Category Archives: Sailing Sunday

CLASSIC WOODYS ON THE WAITEMATA

Posted on by
1
A8 VICTORY
A3 ARIKI
A13 HEARTSEASE

CLASSIC WOODYS ON THE WAITEMATA

Todays photos are from my wife’s side of the family, who had a higher % of salt in their veins than my side. Her grandfather John (Jack) Bonner was a co-owner of the yacht  ALEXA C7 colourised photo below), built by T. Le Huquet in 1904. Later in life he was a very accomplished painter, several of his works grace my walls. When you factor in that he had (medical records speak) an ‘arm removed via field amputation i.e. no general anaesthesia in France WW!, the paintings were well done.

There were 3 random photos in the album , as seen above but no names, dates, or captions.

The top photo, carries the sale # A8 is VICTORY the 1907 Logan built A-Class yacht. Last I heard she was tucked away in boatbuilder Marco Scuderi’s shed in Helensville.

Second photo has the sail # A3, making her ARIKI – Ariki the 1904 yacht designed by Arch Logan and built by the Logan Brothers.

In the last photo the yacht centre stage has sail # A13, now I could be very know but my search has come up with this intel – HEARTSEASE (A13) was a historic 51-foot classic wooden cutter designed in Auckland by J.G. Trevithick, which raced locally before embarking on an international world cruise in 1932.

Just realised there has been a little too much B/W photos this week so promise some colour on Monday 😉

COMMENT ex ANGUS ROGERS – Angus has pointed out the spelling of the yachy above – blowning the photo up it appears to read ALXER. Every piece of intel I have seen on the boathas her named ALEXA, so I’m confused – anyone able to help out.

INPUT ex OWEN ASPDEN – I saw Heartsease posted on WW today below is a photo of her with sail number 141. According to my grandmothers diary Tom Aspden bought the Ida in 1921 and the Heartsease in 1919. FYI she now for sale in Sydney for $450k.

INPUT ex ROBIN ELLIOTT – HEARTSEASE carried number 141 in the 1913 Anniversary Regatta

SAILING BACK IN TIME — 1930s CLASSIC YACHTS

Posted on by
Reply
Off Waiwera
Tryphena, Great Barrier Island

SAILING BACK IN TIME — 1930s CLASSIC YACHTS

Todays classic wooden boating photo gallery comes to us from the Leith family in Dunedin via Peter Mence.

The accompanying note commented that the photos came from a family album and are dated approx. 90 years ago. Looking at the tags one has ’Season 1936>7’ on it, halcyon days before WWII kicked off. Given the age of the ‘boys’ in the photos, no doubt most of them would have seen service.

The two yachts seen are OTRIA L25 and NOMAD H5.

Do we know where OTIRA L25 is these days.

The last news we had on NOMAD L5 was she was on fire at Mapua, Nelson in June 2024. Link below. Any update on what became of her post the fire. https://waitematawoodys.com/2024/06/19/nomad-on-fire-at-mapua-nelson/

NGATIRA – RARE CLASSIC WOODEN YACHT FRESH FROM RESTORATION & READY FOR HER NEXT CHAPTER

Posted on by
1

NGATIRA – RARE CLASSIC WOODEN YACHT FRESH FROM RESTORATION & READY FOR HER NEXT CHAPTER

Heads up – when it comes to the 1904 Chas Bailey Jnr. designed and built yacht – NGATIRA, I’m a tad biased. I have known her owner , Steve Horsley for 25+ years, in fact he is responsible for igniting my passion for classic wooden boats. We worked together in the same advertising agency and I used see Steve each year crafting the Mahurangi Cruising Club Year Book and view / read the wonderful tales on wooden craft that participated in the Mahurangi Regatta.

At the same time Steve was undertaking a FULL rebuild / restoration on NGATIRA. I witnessed the highs and lows of a hands on, one man, self funded project. The fact he came thru it (twice) is a testament to his fortitude and a very sympathetic wife 🙂

Steve has owned NGATIRA since 1998 and converted her back to original gaff configuration over a 5 year restoration 2005-2010.

Then he undertook a second 5 year restoration in the 2020-2025 period.

As she sits today NGATIRA is in immaculate condition, better than as launched 122 years ago. 

Steve is one of those people you hate, he can turn his hands to just about anything – what you see in the above photos is Steve’s work. Including bespoke traditional rigging, spars, blocks.

She sports a very traditional sail wardrobe – main, topsail, jib and staysail.

Forward propulsion when not sailing is via a Yanmar 3YM30AE diesel engine.

If you have read this far you will be starting to think that NGATIRA is for sale – well woodys she is – now is the chance to own an immaculate classic yacht that is ready to sail away today – either classic cruising  and racing with the Auckland’s classic yachting group. 

Classics with the WoW factor that NGATIRA exhibits are very rare and its a buyers market.  

Interested parties to initially connect Steve Horsley at srhorsley@gmail.com

CLASSIC WOODY YACHTS ON THE WAITEMATA -1950’s

Posted on by
Reply

CLASSIC WOODY YACHTS ON THE WAITEMATA -1950’s

Following on from yesterdays story on a RNZYS gathering at Mansion House, Kawau Island in 1948. As promised today we have a selection of 1950’s classic sailing photos ex 

Moss Carlin’s wife who found them among her mothers processions. Her father Ray Rhodes was a member of the RNZYS at Westhaven in the 1940’s – 1960’s period.

Some of these magnificent sailing craft I can ID from their sail numbers but there are a lot of unknowns. The rag and stick WW followers will be able to ID the yachts for us.

BOAT BOOT SALE – our annual boat boat sale is only 2 weeks away – perfect opportuniy to grab a bargain or grab a table and sell some of your unneeded items. If you want to secure a selling spot email to waitematawoodys@gmail.com ASAP. More details below

RESTORATION OF THE 26’ TERCEL BROS BUILT CLASSIC YACHT – ROXANE

Posted on by
2

RESTORATION OF THE 26’ TERCEL BROS BUILT CLASSIC YACHT – ROXANE

Recently WW was contacted by Ross Dawson with an update on the restoration of his brother, Keith Dawsons Tercel built 26’ yacht – ROZANE.

Before we start todays story , back in May 2018 we ran a brilliant story on Keith celebrating his 105th birthday and we were also given an insight into the 1937 voyage Keith and his mate Dick Wellington undertook sailing ROXANE from Auckland to Sydney, Australia. Link to the story below. (Keith passed away in Dec 2018)

May 2018 https://waitematawoodys.com/2018/05/13/roxane-a-105th-birthday-party/

Then in September 2024 Ross updated us on the start of the restoration of ROXANE at the hands of Ralph Finch. Link to that story below. Sept 2024 https://waitematawoodys.com/2024/09/15/restoration-of-a-new-zealand-classic-wooden-yacht-in-australia-roxane/

Now fast forward to July 2026 and Ross has shared the above photo and the note below he received from Ralph in Cairns, Australia :-

“We’ve now installed a total of 11 sister ribs on the starboard side from beside the engine and moving back towards the stern. I want to get another 2 ribs in if I can, tucked under the rear deck. It’ll be a tight squeeze.

We’ve also started steaming, bending and clamping longer sections of spotted gum to be used, 3 each side, as backing blocks for the chain plates. The original internal backing blocks for the chain plates only extended 3 planks down the sides. The new pieces we’re making will extend down a total of 7 planks thereby spreading the stress and upward pull from the mast and rig over more of the hull. We’ll use copper nails and roves to fix them in place.

I had removed a 3 meter length of the sheer strake (very top plank at deck level) on the starboard side with the intention of replacing that section with Oregon Pine. Removal of the sheer strake revealed the beam shelf, a heavy internal timber running fore-and-aft along the top of the hull which supports the deck beams. Unfortunately, the now exposed beam shelf shows a great deal of dry rot. It has been very time consuming digging out the dry rot back to a solid timber base.

As you can see in the photos, the beam shelf has a great many holes in it. We’re treating the dry rot sections with preserver and then packing west system epoxy mixed with spotted gum wood shavings as filler. If this much dry rot is in just a 3 meter length then I feel I have no choice but to remove the sheer strakes both sides and the full length of the boat. The starboard side may be the worst as this was the side of the boat that had layers and layers of wet leaves sitting for 20 odd years.

Even with the beam shelf repaired, I’m intending to strengthen it further by cutting, shaping and fixing a doubled up layer of ¾ inch thick marine ply (1.5 inch thick total) under the present beam shelf for the whole length of the boat and both port and starboard sides. Yep there’ll be a few scarf joints in all of that!! It’s impossible to remove the existing beam shelf, so all we can do is strengthen and reinforce it.

We’ve also exposed a small section of dry rot in the starboard bilge stringer.

We haven’t really started work on the port side of the boat. This restoration project seems destined to drag out for a little longer.“

TRAVEL BACK TO AUSTRALIA’S GOLDEN AGE OF WOODEN BOATS

Posted on by
2

TRAVEL BACK TO AUSTRALIA’S GOLDEN AGE OF WOODEN BOATS

Today we share a film titled ‘Hard to Windwaed’ from the 1956 Sydney to Hobart yacht race. Filmed nearly 70 years ago the race is still one of Australia’s top sporting events. The manic race start very similar to what we see these days. 

The course is approx. 680 miles and depending on the weather, can be one of the most demanding sailing events on the international calendar.

Lots of pleasure craft to be viewed at the start and some wonderful close ups from on board. The film won numerous International awards for sporting event coverage.

Having visited Hobart several times for the Australian Wooden Boat Festival it was remarkable to see how little the Hobart waterfront has changed – well done Hobart on retaining the bones of such an amazing venue.

(Film comes to use from – State Library & Archives of Tasmania)

A CLASSIC 1949 NORTHLAND HOLIDAY CRUISE

Posted on by
1
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1EAu5ihj4a/

A CLASSIC 1949 NORTHLAND HOLIDAY CRUISE

Todays woody story comes to use from Archives NZ via Liz Ferry on the Northland Heritage Group fb. The film was a National Film Unit production from 1949 and mostly showcases the 1949 Russell (B.O.I.) Regatta.

Lots of familiar woodys to be seen, sail numbers A3 – ARIKI, A4 – IORANGI, A18 – TAWERA, A19 -The regatta was won by IORANGI, the 1901 Arch Login designed classic yacht. With ARIKI second.

We see several classic launches at the start of the film.

Given the date, the crews would have been enjoying post WWII informality.

CLASSIC WOODYS IN COWES BAY WAIHEKE ISLAND

Posted on by
Reply

CLASSIC WOODYS IN COWES BAY WAIHEKE ISLAND

Todays photo captures times of old when power and sail played together.  The location is the idlic Cowes Bay at the bottom end of Waiheke Island. The bay was a common destination for picnics and regattas. Todays view looks less organised and just shows people enjoying the day.

The photo is from the Ian Farquhar Collection and the photographer is S H Rawson , dated c.1900-1916. And comes to us via Lew Redwood fb.

Can any of the sailing woodys ID the design of the yacht in the forefront of the photo.

And happy mother days – we wouldn’t be here without them 🙂

MYSTERY 1933 MULLET BOAT

Posted on by
3

MYSTERY 1933 MULLET BOAT

Todays outstanding classic wooden yacht photo comes to us from Heritage Images – TW Collions collection via a Lew Redwood fb post.

The photo is tagged ‘1933 Mullett boat under power Bay of Islands’, and that woodys is all we know.

To me it has a Whangaroa Harbour look to it but I’m sure I’ll be corrected 🙂

Tudor Collins was a very talented photographer and most of his work is clearly identifiable without any reference to his name. The Bay of Islands was one of his favourite locations and his collection of work is vast and just not limited to marine. In fact better known for his native bush / forest work.

Can we learn the yachts names and designer / builder.

(photo ex Toby Hyman)

CLASSIC YACHT – MAWHITI

Posted on by
Reply

CLASSIC YACHT – MAWHITI

Today’s woody is the yacht MAWHITI, she was designed by E. Mantell Silk and built by William Moore, M. Beck and Arthur Penty in a shed across the road from the Clyde Quay Marina, Wellington. The photo and details comes to us via the Wellington classic yacht trust fb. 

Launched November 1898 she was built as a 2.5 rater and LOA = 35’ and a 8’6” beam.             She wouldn’t fit through the door of the hired shed in which she was built. The landlord refused to remove the doors, so an overnight raid with saws and plenty of tackle saw the wall cut away, the vessel put on the street, and the wall put back before anyone was the wiser. In the photo you can see the vertical cut adjacent to the window in the building behind.

MAWHITI was beautifully finished down to an interior of “red pine” (rimu?) panelling, with areas painted pale green and white with gold trim. Her cabin roof was lined in lincrusta and the skylight was glazed with muranese (also known as Florentine) glass.

She was described by an Evening Post columnist as “the finest specimen of amateur boatbuilding that has come under our notice”

She was sold in 1906 and taken to Sydney, Australia by her new owner – Berkeley Clark. Last heard of in the 1970’s.