Category Archives: Non Waitemata

Lady Vee (Laura May)

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LADY VEE (Laura May)

Todays woody is the launch Lady Vee, photo ex Peter Loughlin & taken on Peter Xmas / NY cruise on Lady Margaret (Colin Wild).

LV drew a blank with me, but no doubt she will be well known to some of you, so don’t hold back – what do we know about her?

Input from Brian Worthington – She is ‘Laura May’ ( renamed Lady V ) built by Oliver and Gilpin .
Has had a few modifictions on topsides since it was launched.

Photo below of Lady Vee in Chamberlains Bay ex Jason Prew

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Cristina (Vanguard) A Peek Down Below

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CRISTINA (Vanguard) A Peak Down Below

Cristina has appeared on WW before (link below), now thanks to her trademe listing ex Ian McDonald, we get to have a peak down below.

Designed by Athol Burns she was built by Frank Dellabarca, Island Bay, in the 1960’s and named Vanguard, & measures 36’. She had a major rebuild in the 1990’s and was relaunched in 2000. During this period her hull was stripped to bare timber and all new equipment installed. Isuzu 6BD1 diesel, 142hp, then a new gearbox in 2015. Cristina will cruise happily at 7.5 knots with 5.5 litre per hour fuel burn approx. 
I understand she has done a few laps of NZ, so if anyones looking for a classic to ‘escape’ on – check Cristina out.
 
Previous WW story  https://waitematawoodys.com/?s=cristina&submit=Search

Mystery Launch 22-01-2018

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MYSTERY LAUNCH. 22-01-2019

The above photo was sent in by Harold Kidd – the questions for Woodys today are:
1. Location
2. Name of the boat
MAHURANGI WEEKEND – ATTENTION LAUNCH OWNERS
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If you are heading up to the regatta this weekend, drop Joyce Talbot (email address below) at the CYA a quick note to confirm that you will be participating in the Classic Launch Parade on Saturday morning. The crew ’try’ to pull together a listing of boats for the parade. Only takes a minute to click the email link & confirm your boat name, year, length & designer/builder.
admin@classicyacht.org.nz
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Tooroorong > St. Helena

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As purchased 4 years ago

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getting closer.

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Moreton Bay Video – Dec 2017

 

TOOROORONG > St. HELENA

Hello woodys – today’s WW story is a goody, it started off with an order from Australia for some WW t-shirts, several emails later I discover that the recipient of the t-shirts, Andrew Christie is a serious woody. I will let Andrew tell the story of his acquisition of the classic launch Tooroorong (later to be re-named St. Helena), read below. Enjoy – I did 🙂
ps check out the cockpit canopy ‘wings’, new to me but with the hours of sunshine they get in Australia, they are a great idea.
“St Helena is a 32 foot long timber cruiser.  Her hull is Queensland Beech glued with resorcinol and clenched with copper nails. Her decks are ply sheathed in dynel and her cabin top is made from Australian Red Cedar.  Her hull is also dynel sheathed below the waterline.  She is powered by a Yanmar 4JH3-HTE turbo diesel. When built she had a petrol Chrysler.  She has a two burner Force 10 stove in her galley, and two refrigerators, one forty and one eighty litres which run permanently from four solar panels on the roof.  Her electronics are built around a Raymarine 12 inch Axiom pro.  I have hunted the internet for classic fittings like the half mile ray on the roof a new old stock genuine morse controller.  Many of the brass fitting were cast on patterns I had made or from old ones I found in boat yards or boot trunk sales.
I believe she was designed by Clem Masters (RIP) a prolific designer and builder from Sandgate, but the builder is unknown.  Her registration papers say she was built in 1968.  Although I don’t know the builder, she is however built to a very high standard and was completely rot free and sound when I bought her.  It is better to be lucky than smart.  The long term owner before me, Mort Hudson, sadly had developed alzheimers which meant he had to sell her, but this also meant he could not recite her history.  Mort had named her Tooroorong after his wife’s peanut farm. It seemed to be a tactic that had worked for him and a theme which would follow.
Her original name might have been Venetra.  Mort’s wife Barbara mistakenly recalled her name was Helena during the restoration which resulted in the decision to change it back. My wife was keen to go back to the original name before we learned of the error but we decided on St Helena as many classic Moreton Bay boats bear the names of local places and by that time we thought of her as Helena.  It is important to keep your wife happy as we see below.  
I believe St Helena was a southern boat as before I spent two years restoring her she was enclosed and had a small trunk cabin aft which was pretty difficult to live with and not suitable for a sub tropical climate.  The restoration is a whole other story.  We had planned some quick work and a $15,000 ceiling.  I should run a government with my ability to blow out a budget. Two years later in an enclosed slipway on Breakfast Creek is proof enough of that …
As it turned out, brother in law loved wooden boats.  He is an intellectual but also an artisan.  He had a peculiar wooden shoal draft sailing boat to I think an Ian Gartside design which he kept in Cabbage Tree Creek.  He had also built a beautiful strip plank canoe of cedar which was bright finished.  And he collected Wooden Boat Magazine.
Anyway, my wife’s sister, who, what shall I say, might be viewed by some as a hard hard woman, took a dislike to his boat.  She was embarrassed because the purist in him would not use an engine and crunched into the jetty on docking and she found the sailing experience uncomfortable. This whole boating business was a folly and an annoyance. She started speaking at family gatherings about how it made good financial sense to be rid of the boat.  Whatever (said slowly and with bitterness) I thought. More noise.  
I did however become concerned when I heard Johnny start parroting her narrative.  While she wore the pants he told me that he was not worried it would sell because it was such a peculiar boat that it would appeal to very few people. Who knew that the only other person in Australia who would be interested was looking for such a boat to try an experimental junk rig on.  I said to him after the event, “why wouldn’t you just have made a typo with your phone number in the advertisement – your wife would never realise”.  We are all wise after the event.
Shortly after it was advertised my wife came to me, “Jimmy’s sold the boat”.  “That’s not good”, I said. “You watch, this will be the end of them”.  Well within months they had separated and the blood letting began.  As part of his punishment boxes of Wooden Boat Magazines were hidden under my house.  
And so I came to stand on the top of that very slippery slope.  I read those magazines.  One by one. Then religiously.  The 18 foot catamaran I had in my late teens whispered in my ear.  My favourite book as a boy was The Dove.  This was going to be bad.
I started looking at sailing yachts.  I wanted a Herreschoff. It had to have a bright mahogany house, teak decks and brass, brass, brass.  Anyway, as I stood on the most lovely one in Sydney Harbour about to make my dream a reality I remembered just in time the lesson above.  In my family a sailing boat is a divorce. I decided a cruiser would be more likely to keep me in the family business.  God bless my wife. She put up with the restoration while I told her outrageous lies about how much it was costing. But despite this now she suggests we use the boat more than I do. Provided we take the dogs.  Those damned dogs and their hair.  On my beautiful boat.  Never mind, happy wife.  Happy life.  I think I got the good sister.
She doesn’t know I am still looking for a yacht.  I saw a lovely Dark Harbour 20 in England the other day.  The quote to freight it out here wasn’t that unreasonable.  Surely the house renovations can wait a little longer.  What could possibly go wrong?”

Beatnik + Mahurangi Regatta Reminder + Details On Sunday River Cruise + Auckland Anniversary Regatta Launch Race

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BEATNIK

Woody Colin Pawson sent in the above photo of the sloop Beatnik that he snapped during the week at Great Barrier Island. She is flying a CYA burgee, but doesn’t ring any bells with me, maybe a name change or a very new member?

Her ‘cockle shell’ clinker dinghy is rather cute.

Any of the woodys able to tell us more about Beatnik?

MAHURANGI REGATTA NEXT WEEKEND

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If you’re a serious woody you will have already made plans to be at Mahurangi this coming weekend. As I have told you b4 it is the single biggest gathering of classic wooden boats in New Zealand. Lots to do & see for both yachts & launches + Saturday nights BBQ / dance ashore at Scotts Landing is huge.

You can find out more details at the link below. But for the launches, the classic launch parade meets off Scotts Landing at 10.15am, with a parade start time of 10.30am.

On Sunday at around midday there is a trip up the Mahurangi River to Warkworth – the Jane Gifford will lead the way, so we effectively have a pilot 🙂 It is a great trip & the event is being run to demonstrate support for the dredging / improvements to the basin. Details below.

http://www.mahurangi.org.nz/2018/01/26/2019-mahurangi-regatta-programme/utm_source=CYA+Mailing+List&utm_campaign=0f35421837-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2019_01_15_12_22&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_539b169589-0f35421837-67897225

I’ll post more during the week.

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Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta – Classic Launch Race

If Mahurangi was not your scene or you get back early from the Mahurangi, this event is a must do to the ‘petrol-heads’ amongst us. After 100+ years the organisers of the AADR have resuscitated the regatta classic motorboat race. Details below ex Joyce Talbot

“It’s been 100 years or more since a race for power craft was part of the Auckland Anniversary Regatta. But this year, for the first time since the early 1900s, the regatta will feature a classic launch race – and we’d love for you to be part of this historic revival.

This “new” (old) event is the perfect opportunity to show off these wonderful vessels in front of a huge audience of spectators, and a chance to prove once and for all – who has the fastest launch of them all.

Time’s running out to enter the Ports of Auckland Anniversary Regatta and put yourself in the running to win cash, a huge pool of spot prizes including a holiday in Hawaii, and your name on our historic trophy collection.

Entries cost just $30, and every entry received will go in the draw to win a holiday in Hawaii plus loads more.”

Enter now at www.regatta.org.nz

Enquiries: 0800-REGATTA   Email: admin@regatta.org.nz

 

Hautonga

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HAUTONGA

Todays woody is the launch Hautonga, pictured above at Warkworth, on the Mahurangi River. photos ex Ken Rickets.

Can anyone help out & supply more info on her? I have to say that her ‘upper level’ (I’m trying to be polite) looks like is was designed for Cook Strait crossings 🙂

Harold Kidd Input: “Hautonga” = South Wind (actually South was up to the Polynesians/Maoris so was “North Wind”).
No comments on her aesthetics but there was a HAUTONGA in Auckland in 1966 owned by R C Weaver of Matai Road Green Lane and in 1973 by E W Barnard of Waiata Ave.

Riwaka Channel – Marina

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RIWAKA CHANNEL – MARINA
Now I used to think the channel up the creek to Auckland’s Riverhead Hotel was narrow and shallow. Well the photos above of the Riwaka Channel take things to another level (low). To quote John Burland who took the photos – “the channel is narrow, winding and mobile”. That is an understatement.
John has pulled together a collection of photos showcasing some of the woody craft at Riwaka Marina, for those not familiar with the area, Riwaka is located between Motueka and Kaiteriteri , in NZ’s upper South Island.
John’s is very talented with a phone/camera and they will make woody Cameron Pollard’s day i.e. a lot of very practical vessels and very little varnish on display 🙂

Rakanoa + Reminder Re Cool Woody Event

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RAKANOA

Today’s WW post features one drop dead gorgeous woody. The photo above is of the 56’ Rakanoa, sent in by Peter Loughlin & is the perfect photo to showcase the recent TLC she has received. Rakanoa was built in 1946 by Shipbuilders.

You can see > read more on Rakanoa here.      https://waitematawoodys.com/2013/04/21/rakanoa/
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LAKE ROTOITI CLASSIC – WOODEN BOAT PARADE WEEKEND – FEB 8TH > 10TH
Big reminder / nudge that one of the coolest woody events of the year is fast approaching & if you are thinking of attending with your boat you need to get your A-into-G & register now.
If you are boat less & around the centre of the North Island that weekend – check out the Parade on Saturday – there will be between 70 & 100 woodys on display.
I have featured the Parade on WW for the last 4 years – so just enter Lake Rotoiti in the WW search box & you will be blown away with the boats. Or  be lazy & just click the link below to view last years event
Link below for more details on the Parade & the Lake Rotoiti Classic & Wooden Boat Association

 

Mechanical Advice Needed Re Bearings

I have been contacted by Bruce Flintoff looking for some advise on his my stern bering. Refer photos below. The bearing needs replacing. Does anyone know who supplies these bearings and what bearing would be the best replacement?

Bruces boat is Norma built around 1920 and featured in Waitemata Woody’s a couple of years back. Link below

Woodys at the Bay of Islands 2019 Tall Ships Regatta

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Woodys at the Bay of Islands 2019 Tall Ships Regatta

I have been getting lots of chat on last weeks B.O.I. Tall Ships Regatta – I understand it was the biggest event yet as far as numbers, weather, & wind went. Boosted by the inclusion of two super yachts taking part – Silvertip & Thalia. The organisers got the hangi right & the food was spot on. Two bands kept the crowd entertained & the dancing went till 1am 🙂
CYA stalwarts Kirsty & John Bertenshaw, cleaned out the regatta winning line & handicap with Riada, their 1975 Laurie Davidson designed ketch.
The photos above come to us from the camera of Dean Wright. The highlight for me in viewing the photos, was seeing Tino Rawa head honcho Tony Stevenson at the helm of the recently restored – Teal. It’s been a while since TS has been on the rail of one of the TRT classics…. Welcome back Tony , how’s the bum?  🙂
Update 17-01-2019 – Photo below (ex Hylton Edmonds) of Lady Crossley on duty as start/finish boat.
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Junior Woodys

Colin Pawson is a big fan of getting kids into boating at an early age – so when he spotted Ben (6) and Libby (4) Managh, entertaining themselves in the wooden dinghy that Ben and his dad John designed and built at home, he dived into the cabin to grab his phone/camera. Colin was moored near the Managh family at Kaiarara, Great Barrier Island last week.

Colin commented to me that watching Ben row he reckoned he will be in the Olympics in a few years time 🙂

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1910-1920’s Mystery Launch & Yachts on the Waitemata Harbour

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1910-1920’s Mystery Launch & Yachts on the Waitemata Harbour
 
The above photo comes to us from the Auckland Museum, Bourne collection – via Lew Redwood’s fb. 
It shows a smallish motorboat towing two gaff rigged yacht.
Can we ID all 3?
10-04-2019 Update from Steve Horsley – photo below
Ngatira & Kotiri

FLYING 15 4sale

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I have been contacted by Rachel Jamieson, the driving force behind the Lake Rotoiti Classic & Wooden Boat Association, asking for help finding a new owner for her parents 20’ Flying Fifteen yacht. I’ll let Rachel tell you about the yacht – 
“ She is currently named Ffelony & registered as ff 851. From what I can find out she was launched in 1966 as Aphrodite, then renamed ffelony in 1971.
My parents raced her in Wellington in the 1980’s and were calling her flying forties, as they were in their 40’s. she does not have a name on her.
Next she came up to Lake Rotoiti where she has been ever since, only taken out of the shed occasionally in summer and not for the past 5-6 years at all except to re-coat the deck with Sikkens.
She appears to have a few sets of sails, all quite old as they have not been replaced since she was raced.
She has stainless steel lifting eyes for crane-age launching which is what was used when in Wellington.
She has a launching trailer, but it does need repair, the main part of it is galvanised so not to bad, but the uprights at the back to guide the boat on have rusted away…
Overall the boat is in not too bad a shape, she is complete and sailable. It is a wooden hull (glassed over), plywood decks with aluminium mast, boom and spinnaker pole.”
  
She has a no reserve starting price on trademe of $250, so someone will get a bargain. Talking with Rachel, their #1 issue is finding a good home for the yacht. She has been in rachel’s family for the last 40 years.
Viewing is in Otaramarae, Lake Rotoiti – please email Rachel to make a time.     zea.rachel@gmail.com
 
BIG PHOTO GALLERY STORY TOMORROW (Monday) FROM MY NEW YEAR CRUISE.