Category Archives: Sailing Sunday

DO WE KNOW THE WHERE ABOUTS OF SAILOR DON ROBERTS

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Don Roberts heading off to Rotorua Regatta
Race Day – Tamaki
Race Day – Tamaki
WHY & BOKEY – Bucklands Beach
BOKEY, ZEPHYR, WHY – Maraetai Regatta 1954

DO WE KNOW THE WHERE ABOUTS OF SAILOR DON ROBERTS

Todays story is in answer to a request from Brian Peet, the secretary of the Zephyr Owners Association. WW doesn’t normally run stories like this but in my book Brian is good man and is probably better known to WW readers as the author and publisher of the impressive book ‘DES TOWNSON – A SAILING LEGACY’, so the story makes it onto WW. I’ll let Brian tell the story:

“Above are five historic Zephyr photos taken by Don Roberts, who in 1956 owned #4 ‘Why’. Unfortunately they’re low res photo-copies, so it would be great to access originals for scanning. Efforts to track down Don or his descendants have been unsuccessful. Next year will be the Zephyr class 70th anniversary and early imagery is keenly sought. Could there be a WW reader who can help establish contact with Don or his descendants?

What’s known is Don purchased the forth production hull from Des Townson in 1956 while living at 15 Highland Ave, Mt Albert. A year later he sold the completed boat to Nev Thom and repeated the process with unfinished hull #25. In 1964 he’s recorded as owning Kitty cat ‘Katawall’ – possibly living in Clevedon. In 1980 there’s a record of him on Papakura owning ‘U Choose’, a Davidson 28. 
Any help from your readers would be much appreciated. “

Brian Peet can be contacted via the WW comments section or on email at peetfamily@orcon.net.nz

WHAT WE USED TO DO BEFORE BOAT HAULAGE CAME ALONG

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WHAT WE USED TO DO BEFORE BOAT HAULAGE CAME ALONG

Todays woody photo was sent in by John Dawson who found the photo on a Paul Lishman fb post. Paul commented that the location was Vine Street, St Marys Bay, Auckland and taken by M. Friedlander.

In the comments section there was debate on both the design of the yacht and the possible date. Paul commented it was 1970 but others felt based on the cars shown it was more likely in the 1950>60’s period.

Comments that the yacht looked like a Townson design, possibly 30’.

Any woodys able to help confirm the approx. date and  design.

A scary observation – when this photo was taken you could have bought a house in Vine St for around $5,000 – did a search on a random number e.g.10 Vine St = $3,650,000 …………  

INPUT ex JIM LOTT – Definitely a Townson 30 with higher freeboard than the 26 ft earlier design. Looking in the Townson book, Magic Flute was finished by Alan Warwick who took delivery of the hull in 1966 and lived in Herne Bay. Des built all the hulls himself. Owners finished them off. Names include Firebird, Mercury, Falcon, Anitra, Finesse, maybe about 4 others, so probably 1967 or 68.

THE SINKING OF THE WOODEN SCOW – KALAIA

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THE SINKING OF THE WOODEN SCOW – KALAIA

Todays woody images come to us from Owen Aspden and show the auxiliary scow – KALAIA, built in 1909 by boatbuilder Davy Darroch.

Owen included an excerpt from the Court of Enquiry Report into the vessels sinking in 1936.

“During the early hours of March 25 1936, the scow foundered near Castle Rock south of Mercury Bay. There was a heavy sea and the wind had reached gale force, two hand pumps were manned but the scow settled by the bow and at this point two Maori members of the crew were washed overboard and lost in the darkness.

An attempt was made to launch the dinghy but the propellers then half out of the water threatened to stove in the small craft but reassured by the calls of the two Maoris who were excellent swimmers, the crew stood by the dinghy until the  KALAIA was sinking beneath their feet.

The two Maoris were picked up and the five crew rowed through five miles of rough water and through the surf on to Hot Water Beach.”

Owen commented that back then this was just part of the job for these tough sailors.

28-04- 2025 INPUT ex STUART JOHNSTON re STANMORE BAY – As a young fellow and regular holiday and weekender to Stanmore Bay  Whangaparaoa, I have memories from early/ mid 1950’s of Scows grounding in the shallows at the eastern end of Stanmore Bay loaded with red chip road metal (from McCullams Island I think) destined for Hopper Bros. Hoppers trucks, some being ex WW2 were loaded by on board Dragline before departing up what is now Stanmore Bay Rd destined for road seal and or concrete footpaths and foundations.

Whence this procedure terminated, scows were motored up the Wade River to the then new landing stage to feed the growing needs of the area which included a ready mixed concrete plant and later concrete building blocks and other construction needs. This was probably very late 50’s early 60’s. Are there any historical photographic records on the beached scows as this activity was instrumental in the growth of Whangaparaoa?

WHAT BECAME OF THE YACHT – A21 MARANGI

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WHAT BECAME OF THE YACHT – MAIRANGI A21 MARANGI

Late last year Mark Newcomb sent in the above photos of the crew of the yacht – MARANGI A21and enquired if we knew what became of her. One photos shows the crew aboard after a arriving in Auckland (date unknown) after a trip from Wellinton. Mark commented that they ll looked very happy so maybe it was a race and they had won.  The crew have been tagged on the rear of the photo and at a later date someone has had an attempt at matching the crew names with the photo.Those mentioned are – Percy Thode (Owner? Con’s father) , Pat Newcomb (my father), Don Commons, Hal Newcomb (my uncle), Bowser Toogood, Ben Tosswell, Ted Dacre, Stan Jervois, Cobs Mays, Jacko Medik, Cecil Pittar, Bob Walton and 3 unnamed crew.

Mark believes the photo may have surfaced when the likes of Arthur Angel, Cove Littler, Ray Talbot, Bob Fenwick, and Hugh Littler et al were reminiscing over a gin or three onboard Ariki.  

The date is unknown but Mark suspects it was pre WWII – if thats the case and given their ages in the photo – you would have to wonder ho many survived the war.

And given there is no boat photo – below have a lucky survivor of the weekend storm – if you believe fb the boat broke her mooring at Maraetai Beach and ended up washed ashore at Duders Beach on the Devonport waterfront. She was successfully re floated. 

INPUT ex RUSSELL BROOKING -owned for many years by proud Wellington owner. Campaigned in both inshore and offshore races. Circumnavigation of the South Island in the early 2000s. Sold to an Auckland owner 2024. With that many crew in your photo there may not have much freeboard left.

22-04-2025 INPUT ex JOHN HUNT – Photos below ex Ivor Wilkins book ‘Classic’. Seems there was some confusion re spelling in the Newcomb family 🙂

24-04-2025 -INPUT ex CHAD THOMPSON – Marangi is now moored at Blackpool on Waiheke and owned by Liz Waters. 
She had it trucked up from Wellington last year after first having sailed on her in her teenage years when she lived in Devonport. 

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE CLASSIC WOODEN YACHT – NAOMA

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c.1961

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE CLASSIC WOODEN YACHT – NAOMA

As covered off in Fridays WW story, Mike Prigg is looking to learn what became of his father , John Prigg, old classic craft. John owned two woody’s in the 1960’s. We featured the launch – TINA MARIA on Friday and were successfully able to ID her as the launch – OCEAN QUEEN.

Today its the turn of his yacht named NAOMA, that was sold in about 1961. NAOMA was kept in Westhaven during John’s ownership.

The name NAOMA does not appear in WW search records, so both Mike and WW are keen to uncover more on her.

Link here to the Friday TINA MARIA > OCEAN QUEEN story 

15-04-2025 INPUT ex Jason Prew – Jason reports in that the above yacht is most likely under wraps at the Milford Boating Club yard – see below.

CLASSIC YACHT – WHIRLWIND

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CLASSIC YACHT – WHIRLWIND

Todays woody is the 40’ blue water cruising yacht WHIRLWIND, designed by Holman & Pye and built c.1972 by Ted Ottway. Triple skin kauri.

WW was contacted by Deb George on behalf of her father who is looking to find a new custodian for the yacht. Deb’s dad has owned WHIRLWIND for 30 years and sadly the yacht is just too much for him at this stage of life.

Lots of positives about this craft including new engine. She appeared on the cover of the July 1985 issue of ‘Cruising Helmsman’.

Anyone looking for a very well priced 40’ yacht that provides two options – sail away and enjoy her as is or invest in some upgraded electronics and point her offshore’For details contact Deb George >.  debbgrg@gmail.com

CLASSIC SPIRIT OF TRADITION YACHT – ZACA 4sale

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CLASSIC SPIRIT OF TRADITION YACHT – ZACA

Todays woody – ZACA was built by the legendary Cal Crooks as his own boat. Launched in 1986 she is cold moulded 3 skin kauri.

It has been commented that her lines take cues from Herreshoff but below the water she is fin keel with a spade rudder. So woodys you have the classic look with agility and pace. Her approx. specs are 42’6″ LOL and 39’44″ on deck. ZACA has been graced with good owners who undertaken both annual maintenance and system upgrades – A new Yammer 40hp was installed in 2020 + new exhaust system, new shaft, new 3 blade feathering prop. You will see from photos that numerous other enhancements have been commissioned.
Her interior fit out is very special and matches her classic looks.

Video link for sailing footage https://youtu.be/3JjhERxZVtk?si=eE6RDPCEVqV1GsjT

Interested parties should initially contact Paul at villas@araroa.nz for more details .

CLASSIC YACHT  – NIOBE – Sailing Sunday

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CLASSIC YACHT  – NIOBE – Sailing Sunday

Back in Jan 2022 we ran a mystery vessel story using sa photo sent in by Travers Reynolds, the photo was taken by a FG Radcliffe from the early 1900’s and the location was near the Whangarei Heads.

Thanks HAROLD KIDD and Janet Watkins we learnt the yachts name was NIOBE and the photo was taken near Manganese Point when owned by Janet’s grandfather – A R Pickmere, who sold her in 1906.

Fast forward to the xmas/ny break and Lew Redwood posted two wonderful photos of NIOBE on fb. The photos are tagged c.1904, so during the Pickmere ownership period.

BUMPER WW STORY TOMORROW (Monday) – TRIP REPORT / PHOTO GALLERY FROM THE 2025 LAKE ROTOITI CLASSIC & WOODEN BOAT PARADE

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

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.