Category Archives: Sailing Sunday

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.

CLASSIC YACHT OSLO

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CLASSIC YACHT OSLO

WW has been contacted by Ulf Uchida who advised that recently friends of his had bought a little wooden keeler named OSLO.  Ulf commented that he had looked at her 12 years ago when she was on the hard on a property Long Beach on Dunedin’s northern coastline. 

The story goes that she is somehow connected with Jack Crooks of Invercargill, the same one who sailed TUARANGI around the world a long time ago now.
Ulf’s friends are enthusiastic beginner sailors and do not know a lot about the yacht but are keen to find out more. They are facing a major repair job but are keen to put in the time and effort required.
The photos above show her hauled out at the OYC recently.

So woodys can we provide anymore backland on OSLO 

16-12-2024 INPUT ex KEN GOA _ I worked on Oslo in the late ’80’s in Auckland as a boatbuilding apprentice. Oslo had broken free of it’s mooring, and holed the starboard side of her hull and topsides. Double diagonal planking and ribs repaired by John Rea Boatbuilders on Archers Rd Glenfield. I have a few hard copy photos of the damage repairs.

A HEADS UP TO THE PETROL HEADS

If you aren’t relaxing at Kawau Island on Sunday / Monday of anniversary weekend – and like to open the throttle up on your woody launch / workboat – the anniversary day regatta drag race (ok, there is handicapping) might be your gig on Monday 27th – dockside chat tells me registering on line is a serious challenge, so if you are considering entering – drop Jason Prew an email and he will talk you thru things. jason@slipway.co.nz

SO MANY CLASSIC WOODEN CRAFT TO BE VIEWED HERE – 1971 One Ton Cup

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LINK LINK BELOW TO VIEW

https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/the-one-ton-cup-1971

SO MANY CLASSIC WOODEN CRAFT TO BE VIEWED HERE – 1971 One Ton Cup

During the week John Bullivant sent in a link to a very cool film of the One Ton Cup series held in Auckland in 1971. So many classic craft out and about watching the racing. Personally my eye is drawn to the classic launches but there are 100’s of craft afloat. The 34 minute video is narrated by Chris Bouzaid. If you have the time watch the entire film but if time isn’t your friend – most of the spectator footage is around the 7:00 minute and again between 14:00 > 18:12 minutes. I think Lady Crossley makes a cameo appearance around 24:20 minutes.

Enjoy the film and thanks to NZ National Film Unit and NZ ONSCREEN for the original footage. 

2024 CENTREBOARD CUP – Traditional Centreboard Classic Yachts

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2024 CENTREBOARD CUP – Traditional Centreboard Classic Yachts

A cancelled happening had an upside – I pointed the car to Marine Parade in Herne Bay Auckland to see the start of the 2024 Centreboard Cup.

The race started back in 2013 and is based at what the locals call ’Sloane Beach’ – one of Aucklands hidden gems.

The traditional centreboard yachts do two laps of a course that takes in Watchman Island and the Chelsea Buoy (off the Chelsea sugar works).

Numbers were done this year but that seems to be the norm of late – but on the plus side, the fleet was 300% up on Fridays CYA Classic Weekend Rally turnout 😦

I’ll hand over to Andrew Mason who supplied the results. 

“The winner Scullet L56 finished in 52:20. Rangi Manu L52 was 2nd just 48s later. Melita L28 withdraw on leg one. All boats had a most enjoyable day on the water.”

Beach / Clubrooms below

CAN WE LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CLASSIC YACHT – MANURUA
Recently WW was contacted by a gent considering purchasing a Bob Stewart designed 1965 yacht (Camelot design) named MANURUA. The craft is currently in Opua, Northland but the story goes that she was apparently built by Oliver and Gillpin in Tauranga, and possibly operated as a dive charter vessel in Bay of Plenty. The current owner doesn’t have much history, so woodys can we confirm / expend on the above.

WIND ROSE – Sailing Sunday

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WIND ROSE – Sailing Sunday

The 53’ Phillip Rhodes designed yawl – WIND ROSE was built by the Salthouse yard and launched in 1967. 

WIND ROSE has spent a large chunk of her life doing laps of the Pacific, Australia and NZ. Recently the Robertson Boat Yard has given her a refresh.

And she has just changed hands – and woodys if you wanted an indication of the boat sales market favouring buyers – WIND ROSE sold for sub $200k. That would have to be the buy of the last 2 years.

Enjoy the photo gallery.

RSVP To waitematawoodys@gmail.com

CLASSIC WOODY 1913 BEACH PICNIC

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CLASSIC WOODY 1913 BEACH PICNIC

Now if you haven’t managed to get afloat this Labour weekend, I hope you are at least close to the water. 

One of my overseas based progeny sent me the top photo recently, it popped up on her Devonport residents fb feed.

The location is Cheltenham Beach, Devonport and was taken by A H Jones in 1913. Source is the Auckland Libraries Heritage Collection. Obviously the image has been colourised, a common habit back in the old days.

I sent back the 2nd photo that I took earlier in the week – same beach and one of the reasons I live in Devonport. The other reason is Cafe Santini (63 Lake Rd), owner and barista Alessandro makes the best coffee in Auckland and if you ask nicely he will sell you the legendary TONI’s pizza dough – perfect for the home pizza oven (photo below – its been a while since I did a food photo 🙂

What do we reckon the yacht is.