WW has been contacted by Martin Orme regarding a small launch that interests him as a restoration project. Martin came across it under a tree in Wainuiomata, Wellington.
Martin commented that he thinks he can just make out the name MARETOSA on the stern, or something close to that , and not sure if that name is the original. So woodys can anyone help Martin out with intel on the vessel.
PERFECT XMAS SANTA SACK ADDITION – Classic Woody Calendar
Once again the team at the Lake Rotoiti Classic & Wooden Association have produced a stunning 2025 calendar – probably the best ever, but I’m biased as I snapped a lot of the photos :-)A bargain at $15 – order here https://form.jotform.com/233366600330850
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.
KAWAU ISLAND SPRING SPLASH REGATTA REVIEW – 70+ CLASSIC WOODEN BOATING PHOTOS
WoW what a long weekend – our first long weekend as we slide out of winter into summer. The on-the-water boating season kicked off this year with a new event on the calendar – the ‘Labour Weekend Spring Splash Regatta’ at Kawau Island, in the Hauraki Gulf. Going forward the hosts – Kawau Boating Club and race organisers – Ponsonby Cruising Club intend to ran the regatta every year. The weather gods were against us at times – but the weekend was a winner with everyone that attended.
Firstly I’d like to thank all the skippers, family and crew that took the leap of faith and pointed their craft north in conditions on both Friday and Saturday morning that can best described as character building for the skippers and testing for the craft.
I went north at mid day on Friday and all I saw in terms of other craft afloat was a procession of yachts returning to Auckland after pulling out of the Coastal Classic race to Russell. Big ups to the yachts that pushed on and completed the race, I’m sure most skippers will have trouble rounding up crew for next years race 🙂
Fridays race to Kawau was light on numbers due to the weather but the fleet pushed on and most made it to KBC to swap stories. Mike Mahoney commented that his majestic 1935 Logan built classic – TAWERA spent more time going thru the waves than on top of them.
Saturday’s around the island race was cancelled due to high winds, but the KBC turnover was the winner. A great night ,with a DJ on hand.
Sunday we had the Waitematawoodys classic parade and 15 woodys (one yacht) did a lap of BON ACCORD Harbour – a brilliant turnout for the opening year. Those participating were recorded with stunning weather.
Post the parade, the yacht race got away, check out the video below of TAWERA coming in hot to the finish line – perfect timing by skipper Mike and crew, Only problem it was to decide 3 and 4 place 🙂
Sunday nights prize giving was a hoot and most people left with a prize and a smile.
Other activities over the weekend were a children’s lolly scramble and the KBC AGM on Sunday morning. Brilliant turnout at the AGM and very positive vibes.
The weekend report wouldn’t be complete without a mention of the recently refurbished KBC clubroom / bar / bistro – the presentation of the interior is a perfect fit for a boating club of the KBC’s standing.
And the food and staff…………… 10/10 – the food photos tell their own story.
The winner of the major prize for parade participants – SPONSORED BY THE SLIPWAY MILFORD – was Jill Hetherington and her 1939 C. Bailey built launch – TUNA. Jill’s prize is a haulout and 3 days hardstand at the classic friendly railway slip.
I have to sign off now, I’m falling asleep at the keyboard.
Enjoy the photo gallery & videos, several people clicking the camera (phone) over the weekend, so thanks for everyones contribution.
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 🙂
I was contacted about todays woody earlier in the year, at the time the boat was based in Queenstown and was looking for a new owner.
Her then owner had spent a lot of money on her, the Honda 50 hp 4-stroke would have broken most peoples budget.
No name visible – keen to learn if she sold and where she ended up.
EXCITED ABOUT THE UPCOMING LABOUR WEEKEND WOODY SPRING SPLASH AT KAWAU ISLAND. Below are details on the next woody event after Kawau – circle the calendar.
CLASSIC WOODY BOAT FESTIVAL AT THE WHANGAREI TOWN BASIN – 48 Photos & Videos
The weekends weather in Auckland certainly wasn’t conducive to boating so on early Saturday morning I pointed the car north and headed to Whangarei for the 2024 Maritime Festival at the Town Basin.
Year two and a quick overview, – more tie-dyed tee shirt vendors and food trucks, a lot more general public – less launches, more large cruising yachts. Steam boat rides were the most popular offering – long queues of kids that probably walked away with a life time memory – well done to all the steam boat skippers and crew.
Nice to see a couple of woodys from the Waitemata make the trip north – RAWHITI and JOHN DORY.
As always when she makes an appearance anywhere Dick and Colleen Fisher’s ex pilot boat – AKARANA was the start of the show.
THE AUCKLAND WOODYS HAD AN INTERESTING TRIP HOME ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON 🙂
Recently on Lew Redwood’s fb he posted the above photos of the Rawene, Hokianga Harbour runabout MISS BUBB:ES. Lew commented the the gent on the right (bow) was Andrew Stone.
The Lanes Ferry booking office is on the left and the Hotel is seen in the background. No concerns about lifejackets in those days…….
WHANGAREI MARITIME FESTIVAL – THIS WEEKEND
If you are looking for a great day out, point the car north this weekend and check out the 2024 Whangarei Maritime Festival. I went last year and it was brilliant , something for everyone and the dockside display of classic woodys is a must see.Full details here https://www.whangareimaritimefestival.co.nz/boatshow
The two photos above are of Colin Pawson’s Frostbite sailing dinghy – CHARISMA which Colin is currently giving a birthday. Interesting observation – the new ribs aren’t steam bent, but laminated with the aim to be much stronger and lighter. As we have come to expect from Mr Pawson over the years attention to detail is 10/10.
Owning a Frostbite is a Pawson family thing – son Adrian owns – KITEROA, (photos below) and both sail out of the Taikata Sailing Club in West Auckland which on a good day has 15+ Frostbites racing.
KITEROA
CYA YACHTS PLAYING CRASH & BASH AGAIN
The woody spies report that the classic yacht skippers haven’t learnt from the past – first race of the season yesterday and we have a collision in the inner harbour – details are unconfirmed but it appears WAITANGI and KATRINA ‘came together’ and Katrina lost her mast – I’m not getting into specifics but if I was a betting man I know which skipper I’d be pointing the finger at 😉 Hopefully no injuries and insurance sorts out the damage.
UPDATE – Both boats reaching down the harbour. Some how they came together so it will be a ‘windward boat keep clear’ or ‘overtaking boat keep clear’.You have to ask how two classics came together on a very nice afternoon, easy sailing on the harbour.Too much testosterone ……………
COULD THIS BE THE CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – MANU-ITI
Last weekend one of the woodys that we past on the Wairoa River was the launch – MANU-ITI, a rather striking small classic launch that was crying out for some TLC.
During the week WW was contacted by Kerry Alexander who posed the question – could the launch seen in the top photo above be MANU-ITI ?
Kerry commented that he I did not remember the build name but i think it may have been for Mr Yates sen , of the seed company. The builder Keith Atkinson is seen in the doorway.
A possible date for the photo is c.1965 and the boat maybe a Bill Couldrey design.
So woodys can anyone comment / added to this mystery boat in the shed photo.
INOUT ex NATHAN HERBERT – yes, designed 1964 for Yates and one for Birkenhead and Northcote Yacht Club. Only the Yates boat built.
02-10-2024 UPDATE ex Chloe Salthouse – photo below of Manu-iti crossing Parekura Bay up in the Bay of Islands, with Norman Yates at the helm. Date probably not long after her launch in 1965.
CLASSIC MASON MARLIN WOODEN RUNABOUT MORPHS INTO A SPEEDBOAT
During the woodys trip to the Clevedon Cruising Club last weekend, one of the members brought along a recent project.
The speedboat SUZI Q started life as a Mason Marlin but her cabin top was toast so the call was made to start from scratch and the end result is what we see above.
Quite an impressive conversion and no doubt a flyer, did not get a chance to talk to the owner but it would be interesting to learn how she performs / handles at speed. I image a windscreen will be on the shopping list 🙂
THIS WOULD HAVE TO BE ONE OF THE STRANGEST COMMENTS ON THE WW SITE
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