981 Far North

AOTEA – Sailing Sunday 
The owner of the H28 Aotea, Peter Sporle, contacted WW recently seeking help uncovering information on her early history.What we know is that Aotea was built in 1954 in Mangonui Harbour, Northland, from kauri carvel planks. She has an iron keel and was originally ketch rigged.


In 1958 Aotea won the Balokovic Cup for her owner Brian O’Donaghue. Below is an article that BO’D wrote on H28’s and Aotea for the August 1962 issue of Sea Spray magazine.She was owned by Sir Keith Park. And a gentleman named Ian Miller owned for 7 years from approx. 1973>1980. Peter S bought her in Sept 1980 and still owns her – since 1990, she has been based at Tryphena, Great Barrier Island. Aotea was relaunched in October 2018 after a refit on the island.
Above also is a short video of Aotea afloat, post re-launching, looking very smart.

02-09-2020 Input From Robin Elliott –

Aotea has had the following Registered owners – as far as i know:
As D-11, ketch rigged.
B.C. Watson (Mangonui) 1953+?; B. O’Donohue (Whangarei) 1954?/61; Sir Keith Park 1961+?; T. O’Brien 1967+?
The date for B.C. Watson is the date he registered her, not necessarily the date she was launched.

In 1967 she appears to have been converted to single mast as she is re-registered in the E-Class as E-263.
T. O’Brien 1967/69+?; P.J. Cole (Matakana) 1970+? A. Wood 1971+? (Still Registered as Owner NZYF 1978); I.H. Miller 1976+?
You will note the overlap there. The registration lists are notorious for duff information and should always be viewed with caution; e.g. A. Wood appearing in 1971 and still shows as the registered owner in 1977/78 at the same time that Aotea is registered to I H. Miller with RAYC 1976/77 season where we know she did a lot of J.O.G. racing

In 1969 she took NZYF number 663

Trophies are:
RAYC: Balokovic Cup 1958
Onerahi YC: 100 miler 1960
Whangarei CC: Harbour Regatta Assn Auxilliary Cup 1960

UPDATE 03-10-2022 ex Tony Blake – “I am sure we raced (My brother Peter, friend Crawford Duncan and myself in the yacht “Bandit” that Peter built in my parents backyard) against her in the 1967 season of the Junior Offshore Group ( Royal Akarana YC). We won the 1967 season’s racing. We always had great tussles with ‘Aotea’. “

18-03-2024 INPUT EX PETER SPORLE –

My research indicates “Aotea” was built by Bernard Christian Watson then of Kohumaru road Mangonui on his farm and in the red woolshed that is still beside the road as of 2021. I spoke with a local Mangonui woman who as a young child was friends with Watsons daughters and would stay at the farm. She recalled Watson building “a boat” in the woolshed. 
Aotea was launched around 1953. 
The timber was reportedly sourced from the Totara North Mill. 
She was built as per Herreschoff’s specifications but with the added doghouse, an alteration that Herreschoff reportedly approved of. 
After launching she was hauled out and a second set of ribs added giving 6 inch centres. 
On official documents I’ve seen, Watson listed his occupation as farmer and then later as carpenter. 
It was suggested to me that Bernard Watson would have been related to the Whangarei boat building family of Watsons but I do not know if that is the case.

In 2020 I corresponded with and later also met Terry O’Brien who converted Aotea from ketch to sloop rig. In correspondence he offered. 

“J.O.G. Racing was just starting in 1967 and we ended up second overall the first year of racing, beaten by Peter Blake in a boat called “Bandit”.

SLOW LOADING OF WW SITE – IF YOU HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING VERY SLOW LOADING OF THE WW HOME PAGE – I APOLOGISE – ISSUE NOW FIXED. Thank you to Geoff Bagnall for alerting me to the issue 🙂

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Moerangi

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MOERANGI 

The name Moerangi appears many times on the WW site, today’s story adds to the list. The photo above pooped up on Lew Redwood’s fb and the accompanying text stated that at the time of the photo, Moerangi was owned by the Capey family, Whangarei Heads. That canoe stern hopefully will make flushing out more intel on her easier. She looks to be a bit of a speedster i.e. long and thin 🙂

INPUT FROM PAUL DRAKE – Moerangi (Logan Bros 1906) has been at Taupo for many years (more than 20?) and underwent a thorough rebuild by Bernie Dale (Dale Boat Builders) some time ago. The first two photos below show her about to be rebuilt, and the third shows her just prior to painting by Taupo Boat Painters. Note the new, slightly raised dodger. The photo above in today’s post shows her with this new dodger. This means that the photo is at Taupo and not Whangarei. The fourth photo shows her about to be launched at Taupo.The fifth photo shows her ‘on the beach’ at Waihaha (Western Bay).


Des Townson – A Sailing Legend Book Winner

The winner to the mid-week competition for a copy of the Brian Peet book – is Murray Deeble. As far as the judges (myself and Brian) are concerned, the correct answer to how many launches did Des design?, is one. However he did do scamp / sketches of two other launches and one open steam boat. Would Des have considered these drawings to be designs? The answer is no. But in the spirit of ‘Being Kind’ (pass me a bucket) any one that answered between 1 and 4 went into the draw. Well done Murray. Book is in the post.


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Lady Evelyn

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LADY EVELYN 

Back in March 2014 I post the photos below of the launch Lady Evelyn moored in Matiatia Bay on Waiheke Island, at the time we never really uncovered much about her designer / builder  and past. Then last night I received an email from Carolyn Waetford (nee White) which I have reproduced below along with the photos above of Lady Evelyn. Stories like this are what makes WW so special – it took 6-1/2 years but we now know more about the woody. Hopefully today’s story may nudge someones memory as to who built her. Maybe the rego/number on her bow – NLD395, is traceable ?

“I was browsing the internet and found your website and the photo of Lady Evelyn taken and posted on Waitamata Woodys site, March 4, 2016. I too photographed this boat in March 2017 in Matiatia because it looked like a boat my father Noel White had owned. I was delighted to enlarge the photo and find the name Lady Evelyn on the stern. 

I managed to contact the owner, he had had the boat for 10 years at that stage and thought it had been built in the Bay Of Islands. He was preparing to take it North for a refit. 

My Dad and brother checked it out to purchase when it was beached on the sand at Whananaki, probably in the late 1960’s. It had been used as a fishing boat. Dad sailed it home to Whangarei with a bit of pipe bolted to the rudder shaft.  Don’t think the engine had a muffler either… as you can see they made it. Noel gave Lady Evelyn some TLC, and added a dodger -not the present dodger. He was an auto electrician and worked on many boats in Whangarei doing the electrical refits for Oram and Davies, Alan Smith. He used her around Whangarei Harbour and the Bay Of Islands for family holidays and fishing. He would have sold her probably mid 1970’s.  That one porthole is very distinctive.

Lovely to look through your website and see how you are honoring these ‘old Woodys’ “

Input from Kenny West – My name is Kenny West son of Archie, we bought Lady Evelyn in 1961 while living on Waiheke Island, the boat was called Lady Joy, we changed it to Lady Evelyn after my mother. Was registered AK282, we commercial fished out of her in the Hauraki Gulf before shifting to Urquharts Bay, for about nine years we owned her and on sold to another fisherman, Spencer Codlin ,where the numbers changed, dad removed the Gray marine petrol in Waiheke and installed a 3 cylinder Lister while in the water at Matiatia.

20’ V8 Woody Speed Boat

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20’ V8 Woody Speed Boat


Over due for some varnish porn – today’s woody is a 20’ replica ‘Monaco’ speedboat, and when I say speed its serious e.g. a 290hp Lexus V8 sees her exceeding 50mph. Currently a lake boat (Rotorua) her closed circuit fresh-water cooling set-up makes her equally at home in the sea.

The trailer is a work of art and the total rig is a very impressive look. Currently 4sale on tme (thanks Ian McDonald)

Is It A Boat – Is It A House

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Is It A Boat – Is It A House

Some doozies have recently popped up on the web – the top photo I had to treble check to make sure it really was an actual boat. Would get very ‘interesting’ in anything over 2 knots of wind. It does win the WW competition for the boat that most resembles a block of flats award 🙂

The 2nd photo is a boat converted to a land based dwelling.

The last is an architects (I use the term loosely) attempt to include a ship into a new build.

Take your pick woodys 🙂


AROHA Weekend Cruiser Build
Our friends over at Off Center Harbor have just given us a heads up that the Brooklin Boat Yard in the US have purchased an Aroha kit and will be filming OCH (& BBY) guru Eric Blake setting up the kit. Should make for a very interesting video series.


Also in the OCH news, is the Aroha build by John Pratt, the photos above are from John’s home workshop in North Carolina. Below are two photos taken by Dean Wright of the ‘mule’ for Aroha – the kiwi designed and built – Whio. Dean took the photos in Deep Water Cove, B.O.I. in 2014.
You can read more about Whio and Aroha here + details on purchasing her building plans / kits https://www.offcenterharbor.com/plans-och-aroha/

Osmond + Woody Quiz

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ORMOND – Where Is She


I was recently contacted by Christopher Butler looking for information on the launch – Ormond. He uncovered the above photo in his uncles collection of precious things his grandad, Desmond Butler left behind.Desmond Butler was a shipwright for the Navy based in Devonport and had a strong relationship with the naval sailing club formerly at Torpedo Bay. Christopher commented that for him to have kept this old photo the boat must have meant a lot to him. 

Christopher has set himself a mission to track down the Ormond which in the photo looks like it is on the Hokianga. It could be Christopher’s great grandfather at the wheel. Even if the boat is a no longer sea worthy,  it would be great to track her down what became of her.

Input from Harold Kidd – ORMOND was entered in the 1908 Auckland Anniversary Regatta in the Launches Allcomers over 7 knots race on 54m handicap. She did not start for some reason. Certainly she must have been built in Auckland and launched in late December 1907 or January 1908. Maybe she wasn’t finished in time to start the race? I have checked through the many unnamed launches built in that time span and can’t pick her out. Her “torpedo”/ “cruiser”/”compromise” stern was cool at the time. Any Auckland builder could have produced her. Her disappearance from the record in Auckland is consistent with shipment to the Hokianga. Records of launches on that harbour are very sketchy.

Input from Dave Stanaways – photo below of a similar vessel on the Hokianga

WOODY QUIZ – Answer the question below correctly and you will go into the draw for a copy of Brian Peet’s #1 selling 334 page book, Des Townson – A Sailing Legacy. All entered via email to waitematawoodys@gmail.com.  Entries close at 8pm 25-08-2020. If you miss out , pick up a copy here https://destownson.co.nz


Q: How many launches did Des Townson design? 

Wooden Pond Yachts + Next Woody Event Details

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WOODEN MODEL / POND YACHTS


If you are a regular WW reader you may recall that I have a fondness for pond yachts or as we call them in NZ – model yachts. One of my favourites makes a cameo appearance in the photo below. I don’t ’sail’ them, just collect. Last week I uncovered this very cool video of Rich Hilsinger (WoodenBoat School director) chatting with pond yacht guru – Them McLaughlin.

The video is labeled ‘The Elegance & Joy of Wooden Pond Yachts’ – grab your favourite chair and push play, then sit back as these two gents entertain and enlighten you 🙂

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Input from Russell Ward – “I had a Star pond yacht as a kid aged 4 in the UK. Had a lot of fun with it in Littlehampton, the local harbour where the old man kept his boat. The Star was really just a toy and made in the thousands from 1918 -82. The makers guaranteed them to sail. They are quite collectable now. See the photos below of the business.I made one (The Duke – refer below) up for grandson for his 7th birthday with some slight mods to enable it to cope in Wellington! I was amazed how well it sailed when let adrift with no particular fine adjustments of sails once the sails were set slack and rudder set. It tacked, luffed in the gusts and sailed off, you name it. All with no attention. We caught it at the other side of the pond some time later. Great fun and highly recommended as a bonding exercise.By the way, there were no fences round the pond at Avalon in Petone. No kids appeared to have been drowned that day.

28′ Coastal Cruiser

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28’ Coastal Cruiser
Recently American boat designer, Tad Roberts, posted the above design sketch on fb, Tad commented that she was a coastal cruiser in classic British Colombia style. In my eyes, just about perfect – a Gardner 3lx tucked under the pilot house sole and I’d be disappearing over the horizon 🙂 I had better keep buying Lotto.


I shared the sketch with Dean Wright, who shares my passion for converted workboats and Dean sent me the photo below that he took of the launch – Georgia, that has been in the Bay of Islands approx 5 years ago. A pretty boat.

Quest

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Carey Boats-9

Carey Boats-11

Carey Boats-159

QUEST
Earlier in the week, we featured the ex work-boat Quest II, this prompted John Gander to send in the above photos of the 33’ Quest, built by Roger Carey in 1959, her beam is 9’9” and she draws 4’6”. 
Roger built Quest to be his families boat, but later sold her to a Southland farmer who then in 1964 sold her into commercial fishing. John understands that Quest fished the waters about Stewart Island. In the 1970’s > 1980’s period she also fished the waters off Southland.
 
Sometime in early 2000 she returned to Picton, where John took the photo’s of her in the marina at Waikawa in 2008. John commented that she looked to be well kept and in a tidy condition, her engine a 5LW Gardner. She was then lifted from the water onto the hardstand and as the photo taken in 2013 shows she has deteriorated with her hardwood planking drying out with considerable shrinkage. 
 
John remarked that doesn’t like to look at Quest now that she is in such a sad state, having been fitted with a tight fitting cover and John fears that with lack of ventilation her condition will deteriorate further.
(special thanks to Dean Wright for facilitating getting the story to WW)
 

Mystery B.O.I. Launches – WW Gear To Be Won

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Mystery 1

Mystery Launch #1

mystery 2

Mystery Launch #2

ID These Mystery B.O.I. Launches – Win WW Merchandise

Ok woodys, double banger competition today – we have two photos (by Tudor Collins) sent in by Nathan Herbert. All those that can correctly name the two launches, go into the draw for a WW T-shirt (s/s) and hat. Entries close at 8pm 18-08-2020.

ENTRY BY EMAIL ONLY to  waitematawoodys@gmail.com

WW Merch copy