Category Archives: Tales & Yarns

PENCARROW – A WWII VETERAN CLASSIC LOOKING FOR A NEW CUSTODIAN

Posted on by
Reply

PENCARROW – A WWII VETERAN CLASSIC LOOKING FOR A NEW CUSTODIAN

Back in April 2022 WW ran a story on the launch PENCARROW, a 1916 , 38’6” bridge-decker built by Chas Bailey & Son, Auckland – with a proud WWII service history. Known as NAPS superstar Z75, she served Wellington Harbour. At the time Dylan Sagger was trying to find the location of the vessel. Link to story here – lots of photos. https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/04/04/pencarrow-where-is-she/

Fast forward 4 years and Dylan has provided an update on the launch after talking with her owner, who also advised the vessel was now listed on trademe.

Her construction is a displacement hull with triple-planked kauri. And remarkably today she still retains her 120hp Ford Lees six-cylinder engine. Dylan commented that his father a previous owner, always described her as a “good sea boat”.

Dylan would love to see her returned to her former glory, perhaps even restored to her Z75 wartime configuration. Taking her on is beyond Dylan’s reach but ENCARROW deserves a caring new owner. She is a genuine piece of New Zealand boating history that should be preserved and celebrated.

Her trade me listing expires on 27 November 2026, she has a starting bid of $1 and no reserve, so there must be someone with the resources to rescue her. Current location is Port Underwood, Marlborough Sounds.

KAWAU SPRING SPLASH CLASSIC PARADE – 25 WOODYS + A BAY FULL OF BOATS

Posted on by
Reply
Screenshot

KAWAU SPRING SPLASH CLASSIC PARADE – 25 WOODYS + A BAY FULL OF BOATS

If you were thinking about buying a classic wooden boat but weren’t quite sure which style floated your boat, a visit to the 2026 Kawau Boating Club Spring Splash over Labour Weekend would have gone a long way towards answering that question!

Over the last two days, I’ve shared a series of semi-random Waitemata Woodys posts to give you a taste of the action, both ashore at the KBC and out on the water.

Aside from New Year’s Eve, I can’t recall seeing so many boats anchored in Bon Accord Harbour. Now, I know that’s not everyone’s scene – some skippers will do a U-turn if they’re not the only boat in the bay! But for most, the fleet, the atmosphere and the chance to catch up with fellow boating enthusiasts are all part of the magic.

There were a few new systems to navigate and the inevitable operational speed bumps, but none of that stopped the good times rolling. Each evening, the dining and partying got underway, with music perfectly matched to the crowd. The food gets an 8/10 from me, which is high praise indeed!

So, a big tick to the team behind the weekend. If you enjoyed this year’s gathering, do yourself a favour and circle Labour Weekend 2027 in your diary now.

Today, I’m sharing a photo gallery focusing on Sunday’s WaitemataWoodys Classic Wooden Boat Parade. We had a fantastic turnout, with 25 classic craft joining the parade. I have include a few photos that show the ambience of the KBC (thanks to Beth Houlbrook from KBC for her photos). When I cover these big events, my objective is to try and give the WW readers a taste / feel for what it was like, so enjoy the gallery and remember if you click on a photo it enlarges.

And it wasn’t just the parade. I’ve never seen so many classic wooden motorboats out on the water at one time, the bay was absolutely teeming with woodys, my count was 41 classic craft.

Enjoy the gallery, and remember, clicking on any photo will enlarge it. Scroll down to view the two previous weekend posts.

P.S. If you were there and we missed your boat, apologies. With so many classics on the water, keeping track of everyone was always going to be a challenge.

24 CLASSIC WOODYS TURNOUT FOR THE WAITEMATA WOODYS KAWAU SPRING SPLASH CLASSIC PARADE

Posted on by
Reply

Firstly I hope Sundays WW story appeared ok , first time done totally remotely from mobile phone and dodgy internet connection + a little late at night….

Sunday we had the Classic Woodys Parade in Bon Accord Harbour – amazing turnout , 24 classic craft gathered off Kawau Boating Club for a celebratory cruise around the bays.

A huge thank you to the skippers that made the effort to turn up and special thanks to the Kawau locals that cheered the fleet on from their bachs and wharfs.

Only a few parade photos today, just too many to edit on the phone – full report on Tuesday.

We held a parade prize giving on Sunday nights at KBC and most woody skippers walked away with a smile on their face ✔️. Full photo gallery from the bay and parade on WW Tuesday.

Very happy to have TRINIDAD back in the parade.

KAWAU CLASSIC WOODYS SPRING SPLASH – DAY TWO

Posted on by
Reply

KAWAU CLASSIC WOODYS SPRING SPLASH – DAY TWO

Last night was very relaxed at KBC , nice music and 8/10 sunset. Nice to catch up with some of the woody skippers that have been long time members of the classic Woodys community – Angus Rogers (CENTAURUS ), Ian Forsyth (MEOLA) , Peter Jones (KAIKOURA) , Mike Mahoney (MOWRANGI +  TAWERA ) , Haydon Afford (KUMI), .

Spent Saturday mooching around the island , relaxing afternoon in Bostaquet Bay. Then aback to SmelttHouse Bay for a Corona , then ashore to KBC.

How was it? Short answer a zoo BUT probably the best zoo I’ve been to. But everyone’s cup of tea but given it was only day 2 of new crew, system etc it was a brilliant night – live band were so good, wouldn’t have been cheap, probably the beat cover band I have heard in along time. Perfect weather saved the day and everyone left with a permanent smile. Roll on  Sunday night, another live band. And the Classic Woodys Parade – looking like a big turn out, I counted 20+ woodys in the bay, late avo.

Coming back in this avo the did a u turn to catch on of my favorite classics- TAWERA leading the fleet home on the Round the Island race , looking at the photo, you would think we were in Fiji.

The caught up with Steve Horsley tiding up NGATIRA up.

Roll on day 3 ✔️

HAD A WEE OOPS YESTERDAY – NEED MORE COFFEE

Posted on by
1

HAD A WEE OOPS YESTERDAY

I HIT THE WRONG KEY RE WHEN TODAYS STORY WAS SCHDULED TO APPEAR – SO YESTERDAY YOU GOT 2 IN ONE DAY.

SO FOR THOSE THAT MISSED THE SECOND STORY – 2 OPTIONS 

1. CLICK HERE https://waitematawoodys.com/2026/10/13/classic-wooden-launch-kalamere-uncovering-her-story/

2. JUST SCROLL DOWN 🙂

And for those that can’t be bothereddoing either – sit back and have a coffee

THERE ALWAYS HAS TO BE A WOODY PHOTO – From memory I think Nathan Herbert took this one of RAINDANCE on route to the Riverhead Tavern. But Jason Prew commented I must be wrong as NH would never be out in those conditions 🙂

RAINDANCE

MELANIE – TRACING THE HISTORY OF A CLASSIC GAME LAUNCH

Posted on by
Reply

MELANIE – TRACING THE HISTORY OF A CLASSIC GAME LAUNCH

Thanks to an email from John Dawson we are able to clear up any confusion around the provenance of the classic wooden game boat – MELANIE.

In the top photo we she MELANIE c.1959 as built by Brian Donovan (brother of Andy) at 21st Century Boats.

In April 1965 her owner,Len McCracken, sadly drowned returning to the vessel one evening at Mayor Island.

Late 1960’s her new owner, John Lee had MELANIE refitted as a bridge-decker at the Visser yard and changed her name to LEEWAY. She then went into charter fishing the Mayor Island grounds.

Harold Kidd advised the last he heard of the vessel was c.2015, in Havelock North.

Any update on where she is today.

(Special thanks to Harold Kidd, Brian Worthington & the Andrew Donovan collection)

KAWAU ISLAND’S LABOUR WEEKEND BOATING MUSTER

Posted on by
Reply

KAWAU ISLAND’S LABOUR WEEKEND BOATING MUSTER

The photo above has appeared on WW before, capturing and promoting the X-factor that makes Kawau Island such a special destination for classic boaters. Its sheltered anchorages, rich maritime heritage and relaxed cruising atmosphere make it hard to beat for a Labour Weekend escape.  

Over the past few years, the Kawau Boating Club, Ponsonby Cruising Club and WaitemataWoodys — three staunch supporters of classic boating and the cruising lifestyle — have been working together to develop and promote a gathering of traditional craft in and around Kawau Island.Brought together under the banner of Labour Weekend Spring Splash.

The event is becoming a wonderful opportunity for owners and crews to get out on the water, catch up with fellow enthusiasts and celebrate everything that makes classic wooden boating so special.It’s all about good boats, good company and the timeless pleasure of cruising in one of the Hauraki Gulf’s most treasured destinations.

Each year it gets better and better and has become one of the most popular events on the waitematawoodys calendar. Link here to last years event  https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/10/28/2025-kawau-island-spring-splash-regatta-a-woody-weekend-to-remember/

There truely is something for all craft – 

• FRIDAY – Cruising to the island

• SATURDAY – Matakana Markets River Cruise & Round the Island Yacht Race

• SUNDAY – Waitematawoodys Classic Parade & Short Course Yacht Race + Race Giving ar KBC

• MONDAY – Breakfast at KBC

Each day the KBC clubrooms will be open to all boaties + we have new managers and menu. Check on-line for opening hours. https://kawauboatingclub.nz

f you are not racing there is no requirement to enter, just turn up and enjoy the weekend and the sociability of the KBC. Hey you my enjoy it and consider becoming a member 😉

PS – I emailed details out to the WW data base earlier in the week, but not surprisingly not everyone is on the database. If you want to be kept updated on classic events and gatherings – just drop an email to waitematawoodys@gmail.com with your name, boat name (if you have one) and mobile number. We do not spam you, it is a very tight list.

Read more in the attached PCC notice of regatta.

NOR LABOUR WEEKEND SPRING SPLASH 2026Download

I

CLASSIC WOODEN YACHT ASTRID – ANOTHER PIECE OF HER STORY SURFACES

Posted on by
Reply

CLASSIC WOODEN YACHT ASTRID – ANOTHER PIECE OF HER STORY SURFACES

Sundays WW story on the classic wooden yacht – ASTRID,  https://waitematawoodys.com/2026/10/04/where-is-astrid-the-search-for-a-classic-wooden-yacht/  , prompted Mark McLaughlin to send in todays update / input. Over to Mark 

Further to Sundays storyon Astrid, there was an Athol Burns thread on Boatdesign.net about 14 years ago where the topic of Astrid came up. An ex-owner (now residing in the USA) came forward and provided some colour photos from his ownership and he made the following comments:

I was partnered with a friend we owned ASTRID in Auckland for a few years. I too was wondering what became of her and stumbled onto this forum. I have included some photos.

She had a single banger gas engine with a huge flywheel crank start. The name eludes me. It was kind of cool in it’s annoying way. Cranking made for some funny times.

She sailed quite well with a bit of a struggle pointing as you can imagine. We decked her out with some Lidgard sails including a full radial reaching chute. From memory she was built in Kawhia. I had a copy of the Seaspray article but it has since disappeared.

She was in Westhaven when we bought her. 

https://www.boatdesign.net/threads/who-is-athol-burns.38688/page-2

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – AVALON – RESTORATION UPDATE #6

Posted on by
3


CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – AVALON – RESTORATION UPDATE #6

Today we have an an update from Tobias Forsyth on his rebuild of the 24’ Sam Ford built (1954) classic wooden launch – AVALON. Getting very close to hitting the water. Have to admire the workmanship , very talented man is Tobias.

I’ll hand over to Tobias to walk us thru the work – Update 6, great progress and we have a launch date for late November.

“Photos are fairly self explanatory, new cabin top has been clashed with kauri and then corners glassed, an internal laminex epoxied and vacuum bagged down to have a nice easy maintainance deck head. Cabin top then fully painted and installed. Final coats of varnish done plus non skid on decks before glass install. Made some good progress of wiring and systems with a quick test run of the engine to make sure all is working as it should. 

Test fit the new squabs and carpets along with a few other cosmetic touches. All going to plan the launch date should be ok. Just the final coat on the hull and then driveline install and finish off the engine bay and systems left to go now.” 

WHERE IS ASTRID – THE SEARCH FOR A CLASSIC WOODEN YACHT

Posted on by
2

WHERE IS ASTRID – THE SEARCH FOR A CLASSIC WOODEN YACHT

Last week WW was contacted by Mark Panther who is trying to track down the current location of the Athol Burns designed 23 foot double ended cutter ASTRID. I’ll hand over to Mark to tell the story. The Sea Spray articles area get read.

“I believe ASTRID was built by George Gould in the early 1950s. This boat is of some significance to me, as my parents sailed her to Tonga, Fiji and back home in 1957. The story of the trip along with photographs was published in serialised form in the 1960 August, September and October editions of the Sea Spray magazine.

From all accounts, she was a bit on the slow side, but handled a number of adverse weather events on that trip very well. 

Bluewater sailing in those days differs from the current methods. Windvanes or autopilots were not available, so it was watch on, watch off hand steering, and safety consisted of a small folding canvas dinghy rather than a liferaft, with sextant sites when you could get them.

The top photo shows her hauled out on the old WWII seaplane base concrete ramp at Sawene Bay, Fiji for an antifoul. 

I believe she was owned by a Mr Brian Brown at Waiheke in the early 1990s, and I had heard a rumour she was located at Whagapoua on the Coromanel some time later.”

So woodys can we help Mark out with an update on what became of ASTRID and where she is today.

PART ONE – SEA SPRAY AUG 1960

PART TWO – SEA SPRAY SEPT 1960

PART THREE- SEA SPRAY OCT 1960