Category Archives: Tales & Yarns

The Mullet Boat – Buona Sera

Posted on by
2

The Mullet Boat – Buona Sera

Chris McMullen sent me the link to this cool little youtube movie on the mullet boat – Buona Sera.

Chris commented that there is a slight oops in the commentary in regard to his involvement in the build – Eric had the boat half built before Chris met him 🙂
Chris believes Eric used the moulds received from Morrie Palmer who had just built the first cold moulded diagonally planked mullet Boat. He called it Controversy as that what it caused. He was barred from racing her for a time!
Buona Sera was the second diagonally planked boat. Chris’s Tamatea L-10 (featured already on ww) was the last boat built using carvel construction.
Enjoy the movie.

On the topic of mullet boats – this years Classic Yacht & Launch Exhibition at the Karanga Plaza (in front of Viaduct Events Centre) celebrates THE MULLET BOAT’s. As always with the Tino Rawa events it will be a not to be missed classic wooden boating event. So put a circle in the diary for the weekend of October 8>9th, 10.00am > 4.00pm. More details closer to the event 😉

screen-shot-2016-09-23-at-4-32-50-pm

A Call For Help

Posted on by
3
hauiti-about-ot-be-manurere-tauranga-1929-3

HAUITI – 1929

A Call For Help

I was recently contacted by John Ellingham, a kiwi now residing in country Western Australia. Johns inquiry centered on two little ships (Iranui & Hauiti) that were built in Auckland in the early 1900’s. Johns interest is mainly on Hauiti, because of a family link. This Grand father Alf Hassall was a shareholder in this vessel with Faulkners and was killed aboard her off Whakatane in 1931.
John has researched as many avenues as he can but I would like the gaps filled.
Any photos of the Hauiti / Manurere / Morocotcha / Three Kings would be appreciated.

hauiti-about-ot-be-manurere-tauranga-1929-2

HAUITI – 1929

HAUITI / MANURERE / MOROCOTCHA / THREE KINGS

Built 1906, possibly by Logan Bros, for  either the Tolaga Bay Lightering Co., Gisborne Sheep Farmers Company or Messer’s Glover Lockwood and Holder.

Length 47.75′ x 11.75′ x 3.66′ with a 21.32 Gross Tonnage / 5.92 Reg Tonnage. Originally Powered by two Standard Frisco petrol engines each 24 BHP. Used as lighter for transporting wool bales to vessels anchored off shore. Sister ship to “Iranui”

Sold in 1929, according to reports by the Gisborne Sheep Farmer’s Company Ltd to Barley & George Falkner and Albert Edward Hassall of Tauranga -‘Mount Ferry Co’ & renamed – Manurere. Converted from cargo vessel to passenger. Only made one trip found unsuitable. Converted to (a) Seine boat. (b) Trawler depending on which report you believe. Re engined with twin Gardner Diesels.

First registered 1932 – ID 153993 – 13/1932 – 06/12/1932  Port of Auckland (IR). Registered to Esther May Hassall (John Ellingham’s Grand Mother, John’s  Grand Father was killed on board Manurere off Whakatane on 29/03/31, dragged into winch by coat tails).

Sold again in 1933 to Mrs Bertha Robinson Auckland & renamed Morocotcha. Possible engine change 03/01/1934

Sold again in 1937 to McFarlanes Fisheries  (mussel / oyster farmers ) & renamed Three Kings. Reg  AK 516    06/03/1937

Registry closed 17/05/1948 – Believed to have foundered in Firth Thames with wreck located 15/12/62. Salvaged by Bert Subritzky 16>30 December 1962. Engines salvaged, hull scrapped.

iranui

IRANUI

IRANUI

Built  1900 possibly by Logan Bros, Auckland for a Mr Glover of Tolago Bay. Delivered to Tolago Bay as deck cargo aboard “Flora” 23 October 1900. Records also show the ownership as Glover Lockwood and Holder. Later articles refer to “Iranui” being owned by the Gisborne Sheep Farmers Company. The full title of this company was Gisborne Sheep farmers Frozen meat and Mercantile Co who had a store in Tolaga Bay.

Her use was as a Wool Lighter and Towing. Mainly out from the Uawa River to larger vessels anchored off shore. She measured 42 ft O/A – 10ft beam – Draft 2ft 3 inches aft  Carried 10 – 15 tons cargo under hatches. Power came from a 10hp Union Oil engine ( Supplied by Messers Ryan & Co)

The last known reference to “Iranui” is in 1918 (Papers Past Poverty Bay Herald 6 May 1918) where it is reported that she had been slipped at Gisborne and was returning to Tolago Bay.

NOTE: This “Iranui”  is not to be confused with the vessel “Settler” wrecked at Tairua. Confusion arises via the article ex NZ Museums web site reference Kelvin engine gifted by David James Mays Mason with comment by Daniel Hicks “MV Settler was ex “Iranui ex “SS Settler“ build 1905 by C. Bailey Jnr Auckland.

Port Townson 2016 Wooden Boat Festival – 50+ photos

Posted on by
Reply

port-t-wb-f

screen-shot-2016-09-16-at-10-34-06-pm

Port Townson 2016 Wooden Boat Festival – 50+ photos

Last weekend saw the usual collection of classic wooden craft assembled in Port Townsend, Washington for their annual wooden boat festival. What was not usual was the standard of the photography recording the event. Now you can google search & find 1,000’s of photos from the weekend but to make life easier, just click the link below to see the magnificent work / art of Patrick Downs. Enjoy the 50+ photos – motorboats & yachts 🙂

http://patrickdowns.photoshelter.com/portfolio/G0000dNrGH6fo5b8

A Mixed Bag

Posted on by
Reply

img_9047

A Mixed Bag

One good deed deserves another, I posted the other day that Robert Brooke had given me a ‘stern’ off one of his model clinker dinghies  – I have just returned the favour with a rather large framed photo of his family launch – Linda (below). I purchased it via trademe for next to nothing, after a thoughtful person posted a comment on ww about it being for sale. She was worried someone would buy it for the oak frame & scrap the photo.

Speaking of trademe I also purchased a brand new, never used, full set of signal flags, made in the UK, all hand stitched (not printed), 50cm x 40cm so too big for Raindance but perfect for events & boat launchings. I bought them for $60 – a steal 😉

img_9051

I had some left over Uroxsys (Allwood MA) in the shed & gifted it to Richard Dark who was re-doing his coamings on his classic launch – Seafarer. Richard used Uroxsys 2 seasons ago but misread the instructions re using the primer (which provides most of the UV protection) so had an unsatisfactory result. Richard is a perfectionist so back to bare wood & then the yellow primer & lots of coats of Uroxsys. In the photos below I think there had only been one top coat, so will look even better after 6>8 coats 😉

I had a few blisters on the cabin top of Raindance so paid my son to (gently) scrap it off. The end result was great but it looks like I have a chart of the Hauraki Gulf on there at the moment, one wag (Murray Deeble) has offered to drop down & mark the fishing spots with red X’s 🙂

fullsizerender

And the UK ww numbers have improved big time, after a little bit of SEO (search engine optimization) – top ten viewing countries, below, for the last few days.

screen-shot-2016-09-14-at-4-05-16-pm

Clinkers

Posted on by
6

img_9528

CLINKERS
On Saturday the Picton Clinker Club held a run up the Opawa River in Blenheim to the Raupo Cafe for lunch, 11 boats made the trip. Richmond boatbuilder/ restorer, timber furniture maker & vintage car coach builder – Peter Murton, sent me the above photos.

Chatting with Peter on-line he has some very cool woody projects in his workshop – starting with a  Colin Wild built day launch, see photos below. The launch arrived at Peters’s workshop last December from Auckland. When finished she is off to Christchurch, where her owner has re-located to, he dropped her off on his way past Peter’s workshop. Nothing is known about her, her owner had her stashed in his shed for 5+ years, her cabin sides & side decks are teak – any input from the woodys would be much appreciated.

img_9487

Also below are some photos of Peter’s 1895 fantail oil launch which is getting a 1906 Gray marine engine fitted.

img_9507

And to finish todays clinker theme – when I went down to Raindance yesterday to do a few chores, I was pleasantly surprized to find the stern off a model clinker dinghy in my cockpit, along with a note from Robert Brooke – “Hi Alan, If it is no use to you, please cut up for firewood. Cheers Robert”. Now Robert knows I have a ‘thing’  for clinkers & while having a workshop clean out he found the stern off one of his model boats & thought it might appeal to me – it surely does – will be a perfect project & this will join my collection of things clinker related (photo below). The clinker cross section in the photo, I bought on trademe several years ago, now I might be mistaken but I think it was built by Peter Murton – if so, its a small world.

fullsizerender
And yes I do own a proper clinker – named Peg.

 

MV Tiri – Radio Hauraki

Posted on by
12

Tiri and Widgeon first day out November 1966

MV Tiri – Radio Hauraki

I received an email over the weekend from Denis O’Callahan, owner of the classic launch Tasman asking for some help from the woodys – I’ll let Denis tell the story.

“I was sorting some memorabilia recently in preparation for the 50th anniversary of Radio Hauraki when I came across the old newspaper cutting above ex my mother’s scrap book.
As well as the MV Tiri and the Widgeon there is a nice woody and there must have been another vessel from which the photo was taken but I’m damned if I can remember either of  them.
So can any Woody identify the launch and maybe even the photographer and his boat?

I certainly remember that day, our first out in the gulf (Nov 1966) before we had raised any kind of broadcasting antenna and here is the true story.
It was glassy calm and Captain Fred Ladd landed nearby with David Gapes and some newspaper reporters on board. Unfortunately when restarting, an engine flooded and cranking it flattened the 12 volt battery.
The Tiri had 24 volt batteries and we had lots of heavy cable on board so two of us rowed out to the plane in a dinghy and I climbed onto the wing. The cable hanging in the water pulled the plane in toward the ship so the guy in the dinghy had to tie the painter around a tail strut and row hard to keep them separated. Captain Ladd directed me to the battery compartment and I signaled to the Tiri crew to connect their end to the ship’s batteries. In a short time we had enough juice in the Widgeon’s battery to start the engines and we cast off the cable and the dinghy. So there I was on the wing with the plane taxiing around ready for take off. I had no option but to dive in and swim back to the Tiri.”

Woodys On Tour

Posted on by
1
20160816_150109

Rick McCay & Peter Boardman

20160819_053510

Woodys on Tour

A bit of what they call thread drift today – I told Rick McCay when he sent me the above photos that him sporting a ww t-shirt in the USA was the only justification I needed to run the photos 🙂

Two of our nicest classic woody owners – Rick & Roz McCay {Luana] and Peter Boardman [Lady Margaret] caught up at this years annual USA Monterey Car Week and Pebble Beach Concours. Rick reports that the show features a great variety of cars and personalities.
The black Ford GT40 pictured above is the actual car that won the 1966 Le Mans 24 hr race driven by two Kiwis, Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon.
In one of the photos of Rick he is standing in front of what he thought was an boat upside down on a trailer, but it turned out to be a caravan, for sale for only US$217k. On their way up the coast Rick spotted a couple of shockers in the Santa Barbara Marina. A helpful American attempted to pronounce Waitemata Woodies…Why the tatty woodies! Rick couldn’t return the abuse because he didn’t even own a boat 😉
Remember to click on photos to enlarge.

3 Ladies + Movie Premier Invite

Posted on by
14

3Ladys

Lady Sandra, Connie & ValSan

Photo above of three of our most elegant classic ladies – Lady Sandra, Connie & ValSan rafted up (photos ex Ken Jones, emailed to me by Ken Ricketts).
Also today I have news on a very cool film premier that will appeal to all woodys – see/read below.

Poster

Adrian Pawson & partner Nina Wells have produced a very cool movie called ‘Birds of a Feather’. Nina is the real star as its her film – she produced & directed it. The film is based on the annual Seagull outboard race on the Waikato River, over the last 18months I have seen numerous drafts & rough cuts, trust me it’s a goodie. See synopsis below & click on the link to view the trailer 😉

Adrian has asked if waitematawoodys could help promote the NZ premier of the film, the answer of course was yes. The screening is at The Vic Theater in Devonport & seats are very limited.

Tickets are only $10. I would encourage you to book online asap at http://www.thevic.co.nz  Its unlikely there will be door sales on the night.

Film Synopsis:
For the 30th consecutive year, a modest group of eccentrics assemble at the base of the Karapiro hydro dam, ready to embark on one the world’s longest and most challenging small boat races. The Great Waikato Seagull race draws contestants from all round New Zealand, all vying to conquer the mighty Waikato river but with an unlikely choice of hardware.

The British Seagull once touted as ‘The best outboard motor in the world’ is now famous for all the wrong reasons. With a reputation for being hopelessly unreliable, the British seagull is a relic of modern technology dating back to the second world war.

‘Birds of a Feather’ is the story of seagull racing on the Waikato where competitors from all walks of life, battle 141km downstream subjecting themselves to an arduous two day challenge that will test their patience, tempers and humour! They don’t have to be crazy, but it certainly helps!

Information:

6.30pm Sunday 25th September
THE VIC DEVONPORT
Cinema – Theatre – Cafe – Gelateria
Ph: +64 9 446 0100
48-56 Victoria Rd, Devonport 0624, Auckland, New Zealand
http://www.thevic.co.nz
Opportunity to get pre drinks etc and mingle from 6pm in the lounge bar
DVDs of the film will be available for purchase after the screening $25 Cash
POA Blu-ray DVDs are possibly available depending on numbers of requests
Book tickets :

http://www.thevic.co.nz/movies/11992.php

TRAILER

WEBSITE

http://www.birdsofafeather.nz

Lucinda Re-Launched

Posted on by
14

Version 2

P1230501

P1230562

My little launching gift – a bronze good fortune star from Arthur Beale, London.

P1230661

LUCINDA RE-LAUNCHED

Well woodys, after nearly two & half years hauled out at the Milford Cruising Club slip, on Saturday afternoon, Nathan Herbert re-launched his 1930, 28′ L. Coulthard launch – Lucinda. A group of approx. 40 family & friends came together to celebrate the event & help ease Luci back into the creek.

A few cold beverages, some bubbles & a good old fashioned kiwi spread – sausage rolls, asparagus bread wraps, bacon & egg pie & a cake – doesn’t get much better my eyes.
In the above photos, you’ll see lots of Nathan sporting a PS (permanent smile) & rightly so, it was after, his day. I apologize for the background noise in the videos, the wind was howling at the time. Remember if you click on the photos, they enlarge 😉

You can read & see more on Lucinda here     https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/05/18/lucinda-hauls-out/

While mooching around the creek I spotted something that I thought I would never see – the ex whale chaser, Rorqual sans her hot-house top, see photo below. It is only temporary as new owner Andrew Miller is half way through a make over that will see her returned to a similar look as before but utilizing the best materials & systems. And if I did not post a photo of Murray Deeble’s wee day boat I would have ended up in the creek 🙂

P1230671

P1230677

And its not too late to complete the on-line ww classic boating activity survey – click blue link below

Which classic wooden boat activities would you like to see more of ?

Kiakoa & Alberta 1923 Summer Cruise

Posted on by
3
2016-06-30 19.25.42

Alberta & Kiakoa – Stone Store, Kerikeri Basin 1923

 

 

Alberta & Kiakoa – Haurura Falls, Waitangi
Kiakoa – Haurura Falls, Waitangi
Bland Bay 1923
Whangamumu Whaleing Station 1923
Screen Shot 2016-08-27 at 7.09.29 AM

Kiakoa & Alberta – Kerikeri Basin 1923

KIAKOA & ALBERTA 1923 SUMMER CRUISE

Janet Watkin (nee Pickmere) the daughter of AH Pickmere*, son of AR Pickmere, was sorting through her Dad’s diaries & boxes of old glass plates & uncovered the collection above. They show the two launches Kiakore & Alberta on their 1923 northern waters summer cruise, Janet commented to me that these two boats were typical of the cruising fleets of the day but by today’s standards, small!.

*AH Pickmere is of course the author of the famous Atlas of North Auckland Waters
I’ll let Janet & their father tell the story -enjoy 🙂

KIAKOA AND ALBERTA CRUISE TO THE BAY OF ISLANDS FROM WHANGAREI 1923:

Crews: Kiakoa – AR Pickmere & family; Alberta –Palmer Family.

Introduction by Janet Watkin

KIAKOA: a double ended launch built in 1906 by Bailey & Lowe for AR Pickmere of Whangarei.

 Length 32 feet, 8ft Beam, Moulded Depth 3ft 6 in., Draught 2 ft. (From original plans now owned by JW. AR Pickmere bought the Winsome in 1924 and for a short time the family cruised in both launches. In 1926 Kiakoa was sold and no more is known of her. Winsome is still in the family and now owned by ARP’s grandson, DH Pickmere. The Pickmere boat sheds were on their property and the last ones up the river. J.W.

ALBERTA was built as a flushdecker by H.N. Burgess at Judges Bay in December 1913 and fitted with a 6/8 hp Automatic engine for which Burgess was the Auckland agent. A. Parsons of Ponsonby was her first owner. In 1914 she was repowered with a Model M Scripps from Lanes. From 1918 she was in Whangarei owned by the Palmer family. Maurice Reynolds bought her in 1959 and rebuilt her, then sold her in 1961. (From H.Kidd, Waitemata Woody.) Alberta lived in a boatshed on the banks of the Hatea River below the Palmers’ house at the end of Pentland Road and was still owned by the Palmer family until bought by the Maurice Reynolds. On the Winsome we cruised with Alberta in the 1950s when still owned by the Palmer Family & then when by Maurice Reynolds. Many of the boat sheds at the “bottom of the owners’ gardens” on the banks of the Hatea River were removed when the Eastern Bypass was built. When the new bridge at the Town Basin was built with less clearance, the few that remained gave way. J.W.

These Notes are from the Diary of AH Pickmere, ARP’s son, and the photos are from the original glass plates taken on that cruise by Mrs ARP. Kiakoa lived in a boat shed at the bottom of the Pickmere garden. The spelling of some places vary but are as written. Mr Palmer was a photographer and Eastwood Palmer, his son, became a Jeweller. J.W.

FROM THE DIARY –

JANUARY 1923:

20     Carried gear, provisions, benzine, bedding etc down to launch. Tidied up. … to Town Wharf where we got water. Left Home 11.45. Palmers – Alberta – were gone when we passed their place. (Got poles for canopy) Anchored for night at Onerahi.

21     Left 6.a.m. for Urquharts Bay where we found Palmers on Alberta, Jean II & Ranoni. We went for a walk ashore and started stowing gear and tidying up. Went over to Calliope Island. North Easterly blowing. Dad caught some schnapper – finished tidying up. Alberta tied up to Urquhart’s Wharf. Went round to Taurikura to see the Footes….Went to top of hill with Mr Gurr & Robin & Geoff who were going shooting……Back to Urquharts Wharf.. The wind continued strong so we decided not to go north tonight. Anchored for night on edge of Calliope Bank. I got up about midnight in a gale to take down the canopy we had rigged about midday.

22     Tidied Engine room ….. then we all went over to Robinson’s Beach to have look at the sea. Wind slowly dropping: decided to go on that night for Tutukaka – returned to the boats. Frenchman 4.45 p.m., Bream Head 5.20, Tutu’ Hd 7.40 p.m. (Jean II & Ranoni left earlier in the day for Barrier.) Everybody sick except Mr Palmer, his baby and me. Lovely trip up – got to Tutu’ about dusk and anchored near Opaia for the night. Towed dinghy. Big NE swell.

23     Left 6.10 a.m. for Whangaruru – inside Elizabeth Reef and Wide Berths – Beautiful trip. Carried dinghy on deck – nobody sick. Had a good swim in Post Office Bay & wash in fresh water. Lunch – Left 12 noon for Cape Brett. I slept on & off between Whangaruru & Whangamumu. Felt all right till we got round the Cape. Slow trip in with kelp round propeller. I was sick when we got into a horrible side roll off Deep Water Cove – wind NE. Carried dinghy on cabin top. Hove to inside a little Bay facing SW, Oruapukapuka Is. Went ashore and had a good walk around. Fished all round the bay but no luck. Bacon & Eggs for tea.

24     Dad, Ma, Mr Palmer & I went for a walk right to the summit of the island – kids played in the sand. Had a swim then lunch. Left about 3.0 p.m. for Russell – caught small kingfish on the way. Wind northerly, Anchored near wharf, phoned home, Had a walk ashore – church and round block,

25     Went over to Oneroa Beach in morning – H.rain – wind shifted. Got letter and papers. Left for Opua during a NW squall – pretty thick. Went up the hill at Opua – Got fresh milk at Morris’s on top of hill – nice view. Anchored for night at bay at Opua.

26     Ashore early for milk, water and groceries. I fished off wharf and got some little snapper. Palmers had their washing on deck. Left about 1.0 for Waitangi – went up to the falls where mother got some photos. Left Waitangi about 3.45 p.m. – anchored at Paihia, walked ashore, had a look at old printing house ruins & the township. Met the Halls & Mrs May, Went into old church and had a look around. Back to Russell & anchored inside Hananui for night.

27     Up Flagstaff Hill at 6.0 a.m. called at church coming back, alongside wharf after breakfast, Got provisions – kerosene, soft drinks, bread etc, Eastwood Palmer & I had a swim & a sunbath & got very sunburnt. Blow & a friend came aboard to see the boat and engine. In afternoon got water at Watering Bay – others had swim, Mrs P did some more washing, Strong gust of wind overhills – NW – anchored for night at Matauhi Bay. Dr Hope came and told us we were too close to the beach – shifted out a bit. Palmers gave us some music on the gramophone.

28     Got milk in morning, Left Matauhi at 10.00 a.m. Passed Russell at 10.15, went up to Kerikeri – slight NE roll. Picked our way up with the aid of the Chart & Blows directions. Tied up to olden wooden pier in front of old stone building. Had a look around & a swim in the basin and in the pool above the bridge – had a good wash. Anchored launches together in pool just below bridge. Left for falls – missed our direction and got to the small falls 40ft (Fairy Falls) instead of the large 90ft (Kerikeri falls). Mrs P had a bad fall and hurt her back so she had difficulty in walking back – disgusting & annoying trip!. Returned to boats – walked up and saw old church – had another good swim. Left KK about 6.0 p.m Got down to a little sheltered bay at entrance to Kerikeri River. Anchored for night.

29     Beautiful Day. Palmers left early to get back to Russell & Dr. They got Mrs P ashore on to a bed in S.A nursing home. We left later – Dolly P with us. Went down to Marsden Cross – The Doris followed us with a party from the Gables – landed and had a look around. Went up towards Te Puna into a little land locked Bay – lunch – up past Te Puna – passed Doris coming down. Chased Kahawai N of Moturoa on way back to Russell – no luck. Lot of kelp – got some on prop. Anchored in Watering Bay & got water. Went over to wharf then anchored off P.O.

30     Left Russell 6.0 a.m. during fog for Opua – just missed train, went back to Russell – had another walk round Russell. Blow came over in his launch & asked me to tea. Discussed falls. – we went to the wrong ones. Went to Opua at 3.30 for case of fruit. Phoned home. Eastwood & Dolly with us. Towed Dr J.M.Hope in his dinghy to Nobbie’s Island to his launch. Dad went aboard with him and over to his place in Matauhi Bay – went throu’ his workshop etc. We went on to Russell. Tea at Gables – soup – Roast beef & baked spuds – apple pie – coffee. F.M. & I walked round promenade – over to Matauhi – round rocks and back to Russell Beach. Had Ice creams on wharf from Taylor’s Confec. Supper – Lemonade – watermelon, cake, Shortbread etc. F.M. showed me a lot of curios – embryo whale etc and old books. Katie got fish for tea from tourist’s catch left on wharf steps. Mrs P. better. Mr P & Eastwood were on board during evening. Dad caught 6 good schnapper at 11.0 p.m. they were biting freely.

31     Cloudy. We shifted to just east of Mill Island to escape odours from rubbish fire on beach. Palmers got water. Back to Russell wharf in afternoon – got stores. Left about 4.30 p.m. for Oruapukapuka. Breeze NE – freshening considerably. Storm came on – Heavy Gale.

February 1923

1     Furious gale & rain all day. Tremendous swell outside – slight roll on the Bay. Very thick spray and foam blowing up the 100 foot cliffs. Lay at anchor all day – 2 anchors out. Could not see more than half a mile to windward from cliffs. Cleared up towards sunset – wind veering to west. On board nearly all day. Katie got mushrooms. Wind quietened down at night and rain ceased.

2     Wind SW and S, Fine, sunshine, strong breeze. Left Oruapukapuka Bay 9.55 a.m. – Twins 10.30, Cape 10.55, I was seasick off Bird Rock. Big northerly swell. Carried dinghy upside down across cockpit. Strange jobble at Cape – quite calm south of cape to Whangamumu (12 noon) where we tied up to the whaling station wharf and got ashore on the hauling up slipway – had a look through station – very interesting and hot. Several men there filling barrels with whale oil ready for shipment on coaster that afternoon. The old Maori workman there explained everything and gave us some whale-bone teeth from the humpbacks. Left Whangamumu 12.40 p.m. – quite an interesting trip down – I read a bit. Cape Home 2.30 p.m. Alberta left False Head, Whangamumu just as we were going in and went on to Whangaruru. Got kelp on the propeller again – Alberta also. Anchored by store for lunch. (By wharf, upper harbour) Alberta came over after. Got a lot of long pipi on (Motukauri) island sandspit. Went over to settlement. (Tuparehuia) Anchored launches and went ashore. Met old George Martin who took us to the water-melon patch where we bought 8 – 3/6. Walked over to Bland Bay, along beach and back to launches. Palmers went over and got some milk for baby. Went down to P.O. Bay where we anchored for the night – had a beautiful gramophone concert till 10.30. Boats lashed alongside one another – perfect night – full moon.

3    Fine day. Wind strong south. Swell almost down. Dad, Mother, Mr Palmer climber hill above Bay before breakfast – got mushrooms. Had a swim, got water in P.O. Bay – Breakfast. (Possibly Oakura?Left Henry Is 10.35 a.m., Mimiwhangata Hd 11.0, Deviated inside some little islets where I had some shots at shags. Eliza Reef 12.5 p.m., Tutukaka Hd 1.20p.m., Engine stopped – Tank empty! Ha –ha. Had a good lunch in Tutukaka and a rest. Carried dinghy in cockpit coming down. (Dad & I cut up a water melon off Eliza Reef) Had a walk over hill at Tutukaka. Caught a few fish (Trevally, Schnapper) Left at dark, 7.15 p.m. Wind had dropped but came up again strong SW. Good run into Heads. Saw several flying fish. One flew aboard Alberta and hit Mr Palmer on back. Carried dinghy in cockpit. Anchored for night in lee of MacGregor’s Island 10.30 p.m. Tutukaka to Frenchman: 3 hrs against wind and tide. Very low tide: Launches grounded and lay over at low tide (1.0 a.m.) in the usual anchorage. Used 10 tins of benzine whole trip. (40 Gallons – 4 gallon cans 2 cans in a wooden box.)

4    Left at 6.0 a.m. for home. Alberta left earlier. Home at 8.0 a.m. (Boat shed) Carried up bedding, spare fuel, provisions & spare gear. Washed decks down with fresh water, dried out bilges and tried to locate some leaks – not forward of amidships, apparently under engine. Lowered bed for Fly Wheel tray so that dynamo belt would not strike it. After lunch I slept for 2 hours in the loft.