Category Archives: Working Boats

Woodys On Tour – Hobart – Australian Wooden Boat Festival – Day 2

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Woodys On Tour – Hobart – Australian Wooden Boat Festival – Day 2

Morning Woodys

Todays was the first official day of the festival, commencing with the – Parade of Sail, that see 200+ wooden craft arriving in mass into Hobert Harbour. Where they join 100’s more that have already berthed dock-side.

My day started at 6.45am for a coach ride to Woodbridge where we boarded the 110’ brigantine – Windewood Bound for the passage to Hobert. Conditions we a little damp and overcast, but things improved later in the day. You know me, so I struggled with the first 4+ hours of ’sailing’ at 4 knots but once we joined up with the fleet it was a special experience. The Windewood led the fleet into the harbour that was lined with spectators and craft of all types, size and construction.

Todays story is on the Windewood + a taste of dockside life. I’ll cover the passage and all the Parade of Sail fleet in a later story. And tomorrow we will jump into the expanse of wooden craft on show

Boat Of The Day – this very smart picnic boat

Enjoy

Below – the scallops on a stick were smash hit and washed down with my attempt to get some goodness into the body – all fresh juice – pineapple, apple, lemon, ginger, orange, vitamin C and a double shot of vodka. Sounds like a good idea for breakfast…

Woodys On Tour – Hobart – Australian Wooden Boat Festival – Day 1

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Dockside Mooch 09-02-2023

Woodys On Tour – Hobart – Australian Wooden Boat Festival – Day 1

Hello Woodys – As they same ‘I’m In Country’ and a little in awe for the scene here in Hobart. The festival doesn’t start till Friday, so the docks are only starting to fill up but already I’m gobsmacked by the woody craft tied up.

Went for an early evening mooch around the water front and today you get a wee tease – a ‘roughly’ filmed dock-side walk video of just one pier and my boats of the day pick – being Saona and a smaller woody, that I’ll have to get the name of – and yes Neil Chalmers – surprise surprise – both yachts 🙂

Today (Friday) I’m up at 6.30am heading to Woodbridge (36k south of Hobart) to meet / board – ‘WINDEWARD BOUND’ (see below) a 110’, brigantine rigged Tall Ship for the ‘Parade Of Sail’ into Hobart Harbour. The Parade of Sail marks the offical opening of the festival.

And it would be Australian without a serving of calamari and an ice cold IPA and a flat white.

Enjoy

Te Tui + Australian Wooden Boat Festival

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TE TUI

Todays woody an ex Auckland Harbour Board (AHB) work boat named TeTui. There is some issue arounf the above photo of her in Tryphena, Gt Barrier Island – as the ‘owner’ of the photo – Maurie Ogden, believes it was taken c.1978/79 but the photo has a dated tag of 2015 – so firstly can we confirm the date? Maurie recalls TeTui was engaged by the AHB in the 1960’s to service the harbour bouys and beacons.

Gordon Land has commented that Ken Morris positively identified her as a AHB boat belonging to his neighbour Dr Fergus. When he died his son John took it to Tauranga, repaired and sold it. She is / was about 26′ LOA and had a 4 cylinder Ford diesel.

Can any of the Work Boat Group help confirm the above and fill in some of the blanks + update us on what became of her.

INPUT ex NIGEL DRAKE A of photo below of Te Tui on her mooring in Pilot Bay in Nov 2018.

I’M OUT OF HERE – As you are reading this I’m on the big silver bird on-route to Hobart, Tasmania, Australia for the 2023 Australian Wood Boat Festival – I have been trying to get there for 6 years – people dying and a wee thing called Covid has got in the way. To quote that great Aussie saying – I’m as excited as a dog with two tails. It is my plan to post from the festival each day, so check in each morning for a trip report.

Very Salty Double Ender At The Viaduct

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Very Salty Double Ender At The Viaduct

Brett Evans sent in the photo above of what appears to be a recent restoration / refit of a double-ender that is currently berthed in Auckland’s Viaduct. Apologies in advance if she has been on WW before – but with no nane or details, its impossible to search for her. 

Can we learn her past and who has undertaken the recent work

TUESDAY – BUMPER STORY – Lake Rotoiti Classic & Wooden Boat Parade Report

Belfast

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BELFAST

Todays woody – the 32’ Belfast was built by Jack Guard in 1940 and has spent time in survey, based on her presentation that would have to have been a while ago. Thanks to Ian McDonald for the tme heads up.

The owners are pushing a sale with the suggestion that she be hauled out and re-purposed as a ’tiny home’.

Can we expand on her past life.

Why No Wooden Boat Regatta Today

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WHY NO WOODEN BOAT REGATTA TODAY 

Today we should have been floating around the Mahurangi Harbour enjoying what has become the biggest one day, on-the-water boating event in New Zealand – the annual Mahurangi Regatta. I have posted a link below to a previous regatta to remind us all how good it can be.

Sadly the weather gods dealt us a crap hand and we all get to stay at home. I understand and support not going ahead with the event this weekend (Auckland’s 3 day Anniversary Day holiday weekend) BUT what I can not understand is why wasn’t there a back up plan in place to run the regatta the following weekend, which is also a 3 day holiday weekend. The organisers of the regatta should have just made the call to run with next weekend. 

This lack of forward thinking means the wooden boating movement misses out on the fun, friendship and fraternity that is acquired rubbing up against like minded woody enthusiasts. We need this to maintain our passion for another 12 months.

As I type this I can imagine the team of volunteers at the Mahurangi Cruising Club and other groups involved – thinking “bloody smart ass, why doesn’t he put his hand up to help” – short answer – ‘already too busy with WW’ BUT at your next committee meeting how about adding to the agenda – How Do We Future Proof The Regatta’ and ‘Is It Time To Appoint A Paid Event Organiser’. If the regatta isn’t already as big as the Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta it must be very close – be brave and pull on the big boys pants.

ENJOY THE FLASH BACK   https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/01/29/mahurangi-regatta-2019-the-biggest-best-classic-wooden-boat-regatta-in-nz-90-photos/

Great early morning video of some of the fleet at anchor in Sullivan Bay. Cameraman/’pilot’ is Neil Lawton

Endeavour Gets A Birthday

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ENDEAVOUR GETS A BIRTHDAY

Todays woody – the 1953 A. Couldrey designed, Brin Wilson built launch – Endeavour is currently out at the Slipway Milford for some serious TLC. The launch as been owned by the Beachman family for many years, originally by Borrie Beachman, then sold to Jack Matich and converted to a motorsailer (photo below) for commercial fishing on the Kaipara Harbour. Borries nephew, Paul Beachman bought the vessel back and returned her to a sedan launch. These days Paul and son Brin look after Endeavour. I’m very happy to see the mast is down, I have been nudging Paul about revarnishing it for years 🙂

Endeavour has made several appearances at woody events and its always cool to see the whole family enjoying the boat.

Link to a previous WW story https://waitematawoodys.com/2013/05/31/a-friday-quiz/

03-02-2023 UPDATE ex Harold Kidd – ENDEAVOUR was designed by Bill Couldrey but NOT built by him. Brin Wilson built her for Borrie Beachman.

Ethel Big Game Fishing

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Ethel Big Game Fishing

The passage of life sometimes is a tad scary – recently I have been doing several stories based around Whangaroa Harbour in the Far North and  yesterday the phone rings and one of the last standing relatives has passed on – and where is the funeral – Whangaroa, so tomorrow the car will be pointing north. These events are never good but in her mid 90’s, it will be a celebration of life.

Anyway moving on to todays story – thanks to a Lew Redwood fb post we get to see a c.1931 photo gallery of the launch – Ethel in / around Whangaroa Harbour, in her big game fishing heyday. Regular WW readers will known my personal views on this heinous practice – one photo is tagged ‘Mako shark being killed with a spade’. Ok its not a spade, but seriously how barbaric is that.

(Photos ex The British Museum collection)

Get a Wee Bit Excited About The Upcoming Mahurangi Regatta – next weekend – Jan 28th.

Valhalla At Whangaroa 1932 + Woody Quiz

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Valhalla At Whangaroa 1932

In the above March 1932 photo we see the launch Valhalla alongside the wharf at the Whangaroa Swordfish and Big Gamefish Club in Northland.

Two very impressive Mako sharks are being weighed in – must have been a hell of a battle to land that pair in a boat the size of Valhalla 🙂

I’m a bit light on intel on Valhalla – can we learn more on her?

(Photo ex Lew Redwood fb)

INPUT ex Greg Philpott – below press clippings. I wonder if she survived the fire i.e. rebuilt.

WEDNESDAY WOODY QUIZ – Win WW t-shirt + a Lake Rotoiti Classic & Wooden Boat Calendar

⎈ Name the boat yard and location (approx) in the photo below – and your are in the draw for a WW t-shirt + LRC&WB calendar. ENTRY ONLY VIA EMAIL TO THE ADDRESS BELOW (entries close 6pm 18-01-2023

waitematawoodys@gmail.com

Bay of Islands Classic Wooden Boats

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Bay of Islands Classic Wooden Boats

Bay of Islands WW contributor Dean Wright sent in the great photos  above from when he and partner Deb were out for a few days just b4 xmas. 

Dick and Colleen Fisher’s magnificent Akarana is seen anchored in Orokawa, as is Enterprise.

The photo of Shenandoah was taken by Dean as she came through Wai iti Bay, Moturua Island. I would be a little amiss if I didn’t comment on the brightwork – please someone give her the TLC she deserves.

A nice photo of the 1929 Lanes Motor Boat Co. 35’ launch – Valerie under way.

The sedan launch in the last photo is well known to me, but I just can’t recall her name…….. Nathan Herbert has advised it’s Waihora.

The photo below ex David Cooke is of Akarana heading to Te Puna Inlet yesterday, where she and Trinidad are escaping the unpleasant swells the B.O.I. are experiencing.