After a volume of requests asking about a waitemtawoodys flag / burgee we are almost at the stage of pushing the print button. After reviewing dozens of designs, sanity has prevailed and we have decided to keep it simple – so woodys we have two final options and two shapes that we would really appreciate feedback on.
So today its simple – just two questions. Vote below using the POLL.
NOTE -POLL APPEARS TO NOT WORK ON ALL COMPUTERS – IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM – PLEASE EMAIL YOUR ANSWERS TOwaitematawoodys@gmail.com
In terms of graphics – do you prefer WW or Waitemata Woodys – see below
2. In terms of shape – do you prefer square or pennant – see below
THERE IS ALWAYS A WOODY STORY 🙂
Can we ID the launch (refer circle) dockside at the Whangarei waterfront. Possibly dated 1923, photo ex Lew Redwood fb.
Major (christian name, not a rank) Bailey built four launches that we are aware of – thanks to Ken Ricketts and Graeme Varcoe today we get to see them together, excluding the last built, those name is not recorded. The First built was – Florae / Floray (seems to have had an identity crisis over time) , later named Leilani and currently high and draw in a Thanes paddock.
Second was – Flolaine, now named Awatea
Third was – Christine
Fourth – unknown – anyone able to help with details. Amusing (in hindsight) launch day story below ex KR. The Launching And Near Sinking Of #4 Boat
KR commented that Major Bailey had some radical views on boat systems and fit out. With the fourth boat he developed a steering system which was or looked like half a petrol or oil drum encircling each propeller and turning right left which was supposed to direct the prop wash and steer the boat but when you turned the wheel absolutely nothing happened, as much of the prop thrust water just went out the back and the prop thrust was simply lost completely.
#4 had two 6 cyl. second hand Fords, very poorly home converted, and badly installed in the stern with detached vee drives, along other bits & pieces. All the underwater gear seemed to leak through the hull and added to almost sinking post launching, refer below.
KR commented that on launch day she almost sunk immediately on launching and would not steer. The yard would not lift her out again due to a dispute, so they steered her as best they could with the engines as quickly as they could downstream to Eastern Marina Services (Terry Burling). There they beached her on the ramp, to effect urgent matters to make her seaworthy and steerable.
The boat had all sorts of unique bits about her all of which mostly designed by Major Bailey and mostly just did not work.
KR also commented that #3, Christine was very ugly, with the hull, all rough and showing all the planks & seams, and the flare was horrible with a slanting forward deck line at the bow. He was putting more & more radical & impractical ideas in the succession of his boats as they went on.
So woodys it appears and KR agrees that Leilani was the pick of the bunch 🙂 I wonder what became of the fourth build ………….
Over the last 12 months there has been chat (off-line) about the Centaurus’s launch date. As always with events 50+ years ago, things get a little hazy. Last week we were contacted by Graeme and Flo Varcoe and Graeme wanted to clear up any confusion regarding the launch date.
The original owners of Centaurus were the Sibun family and Graeme’s mother was married to Sonny Sibun. Speaking with his sister Graeme was reminded that she was pregnant during the final stages of the build and her daughter, Graeme’s niece was born on March 19th. 1969 and was 3 weeks old at the time of the launching of Centaurus.
So woodys the dates are: Built – 1967/68 – Launched – April 1969
In the last photo above, a close up of her wheel – there is a plaque that states “Built By Baileys 1967” – this is correct, the build did start in 1967, a little unusual to record that rather than the actual splash date – but not for me to question.
During the brother ./ sister discussions a newspaper clipping came to light that Graeme believes was published by the Half Moon Bay Marina. That article appears above, it is a great read, I have also attached it as a downloadable PDF to make it easier to read.
We learn how Centaurus acquired her name – the boat was built in the 100th year of the Chas Bailey yard, so the ‘Cen’ reflects the century and ’taurus’ comes from owner Sonny Sibun’s zodiac sign – Taurus.
As an added bonus the article backgrounds how that lump of an engine – the Cummings V6 215hp diesel (photo below) ended up in the boat. As designed the intention was for a pair of Ford 100hp diesels. Regular WW readers will be aware that Centaurus’s current owner, Angus Rogers has just installed a 175 hp John Deere (photo below)
Centaurus is nearing the end of an extensive refit, and as with most things Angus Rogers rubs up against – Centaurus will be glorious.
UPDATE – Angus Rogers advised the gearbox (Borg Warner) mentioned in the article is incorrect – it was a Capitol.
Woody Kerry Lilley sent in the tale below concerning the launching of the 1964 Owen Woolley built launch – Freelance. At the time Kerry was an apprentice to Owen Woolley (1964 -1970) and now owns the 32′ Woolley launch – Awariki, which he helped build and launch in 1967. I’ll let Kerry tell the story.
“I started my boatbuilding apprenticeship in mid 1964, Freelance was in the final stage of her interior fit out for Mr Ken Williams from memory he was head of the Ak branch of the Master Builders Assn., the launching of Freelance was on the cover a special edition of the Seaspray Magazine sliding down the slipway.
When Mr Williams took Freelance away from Owen Woolley’s shed intending to steam her to her pile up the Clevedon River, in going through between Browns Is and Musick Point he hit the ( I understand it’s a block of concrete used to hold anti submarine net during the 2nd world war) no damage to the hull or keel but the propeller was bent and tore the stern bearing out of the keel and stalled the engine.
So 3 hours after steaming away from our shed over the Tamaki River, old Bert Subrisky on the tug – Romo pushes Freelance back for repair new prop shaft, stern bearing, copper stern tube and Kauri repair to the keel.”
I wonder if the concrete block is still there or some kind sole used so dynamite on it. (Photo above taken at the 2020 Mahurangi Regatta)
60 years later we still have launch day oops – my lips are sealed ;-), its not Freelance.
INPUT ex Nigel Drake (current custodian) – “Despite that early mishap Freelance is going strong and will celebrate 60 years next year. She has just completed 2 weeks of TLC in the shed in Tauranga.”
Back in Feb 2018 WW was contacted by Ted Bosch concerning the vessel – Crescent , Ted was just about to commence building a 1:20 scale model of Crescent. Back in 1998 Ted had help restore her and the model was going to be ‘as remembered’ as no plans existed. At the time the WW story generated a lot of chat in the comments section and we uncovered a lot of intel on her past.
While some thought the double-ender had Miller & Tunnage lineage, turned out she was actually ‘designed’ and built by three M&T employees, no doubt there was a mix of DNA going on.
These days Crescent calls Tauranga home and is being very well cared for – if her owner or anyone local knows the boat can they send in a photo/s.
Ted recently advised that the model was complete and sent in the above photos – quite impressive.
INPUT ex Nigel Drake – “Photo below of Crescent taken in March when she buzzed me will l was attempting to catch a snapper for dinner just outside the Tauranga harbour entrance. She is well looked after by her owner and lives in the Tauranga Marina.”
Recently on the subscription only weblog – Off Center Harbor there was an amazing short film titled ‘Conversations with The Lobster Lady’. The lady is Virginia Oliver and when the film was made in 2019 Virginia was aged 100, and woodys today Virginia is103 and still working the pots.
Angus Rogers came across the film on YouTube so we all get to view it – you’ll enjoy it – she is a hoot 🙂
Recently WW was contacted by Alistair McRae in regard to the vessel – Taranaki, Alistair commented that he spent a big part of his early holiday life on her. At this stage the boat was named Taranaki but Alistair believes it had been renamed (possibly named Theologus).Taranaki was owned by his uncle, Les Henry and was used by Les to tow barges at his sand company on the Waikato River. In the mid 1950’s Les steamed Taranaki out of the Waikato River (West Coast), up and around the top of the North Island and down to Whangarei.
Alistair recalls that she was approx. 37’> 38’ in length and had a four cylinder Fordson engine and had a canoe stern and built like the proverbial brick outhouse. Sadly Alistair has no details on who designed / built Taranaki or when she was launched. Alistair recollects possibly sighting Taranaki moored at Orakei probably 20 or more years ago. Where she may have resided for some years.
What Alistair does have is the actual log of the above mentioned trip from the Waikato River to Whangarei. The crew left the ‘Elbow’ on the Waikato River (where Les’s sand business was and now Winstone) at 0500hrs Friday 5th March 1955. They got to the Waikato Heads 1-1/2hrs later and waited for a day to get through the bar , quite a trip – the full story below – the reproduction is a tad scrappy and I has issues with converting / uploading but in my eyes that just adds to the story 🙂 It appears as a downloadable PDF file and as a booklet – click on the book to view and you can enlarge the pages.
So woodys can anyone enlighten us on Tarananki’s early days.
A good friend , John Burland has been mooching around the eastern shores of the USA – Portland / Maine / Boston / New Hampshire etc.
In between eating his body weight in seafood he dropped into Lowells Boat Shop in Amesbury, Massachusetts. Lowells was established in 1793 (I’ll do the maths for you – that’s 230 yrs ago) and is the oldest operating boat shop in the USA. Google search the name to read / view the shops story.
John was even press-ganged into helping turn a clinker that was being built.
Sure looks like a place I could spend sometime in – another addition to the bucket list.
(The birch bark canoe is on display at the – Portland Museum of Art)
When I was sent the link below re a proposed maritime anchor watch rule I had to check the calendar to make sure it wasn’t April Fools Day.
Seriously – What is Maritime NZ on? Read below ex a Yachting NZ post on the story –
“Maritime New Zealand recently stated that all vessels (recreational and commercial) must maintain a continuous anchor watch (lookout by sight and hearing) under Maritime Rule Part 22.5. Maritime NZ has recently shared the interpretation as: “At all times – during the day, during the night, when travelling to and from fishing grounds, fishing, while at anchor, or drifting.” With this interpretation, you may be breaking the law by leaving your vessel at anchor to have a walk ashore or going to sleep while anchored in a typical pristine protected anchorage.“
There was a poll / survey by YNZ calling for feedback, sadly that has closed off. Hopefully enough people responded telling them to stop interviewing their typewriters and actually talk to the boaters out there.
UPDATE – It would seem that Yachting NZ have got themselves a tad mixed up and made news out of something that wasn’t news.I received the note below from Jim Lott – I’ll let Jim take us thru the situation –
“This is not a joke and it has always been the case. All vessels are technically required to keep a watch at anchor.I’ll wear my ex-hat as a nautical school tutor and examiner for a moment.You suggest there is a new interpretation about recreational vessels and keeping anchor watch.For the past several decades (last Coll Regs rewrite was in 1964) there has never been an exemption for recreational vessels from keeping watch at all times (which includes at anchor) in the rules. All MNZ has done is confirm existing legal requirements, even if many yachties are unaware of it.Indeed, all the sections in the Maritime Transport Act and Rules made under the Act, including “Coll Regs”, Navigation Safety rule, and also regional Bylaws apply to all vessels all the time.There is an additional requirement for any ‘hire and reward’ i.e. commercial vessels to be surveyed to meet a set standard, and the skipper/crew to have a formal qualification (ticket).All other requirements including any penalties or fines apply equally to recreational and commercial alike.So where does that leave us?Nothing has changed so I suggest carrying on as usual, but be aware of the legal requirements.If we all sleep at night, or all leave the vessel, the skipper is still responsible for what happens on board. If a watchkeeper on board could have prevented an incident such as dragging, sinking or fire, then the skipper may have committed an offence under the MTA for “endangering property”, but I have never heard of a fine or prosecution for failure to keep a lookout while at anchor.Should, or could, NZ exempt recreational vessels from the international law we signed up to? It would require the change to be put through cabinet and being an international agreement, it is highly unlikely.(Insurance companies state that boats at anchor must not be left unattended for over 24 hours.)Other information Re: anchoring, you may be interested to note that there is nothing in the Coll Regs to say that a vessel underway has to give way to an anchored vessel. However the ‘ordinary practice of seamen’ to do so has been confirmed in court cases, and the obvious practicalities apply.There is an anchoring section in the Navigation Safety Rule to say that when anchoring, a vessel must not put at risk another anchored vessel. It means that if you drag into another you are at fault, or anchor too close and bump someone you are responsible.”
WW Caps – low profile, 6 panel, canvas caps in the new camel colour topped with dark brown WW embroidered logo has a dash of understated style.
Just click the email link here and tell me your name, postal address and number of caps required. I’ll come back to you with payment details – $38 + $6 p&p. waitematawoodys@gmail.com
A woody friend, Andrew Christie also sent me a link to a 3 minute birds-eye video of the fleet filmed by Saxton Thomas – what an impressive gig. I can see Jason Prew salivating over this 🙂
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