Category Archives: Spirit of Tradition

Whats So Special About Wooden Boats

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https://vimeo.com/510393350/c94b7f0bfa?fbclid=IwAR0t66rtvtC1dcsHl2zFnsmmCEQpyW0XcLdeafmw33GjFLJksY1U5Zg_Jb0

Whats So Special About Wooden Boats
The above video by Tom Nitsch, featuring Tom’s stunning camera skills, gives a very cool insight into why in this modern age so many people are committing so much time and money restoring and enjoying wooden boats. 
The interviews with Donn Costanzo from the Wooden Boatworks yard and John Lammerts van Bueren (sailor, boat builder, author) really capture the why – something a lot of us struggle to communicate when asked by people outside the wooden boating movement.I have reproduced some of John’s comments below –

 “Most of all I think that a lot of the people who sail classic boats and enjoy the classic boats are probably more bonded than the people who sail modern boats. Nothing bad against the modern boats but modern boats are usually fiercely competitive and there is not as much love for the boat for what it is, the love is for the performance, the speed you get out of it and your chance to win the boat race. Something that people have in common is they have a drive to create and re-create and preserve and not to consume and I think that that is something very essential. If you are driven by consuming you aren’t able to create and re-create and preserve as much as you need to do to love these classic boats, and in a way the beauty of the boats that you are working with. You look at the old boats and in many ways they are compared to modern boats not as mush as a statement of your personal wealth, they are statement of beauty and it doesn’t really matter whether is a Dragon with varnished topsides or whether its a cruiser or a meter or a great big schooner, no matter how large these great big schooners are they are a statement of beauty and not a statement of wealth, all though they are incredibly expensive, it doesn’t really matter – they are beautiful and people appreciate it.”

You can see more of Tom’s work here http://www.tomnitsch.com

SS Dancer

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SS DANCER 
During the recent Lake Rotoiti Classic and Wooden Boat show I spotted the steam boat – Dancer, her owner and builder John Olsen supplied the following details. 

Dancer is a 30 foot long steam launch, designed by Peter Sewell and built by John and his wife Diana. The engine is a compound twin, designed by A.A Leak and built by John. The boiler is a 3 drum type.designed by Andre Pointon. (Colonial Iron Works) and also built by John apart from welding by a certified welder. In the top photo, the tender on the Aft deck is a folding dinghy, called Kahikitea and mostly built from that timber.


Dancer is equipped for sleeping aboard, with a head compartment and blackwater tank, a small galley with gas cooker, sink, and fridge, and solar panels on the cabin top to provide electric power. The boiler is fired with diesel. Myself I like wood/coal fired but her diesel set up must make life a lot simpler, and we like that 🙂

Waione Restoration Update #2

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WAIONE RESTORATION UPDATE #2


Today’s story sees us taking a peek inside the boat shed at Quayside Marine, Mahurangi where Daniel Taylor is putting the finishing touches to his families launch – Waione. Daniel is the 3rd generation to own the boat. Taking over from his father Steve and grandparents Jack and Missy McCabe.

Waione has appeared on WW before – links below.Daniel by trade is a marine electrician so the fit out is A1.

Photos taken by Daniel and sent in by K Ricketts.
https://waitematawoodys.com/2020/10/24/waione-restoration-update/
https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/07/06/waione/

Update 18-07-2021 Out of the shed

Waione c.1997

FREE TO GOOD HOME – BUT BE QUICK (>24HRS)

The Roy Parris launch (sub 20’) below has washed up on an inner harbour beach (broke her nearby mooring) and will most likely be salvaged and taken to the landfill within the next 24hrs. The photos are 2+ years old, but give you an idea of what she could look like again. The last photo is as of yesterday. Perfect opportunity for someone wanting a winter project. The engine is outboard in a well – I believe the intention is to sell the o/board (75hp) to re coup salvage costs. Contact owner on 027 254 9442 – but do it now.

RIP BERT WOOLCOTT

Sadly I report that Bert Woolcott, partner of Margaret, passed away last Friday in hospital, aged 76. While a lot of woodys that have had the privilege of attending the annual CYA Patio Bay, Waiheke Island weekend will be familiar with Bert and Margret’s legendary hospitality, most wouldn’t be aware of the volunteer work Bert did in the background – on Classic Race Committees, skippering finish boats at classic regattas and club racing. Bert always made the time to chat and would always enquire about your vessel and more importantly how you were.

Bert was a big man with a big heart and leaves a big hole in the classic boating movement. Fair Winds.
A funeral service for Bert will be held in the Main Chapel of the Morrison Funeral Home on Friday the 19th of February 2021 at 3.00 p.m 

Classic Boat Designer / Builder – Nat Benjamin Interview

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Classic Boat Builder and Guiding Light  – Nat Benjamin Interview

WoodenBoat magazine editor Matt Murphy interviews Nat Benjamin – one of the classic wooden boating movements guiding lights. Nat co-foundered of Gannon & Benjamin Marine Railway in Vineyard Haven Harbour, Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts.  https://gannonandbenjamin.com

Nat has been designing and building boats from dinghies to schooners for more than 35 years. Sit back and listen to Matt and Nat chat about how Nat and business partner Ross Gannon set up the yard and went on to be at the forefront of the revival of wooden boats.

2021 Lake Rotoiti Classic and Wooden Boat Parade – 175+ photos & videos

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PICNIC

24th LAKE ROTOITI CLASSIC & WOODEN BOAT PARADE – 175+ PHOTOS & VIDEOS


As promised todays WW story is a doozy, we travelled down to the lake very early on Saturday morning and were hosted by the clubs commodore Dave Wilson and wife Glenys, who own the magnificent 1947 Colin Wild built bridge-decker – Haumoana. The launch is kept at the end of the lawn at their lakeside property (photos below) – More details on Haumoana here https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/06/05/haumoana/

Dave lent me is ‘fishing boat’ – the f/glass runabout seen the photo below, to use as a photo boat for the parade – fingers crossed no one got a photo of me at the helm 😉


Close to 80 classic and wooden craft of all shapes and sizes – power, sail, oar and steam participated in the days events – starting with a parade that snakes around the waterfront properties and vantage points. Post parade every one heads off to Wairoa Bay for an old school boating picnic – being lake based, no issue with tides or anchoring, people just nudge up to the shore – perfect for checking out each others woody.

The afternoon activities had something for everyone – adults and kids activities (egg throwing, bucket diving for sweets etc) + lots of cool prizes to be won.Without a doubt its the best organised and executed boating event I have been to – very slick and the bonus – lots of nice friendly people – we like that 🙂


Enjoy the photos. As always – click photos to enlarge 😉 If I missed your boat, sorry but one boat and one camera can only be in so many places at one time  – next year.


Donna Maree – A Peek Down Below

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DONNA MAREE – A Peek Down Below


The 1972, Jorgensen built, 38’ Donna Maree has made several cameo appearances on WW via the camera of Dean Wright. Now thanks to tme (& Ian McDonald) we get to have a peek down below. Given the 1972 build I’m not sure if she is a workboat conversion of has always been in pleasure mode. Being a Jorgensen vessel she is built well with single skin kauri planks on laminated hardwood ribs. In true workboat style she has a 6LW Gardner down below and appears to be very well fitted out.
Photos below ex Dean Wright (L) & Ian McDonald (R)

Mahurangi Regatta – Woody Weekend – 196 photos

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MAHURANGI 2021 REGATTA –  196 WOODEN BOATING PHOTOS & VIDEOS

WoW what a weekend – perfect weather, perfect location and as always stunning boats. We saw a record turn out for the classic wooden boat parade on Saturday morning – the crowd ashore at Sullivans was a little thin on the ground, but if we are honest, we do not do it for them – its all about us 🙂 , a little like going for a motorbike rumble. We need more events where we just ‘hang-out’ together.

The regatta’s main event – the yacht race appeared to be a big success, the A-Class Logan –  Rawhiti, in the hands of her new owner – Peter Brookes, cleaned up all the major trophies. As has become the norm at Mahurangi races, the results process was a total balls up, it was very dark and late into the night before the final, final results were announced – fingers crossed its all kosher, last year it took days and numerous oops lets try that again announcements 🙂


The big band beach BBQ, was a hit, perfect on all fronts – weather, tide, the band, bbq’s and the people. Given the number of boats in Bon Accord Harbour, Kawau Island, most people headed there on Sunday. The Kawau Boating Boat was bursting at the seams but handed it well. I have split the photos into 4 galleries – Classic Wooden Boat Parade – Yacht Race – Beach BBQ – More (includes Kawau). If I missed your boat, you were somewhere I wasn’t, or in the wrong light , or your’e boats ugly (joking – sort off).
Enjoy a peak at the weekend., click individual photos to enlarge. Next weekend I’m off to the Lake Rotoiti Classic and Wooden Boat Parade –  its a biggie – they have 70+ entries  

CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT PARADE

YACHT RACE

BEACH BBQ

MORE + KAWAU ISLAND

waitematawoodys@gmail.com

Auckland Anniversary Regatta

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1889 regatta photo ex Wilson & Horton

Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta

Late January > early February is always a big weekend on the yachting calendar – it is Auckland’s birthday and one of the lead events is the Anniversary Day Regatta – started way back in 1840 it is New Zealand’s oldest sporting event and in fact even pre-dates the America’s Cup by 11 years.

In recent years as competition of peoples leisure time has increased, the number of competitors has dipped, but the good news from a woody view point is the event has been propped up by the classic boating fleet and in recent years the inclusion of Tug/Work boat race and a classic launch, round the buoys drag race. If you are not away boating this long weekend, I would encourage you to visit the waterfront to catch some of the action – the Tug/Work boat race at 10am is a hoot. Best viewing spots found here  https://regatta.org.nz/regatta-spectators/where-to-watch-the-regatta-action/
Timetable.   https://regatta.org.nz/regatta-participants/schedule-of-regatta-events/


BIG WW STORY TOMORROW – 100+ PHOTOS FROM THE MAHURANGI REGATTA WEEKEND

Georgia Rae @ Herald Island

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Georgia Rae At Herald Island
I have seen the above boat several times mooching around the inner Hauraki Gulf but never been close enough to get a good photo or her name. This photo, moored at Herald Island, Auckland, was sent in by Thomas Guthrie and it appears her name is Georgia Rae. Thomas commented that her hull is a lot older than the cabin, can anyone enlighten us on her past and modifications?


Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta

Its only 8 days till the regatta so if you are going to be back in Auckland on the Monday today might be a good time to get your entry in. As well as the yachting events – there is the Tug/Work boat race and a round the bouys launch race for the diesel-heads – lots of great prizes up for grabs. Info & entry details here https://regatta.org.nz(

Photo above from the 1963 regatta)

Bay of Islands – 2021 Tall Ships Regatta

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BAY OF ISLANDS – 2021 TALL SHIPS TROPHY RACE

The above photo essay from the 2021 (Jan 9th) Russell Boating Club’s Tall Ships regatta were sent in by Dean Wright, as always stunning camera work. Dean commented that there wasn’t much breeze on race day so it was a bit of a dawdle. I’m sure that didn’t dampen the legendary post race festivities ashore.

Dean is a good lad and always tries to include a few launches in the mix, even if its a sailing event. #e like that
The photos of the Colin Wild launch – Wirihana, just go to show that if you are a looker, no matter what you hang off her (SUP/Sailing Dinghy/RIB) – you’ll always be a looker 😉
As always – click on the smaller photos to enlarge.