Category Archives: Sailing Sunday

NGATAKI – JOHNNY WRAY’S HOME BUILT CLASSIC YACHT

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NGATAKI – JOHNNY WRAY’S HOME BUILT CLASSIC YACHT

You have to applaud the Ponsonby Cruising Club for their new initiative to get people interacting with boats on the water. Last Thursday (Aug 22) the club held their first ‘Featured Vessel Series’ , the name could do with some improvement 🙂 Simple idea – they host a vessel at one of the berths outside the Westhaven clubhouse and people can board and chat with owners / crew. Then afterwards there is a presentation upstairs at the club on the boats history.

The PCC kicked off with the famous (infamous) historic yacht – NGATAKI, from the Tino Rawa stable. 

Unless you have been living under a rock, you’d know that NGATAKI was the yacht made famous in Johnny Wray’s cult classic book – ’South Sea Vagabonds’.

If you haven’t read the book – put it on the Fathers Day list – its a cracker. Myself and a lot of others reread it every few years, it reignites my passion for NZ and our wooden boating community.

Read the book to learn the link to why there is a bowl of oranges on the deck 😉

CHECK OUT DATE FOR NEXT PCC FEATURED VESSEL SERIES AT THE LINK BELOW

https://www.pcc.org.nz/fbs

WHO CAN NAME THIS CLASSIC YACHT HIGH & DRY

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WHO CAN NAME THIS CLASSIC YACHT HIGH & DRY

As a result of a story back in June where we asked woodys to ID a yacht that was high & dry we learnt it was NGATIRA and the location was Devonport.c.1917.

Today we have another classic yacht, that is still sailing today on the Waitemata Harbour, that has had an unfortunate oops – so woodys – all correct names of the boat go into the draw to win a WW burgee. If you also get the location correct you get two chances in the draw. Entry be email only to waitematawoodys@gmail.com Closes at 5pm 11-08-2024 – The sender of the photo and extended family are excluded 😉

PONSONBY CRUISING CLUB – NGATAKI EVENING

Check out the poster below, sounds like a great night – August 22

CLASSIC WOODEN YACHT TAIROA RELAUNCHED

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CLASSIC WOODEN YACHT TAIROA RELAUNCHED

During the week I received an email from Otto Schuttle with the great news that the Athol Burns designed 26’ cutter – TAIROA had been relaunched after her unfortunate 2015 accident. Read below- 

Back in June 2015 we ran a story on the yacht being swiped onto the rocks during a fierce storm in Wellington harbour. From the ‘news’ photos things looked grim but Athol Burns built his craft like the proverbial brick out house.

Thanks to the efforts of Russell Ward and family we received photos of TAIROA being salvaged. Then in Oct 2018 we received an update from her new owner (Otto) with some work in progress photo. 

Link below to the 2015 story – lots of photos and details  https://waitematawoodys.com/2015/06/20/tairaroa/

Otto’s note covers off the news and his happiness at finely getting her back afloat – I’ll hand over to Otto – 

“It was a tremendously emotional day for me on Saturday 27th July 2024 when many friends and family gathered at the Evans Bay Boat yard to see TAIROA relaunched.

This has been a long journey with a vast amount of research and learning ,many hours watching YouTube. Trying things and scraping them locating materials online to find it wasn’t exactly what I wanted or it didn’t quite fit. . at times things went wrong and had to be redone, or just pack up and go home and come back another day and have another go with fresh eyes and mind. OH and going to work when things were going really well on a project and wanting to get back to it. having to pack up and go away and wait for the glue, varnish or paint to dry,

She is now afloat in the Evans Bay marina looking as if she belongs 

I still need to have some sail modifications done to suit the furler, permanent mooring lines fitted to the berth and some interior work done but its a boat always work to do and things to buy don’t you just love BOATING”

Photos below from 2015 and 2018

2018

UPDATE: Todays story prompted two woodys to contact me re a photo of the yacht , not long after launching – the amazing thing was it was the same photo – below.
Brian Peet commented  – the photo was taken by my father John in the 1960s. Alby Bland was a member of the Glendowie Boating Club and he built the boat in his back yard. I used to walk past it everyday on my way to school. 
Russell Ward commented – the photo of her was when new. It was sent years back by the builder’s daughter. Fabulous ship. The spirit of Athol Burns.

1902 CLASSIC WOODEN YACHT – 4sale

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A CLASSIC WOODEN TRAILER-SAILER YACHT – Yeap You Read That Right 🙂

As covered many times on WW the cost of a marina berth is the #1 deterrent to owning classic wooden craft. I have speculated that smaller trailerable woodys will be the future of the classic boating movement in NZ.

MERLN – todays 22’ clinker kauri built, gaff-rigged sloop is one such boat that ticks all the boxes. And most importantly MERLIN is a looker and we like that.

Built c.1902 as a motorboat she was converted in the 1920>30’s to a yacht (deadwood/keel added etc). Then in the late 2000’s restored by professional Christchurch boat builder – Davie Norris. 

MERLIN received another birthday in 2015/16 with restored gaff-rig and ‘converted’ to tabernacle set-up, plus new sails and all rigging. Also included was a new custom trailer and new 4-stroke 6hp outboard.In the last 10+ years MERLIN has been shed stored and only used on Lake Hood, Canterbury, South Island.Her current status is in storage and as with all traditional built clinkers may need some tweaking / re-caulking to the garboard seam.

So woodys if you’re considering stepping up to life as a classic woody owner, MERLIN is the vessel for you and at the end of a days sailing you get to take her home. Interested parties to initially contact Andrew  andrew@siseed.co.nz for more details. And almost forgot – she will sell for around $25k – a bargain.

RSVP – waitematawoodys@gmail.com

MAIA II – Sailing Sunday

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MAIA II – Sailing Sunday

Todays woody is the very salty looking Woollacott yacht – MAIA II. Built in 1949 she is one of the ‘Ghost’ designs and is 28’ x 8’ + a draft of 4’6”.Her owner asked for a plug on WW re her being for sale, and of course I said yes – the boats very smart and Devonport based so couldn’t say no.When required forward motion is via a 13hp Shibaura engine and the sale includes a spare engine.Again dont normally talk $$ on WW but at $12k ono it has to be a bargain for someone wanting to join the classic wooden boating movement.A very strong and active Woollcott owners association is a bonus.
Initial interest via email –  sazoriginals@hotmail.com

Sea Scouts Need Some Help

Recently WW was contacted by Keith Christensen from the Kotuku Sea Scout Group in Levin asking for help finding a new home for one of their boats – I’ll let Keith tell the story – 

“This is a 17′ kauri clinker standard Sea Scout cutter, #112 Moutere, built in 1967.  She has spent most of her life in a shed and on Lake Horowhenua with occasional trips to Wellington. Her greatest stress has been trailering across town from our boat shed to the lake. Her major challenges are a split strake, a few cracked ribs and a very interesting repair in the front. I have started renovation by stripping 95% of the paint. She comes with a trailer different than she is on in the photos which will need work as it has no mudguards. We have the rudder and some stretchers and can rummage up a mast (Oregon). 
Any money donated to our group will be used for our youth programs as well as repairs to our other 3 Cutters. It’s sad to let her go but she has spent 13 years untouched so we need to focus on our other boats. 
Because this is standard boat you will be able to find other  people who have done refits. I think it’s common to put an inboard in them. The transom on our other one got a bit beaten up with a Seagull so I wouldn’t recommend it.”
Contact Keith Christensen at  drkchristensen@hotmail.com

RSVP – waitematawoodys@gmail.com

CLASSIC WOODEN YACHT – CELOX H8 –  A Look Back In Time

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CLASSIC WOODEN YACHT – CELOX H8 –  A Look Back In Time

I’m constantly sent via email and post details on classic boats that people have owned or rubbed up against – which is great.

Yesterday was different, one of the gents, Bruce Buccanan, that frequents my regular coffee shop, handed me a USB data stick with the gallery of photos above, all centred around the 26’ mullet boat – CELOX H8, built by Logan Bros and launched in 1908

I think the old school term jaunty best describes the gents that sailed or crewed on CELOX back them. Bruce’s father (a part owner or owner) is the gent in the last 2 photos , and thats all son Bruce knows about the photos.

CELOX has made several appearances on WW and the yacht had an eventful life, which may have ended in 2015 – WW would love to learn what finally happened to the yacht, we know she or parts of were salvaged but thats where the story stopped.

2015 WW STORY LINK + more intel in the Comments Section https://waitematawoodys.com/2015/02/01/celox-sos/

And Can We Name The Launch In The Photo Below – alongside CELOX at Mansion House, Kawau Island

MULLET BOAT ON THE WAITEMATA – SPINDRIFT

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MULLET BOAT ON THE WAITEMATA – SPINDRIFT
Recently I discovered (thanks to Lew Redwood) a reference source that wasn’t on my radar – the Auckland Research Centre, which appears to be part of the Auckland Libraries offering. Most of the content will put you to sleep but an article this week on MULLET boats I think is worthy of reproducing. Reproduced below.
The photo above shows an open cockpit mullet boat, commercial fishing boat # AK89, off North Head, Auckland. Can we match a name to the commercial number?The image comes to us via Auckland Libraries Heritage collection 37-173 and may possibly have been taken by Henry Winkelmann.

It started off as a fishing boat for the working class man that became a cult classic – the mullet boat (aka the mullety). The mullet boat was developed in the 1860s for fishermen unused to the estuaries and tides of the Manukau and the Waitematā Harbours, to get their haul of fresh mullet, snapper or tarakihi back to Queens Wharf or Devonport as soon as possible. Included was a covered but cramped foredeck if the fishermen needed to spend a night out on the water. 

By the early 1900s, the days of fishing for mullet on sailboat were coming to an end as steam powered boats took over, but sailing the mulleties as a pastime was booming. They competed for the Lipton Cup which was donated to the Ponsonby Cruising Club by Sir Thomas Lipton, who had raced in the America’s Cup five times but never won. In fact, the trophy itself was made by the same silversmith who made the America’s Cup, is New Zealand’s oldest yachting trophy, and is still raced today.  

HAROLD KIDD INPUT – This is the 26ft mullet boat SPINDRIFT owned by H. Parker of Devonport in 1908. She was built at Devonport in 1904 by R.O. Farquhar. Later went north (Whangaruru, Whisk Martinengo thought) and wrecked.

The Best Sub 35’ Owen Woolley – AWARIKI – Now Offered 4sale At Reduced Price One of the best presented woodys 4sale with the Wooden Boat Bureau is the 32’ Owen Woolley built launch – AWARIKI Link below to more details and photos/

WBB has been advised that her owner wants her sold asap and has agreed to a significant price reduction – NOW $48,000 ono

DETAILS:  https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/11/06/awariki-on-the-market/

CONTACT: waitematawoodys@gmail.com

KAWAU ISLAND – The Hauraki Gulf Woody Mecca

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KAWAU ISLAND – The Hauraki Gulf Woody Mecca

Recently I was sent the above photos the trial goes like this – sent in by Ken Fyfe via Ruth Thomson from Jim Tatterfield.

The top one is tagged Squadron Weekend and the 2nd one Lady Gay, but I can not spot LG in the photo – both photos are ‘located’ at Mansion House Bay, Kawau Island.

Rather a lot of familiar woodys gathered in those photos.

Below the top photo is another from Jim Tatterfield of Little Jim (A16) in full flight. A looker when launched and still is today. The bottom photo of LJ is ex Mahurangi Regatta a couple of years ago.

PIPI BAY – Bay of Islands – Woody Utopia

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PIPI BAY, Bay of Islands – Woody Utopia

On Friday, Bay of Islands woody Dean Wright sent in the two photos above that he had taken in Pipi Bay on Thusday early evening. The top photo is the the 39’ bridge-decker Pathfinder, previously named Eunice K. Pathfinder was possibly built c.1948 and her design is a tad dubious so I won’t speculate. Lots of photos and details in the two previous WW stories – links below and remember to read the comments section. In early 2023 Pathfinder was for sale on tme, looks like she has found new owners and the pose of the individual in the cockpit tells me they have found their happy place 🙂

WW March 2023 https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/03/30/pathfinder-eunice-k/

WW Oct 2017 https://waitematawoodys.com/2017/10/17/eunice-k/

The second photo is of the schooner Rat Bag, an unknown to WW so keen to learn more. Again the two geezers onboard appear to be very content with life. I wonder how many seagulls have been caught in that web of lines 🙂

UPDATE ex JASON PREW – photos below of Rat Bag

Input ex K Ricketts – The EUNICE K > PATHFINDER was also called & known as the LADY VI when used by Pam American Airways at Mechanics Bay in the later 1930s or 1940s – photo below of her showing an identical bridgedeck & porthole layout along with an identical mast (edited)

Input ex Nathan Herbert – very early photo (date unknown) at Mechanics Bay, Auckland. Thats her center front. Middle boat is Rautangi.

Probably The Best Classic Cruising Story Ever

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Probably The Best Classic Cruising Story Ever

Over the last 2+ years I have religiously followed a YouTube series put out by Madison Boatworks. Sounds very corporate but its the total opposite – a youngish couple named Jonathan & Whitney who refurbished a 1960 37’5” (on deck) ‘Ingrid’ ketch designed by William Atkin named Julia. After 4 years of working on the boat they left Seattle, Washington, USA and pointed the bow towards Mexico. After this the big call was made and they were off to the Pacific. There are 21 videos in the series that have clocked up over six million views and each one is gold. 

The cinematography and narrative is just outstanding. Jonathan is a wonderful storyteller and one follower commented that his voice is semi tranquillising – it is, the man should do sleep videos 🙂

I have featured their latest – ‘Exploring the islands of Fiji, Vanua Levu and Taveuni’ below. And also a link to the master YouTube collection

LINK TO MASTER LIBARAY COLLECTION https://www.youtube.com/c/MadisonBoatworks

RSVP > waitematawoodys@gmail.com