Category Archives: Non Waitemata

SUNKEN CLASSIC LAUNCH (VACUNA) & TWO CLASSIC YACHTS ON THE ROCKS

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SUNKEN CLASSIC LAUNCH & TWO CLASSIC YACHTS ON THE ROCKS

Woody Ian Gavin (MV FLORANCE DAWN) sent in the above photo of what appears to be a classic launch in serious trouble. The photo appeared in the NZ Herald, online Northland edition and the location was tagged ’Near Parua Bay jetty, Whangarei’ . The article appeared on 21-01-2025.

From what I can see it does have several Lidgard design events visible.

Can anyone ID the vessel and give us an update on what became of her – hopefully recovered.

Update ex Ian Gavin – didn’t sink below the waves and has been re floated.

UPDATE ex Paul Drake and Ken Ricketts – the ;launch is the 36′, 1958 Owen Woolley built  – VACUNA. Which also sank in 2016 and is one of WW’s most revealing stories https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/11/25/vacuna-2/

SATURDAY NIGHT AT MAHURANGI WAS EVIL – To quote John Bertenshaw (EX FB) – “Last night at anchor was , let me search for a phrase which might best capture the experience…oh yeah, it was hell. Crowded anchorage, serious wind, nasty chop , wind against tide, etc etc. No one dragged on us though, choice.”
ELSE WHERE NOT SO GOOD – 2 WOODYS ON THE ROCKS – I took the photo below of RANUI and CORONA at 6.15 am on Saturday morning. Post the yacht race they must have made the call to head to a ’safer’ anchorage , in this case – Islington Bay, Rangitoto Island. The storm was that bad that RANUI dragged anchor and both her and CORONA went onto the rocks. Dockside chat says the damage was superficial only.

Big WW day tomorrow – a photo gallery from the Mahurangi Regatta and happenings around Kawau Island. Enjoy the last day of the long weekend and if in Auckland check out the classic boating activity on the harbour for the anniversary day regatta.

BOAT LESS THIS LONG WEEKEND  – PROBLEM SOLVED 

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MAHURANGI REGATTA 2024

BOAT LESS THIS LONG WEEKEND  – PROBLEM SOLVED 

Today’s WW story is a flash back to the 2014 Mahurangi Regatta for all the boatels woodys sitting at home this long weekend. Enjoy and remember to come back on Tuesday to see this years event :-)2024 Mahuranghi Regatta Launch Parade Flash Back  https://waitematawoodys.com/2024/01/30/2024-mahurangi-regatta-classic-woody-launch-parade-130-photos/

The zoom zoomers arrived late avo on Friday.

WOODEN LAUNCH – SCUFFY

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WOODEN LAUNCH – SCUFFY

Todays woody is one of the many classic wooden craft from Picton that have recently appeared on tme for sale (thanks Ian McDonald) – must be something in the water down there…….

There is no mention of a launch date, but its safe to assume that being named – SCUFFY, that she has had a name change along the way.

What we know is that she is approx 24’ 6” in length, built from wood and s powered by a 30hp Yanmar 3 cyl diesel engine. 

It’s commented that she was the vessel featured in the NZ story ‘ Herbert The Brave Sea Dog’.

Her Picton marina berth (pole) is available for $210 a month – that figure will make most Auckland boaties weep.

Can we learn more about SCUFFY.

26-05-2025 UPDATE ex Joel Gillespie (new owner)  – Earlier this year I purchased Scuffy – I’m keen to learn more about this boat. Approximate build date? Boat builder? Photos prior to 2016? Where she started life?

I purchased her in pile birth in Picton, but this past week had her relocated to Duncan Bay, Tennyson Inlet. She handled the 12 hour trip around Cape Jackson & Aligator Head very well, commented the commercial skipper that drove her. She seems to cut through chop well, though she doesn’t have much of a chine so does tend to feel a fraction tender, especially at rest. I’m keen to hear from those that know how I can reduce her inclination to be tender,  some lead has been added to the bottom of the hull but isn’t solid.

She presently sleeps 2 in the fore birth, I plan to slat her aft bench seats to sleep 4 total. She has a basic galley, portable gas stove, 3 way fridge, sink. Stainless diesel and fuel tanks with baffles. Capstan, plotter VHF, etc . Still has her Yanmar 3QM30 running well. I intend to use her as a cruiser through Pelourus sound, a weekend at a time.

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – ARAB

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – ARAB

I stumbled across todays woody photo during a search of the the Auckland Libraries Heritage Collection – the photos is ‘credited’ to the McLeod Collection, date and photographer unknown. The location is probably – Kopu Wharf, Thames.

What we do know from previous WW stories on ARAB (links below), that she is 32’ in length and built / launched in 1913 bu boatbuilders Collings & Bell.

Lots more re past owners and photos in the links .

WW Aug 2013 https://waitematawoodys.com/2013/08/23/3911/

WW March 2021 https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/03/30/arab/

VERY COOL MARITIME AUCTION – check out at link below https://auctions.mccormackandmckellar.co.nz/208/catalogue?page=1#0051

CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT – GEMINI – A Peek Down Below

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CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT – GEMINI – A Peek Down Below

Todays woody is the Lanes (Picton) built double ender – GEMINI. Built in 1932, kauri carvel construction , her specs are 33’ x 8’6” x 4’. GEMINI is powered by a 75hp Perkins Sabre diesel engine that gives her a 7>8 knot cruising speed.

Home port is Picton. Marlborough and like most ’Sounds’ boats GEMINI is well fitted out for year round cruising.

Thanks to Ian McDonald for the tme heads up. Anyone able to tell us more about GEMINI.

IS ANYONE BUILDING REAL WOODEN BOATS IN NEW ZEALAND

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IS ANYONE BUILDING REAL WOODEN BOATS IN NEW ZEALAND

I’m a big fan of The Wooden Boatshop in Sorrento, Melbourne, Australia.Tim Phillips OAM and his team turn out the most amazing craft – both traditional and spirit of tradition.If you haven’t already checked out their website, do it now. Every post is classic boat porn. Link below + sign up for their e-newsletter and follow on fbook.https://woodenboatshop.com.au

Back to todays headline – I hope I’m wrong but is anyone (professionally) working to this standard? We kill Australia when it comes to the size of your classic movement both in terms of numbers and boats on the water, but sadly we have a very small number of artisans doing mainly restorations and repairs.

Today on WW we showcase the recent (late 2024) launching of – BETTY , a Couta boat built by The Wooden Boatshop.Read more on Couta boats and TWBS at this link  https://woodenboatshop.com.au/Couta-Boat

Tim Phillips is even a fan of WW (photo below es 2023 AWBF) – or maybe he just needed a clean, dry shirt after crossing the Bass Straight on his 1925 built ex workboat – STORM BAY
Check out the 10 year conversion / restoration here https://woodenboatshop.com.au/Storm-Bay

MOLLYMAWK – CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT

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MOLLYMAWK – CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT
Today thanks to tme and Ian McDonald we get to view the Wellington based canoe stern wooden boat – MOLLYMAWK, built in c.1930 in Nelson by Jack Guard.  Her original name was  – VALETTA.Built from kauri her specs are 31’6” x 8’4” x 3’. Powered by a 20hp Hupeh engine.Current owner has had her for 25 years and commented that he has made 50+ Cook Straight crossing in the boat.

A PRODUCT PLUG – (I bought it, no trade bribes) Recently discovered a great boat wax, called ‘Meguiars Flagship Marine Wax’. Not cheap $85 for 475ml but so easy to apply and no residue white marks on fittings etc. The photos tell the story. Just had my boat out for some TLC at the Slipway Milford, her bottom was the worst ever, a sad reflection on the amount of use in 2024 ……….

AND SPEAKING OF PAINT JOBS / SHINE – check out the Couldrey clinker dinghy in the shed at the Slipway Milford, in the final stages of a high-end refurb – soon to be paired up with her Couldrey mother ship 😉

WOODY CLASSIC WHALE BOATS 

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Photo #1
Photo #2
Photo #3
Photo #4
Photo #5

WOODY CLASSIC WHALE BOATS 

Something a little different today – whale boats. The photos above come to us from Don MacLeod and were taken at the recent regattas – Kawhia on Jan 1st and Te Waiter on Jan 4th.

The photos show the 5 boats that took part, Kawhia Harbour is the only place in the world that holds rowing regattas for whaleboats.

Don commented that the competitors range from 10 years old to the aged, everyone is welcome. The crowd was fantastic and the beer cheap.

Two of the whale boats were built in Auckland in the 1880s and shipped to Kawhia in 1910. The other 3 were built in the 1990s.

The construction is Kauri plank with bent hardwood frames.

Photo #1      Kawhia whaleboat – built in Auckland in 1880s, shipped to Kawhia in 1910

Photo #2       Kawhia whaleboat – built in 1990s

Photo #3       Te Waitere whaleboat (brown)  built in the 1880s in Auckland

Photo #4      Te Waitere whaleboat (blue) – built in the 1990s  Kawhia waterfront on regatta day

Photo #5       Oparau whaleboat = built in the 1990s

MYSTERY CLASSIC LAUNCH – A LONG WAY FROM THE SEA – PRIVATEER

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MYSTERY CLASSIC LAUNCH A LONG WAY FROM THE SEA – PRIVATEER

Todays photos were sent in by Jason Prew who spotted the launch ‘high & dry’ at Tokaanu. I’ll assume that like me most of you will go ‘where?’, so I’ll make it easy for you – Tokaanu is a small settlement at the southern end of Lake Taupo, near Turangi, in the central north island.

She is quite pleasing to the eye and appears to be well looked after. Maybe a few inches off the top of the dog house and replace the windows………..

Can any of the lake woodys (Drakes brothers?) ID the craft for us.

INPUT ex PAUL DRAKE – The Tokaanu launch is PRIVATEER. She appeared on woodys in 2015. She was the last boat to be ejected from the old Motuaopa Marina before it was re developed. In about 2221 she was purchased from the Harbour Master as an abandoned vessel. Her new (Auckland) owner has done well to get her to the stage she is at, but the last step – getting her back in the water – seems to be eluding him. Good things take time……

2015 WW link https://waitematawoodys.com/2015/08/22/privateer/

2021 WW Link https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/07/07/what-happened-to-privateer-sandpiper/

MAHURANGI DOCKSIDE MOOCHING + MAHURANGI REGATTA

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MAHURANGI DOCKSIDE MOOCHING + MAHURANGI REGATTA

Just prior to the xmas break I had cause to visit Warkworth, ok I’ll tell the truth – I was buying a pie on route to Sandspit marina 🙂

Rather than fill the car with crumbs, I went for a stroll down to the riverfront dockside. As always there was a very salty looking collection of craft tied up. 

Most of the craft will be attending the 2025 Mahurangi Cruising Club Regatta later this month (Jan 25th) – the biggest gathering of classic craft afloat in New Zealand, refer flyer below.

The scow – RIPPLE is a seriously good-looking craft – read more on her at the link below. https://waitematawoodys.com/2024/09/04/the-sailing-scow-ripple-can-we-learn-more-about-her/

Todays story is a shameless plug for the MCC regatta and other activities in Kawau Bay over anniversary weekend.