Lady Lynn > Lady Sophia > Tide Song
The photos above of the game boat Lady Lynn weighing in her catch at Russell are from Dean Wrights collection.
The 48’ Lady Lynn has had several name changes since leaving the Oliver & Gilpin shed c.1970 (b/w launching day photo below ex Brian Worthington). Launched as Lady Lynn, she then became Lady Sophia & today is named Tide Song. You can view & read more about her at this link https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/10/20/tide-song/
BLUE BOATS
Yesterdays story on the double ender, Lake Wanaka launch – Rangi, got Roger Guthrie thinking & he posed the question – was she once a ‘Blue Boat’ in Auckland?. Part of the fleet that serviced Rangitoto Island & other Islands – thence the name 😉
Roger sent me the above photos of the Blue Boat leaving Arran Bay Jetty, Waiheke Island – certainly looks very similar to me – interested in others thoughts?
The boat was a visitor to Arran Bay to bring down a group of elderly ladies. Some of whom were – Mrs Ellingham & Mrs Lambourne, they stayed a few weeks and always welcomed Roger & his young mates for a sing song as one of them played the piano. They stayed at the Lambourne’s house which was mentioned on the early movie of Arran Bay which Peter Stein did a very good article about on Waitemata Woodys (link below). Roger’s parents used to refer to the group as “The Old Ladies” as they were the next generation older than his parents. (note – the Lambourne house is still there)
The photos below, from the same period, show Freddy Ladd & his ‘SEABEE AIR’ aircraft at Cowes Bay Waiheke (wharf in background)
I have an amusing Freddy Ladd tale – many moons ago, I had to work between xmas & new years eve, while my mates were mooching around Great Barrier Island on a yacht, but I had a cunning plan to join them for new years eve, I would charter the SEABEE to fly me there at 5.30pm. The trip would be funded by a cargo of ice cold DB Double Brown beer cans . Remember not a lot of frigs on yachts back then. My mates had been rowing around the bay, taking orders for cold beer. Fred was a real character & we did a deal that if the beer arrived warm – I wouldn’t have to pay for the freight charges. Well we got there & no sooner had he ‘landed’ & a flotilla of dinghys were rowing out to collect their ‘cold’ beer for NYE 🙂 I was very popular that night & the boats grog fund was very flush – I can’t remember what the profit margin was but no one complained 🙂
CENTRE FOR WOODEN BOAT – LAKE UNION- SEATTLE
Woody Alan Sexton is currently working in Vancouver, Canada & last weekend he traveled the 3hrs to Seattle to visit the Centre for Wooden Boats, on Sundays the CWB offer free rides/sails/paddles or if you like you can rent a boat. Alan reports its a wonderful facility in a great location. We so need something like this in Auckland………………
The above photo gallery gives as a vicarious visit – Enjoy 🙂
ps you can see/read more about the facility here http://www.cwb.org
VENTURE
Another great collection of photos from Dean Wright’s collection of photos he has scanned from old negatives. The ones above show the privately owned game boat – Venture about to weigh in a very impressive marlin at Russell Wharf in the Bay of Islands. Skippered by Norm Hudspith at the time.
Normal questions – what is she & where is she today?
UPDATE – Thanks to HDK’s memory (or ww search skills) we now know all about her. She appeared on ww back in November 2015 (link below), make sure you read the comments section – lots of chat there. Cheers Alan
HAERERE – Sailing Sunday
Todays post has a long tale, its been bouncing around the classic wooden community & ended up in my inbox.
The photo is of the yacht Haerere that was once owned by Roger Welch’s late father – Henry Welch. Henry owned Harrere, a 32’ cutter that he believes was built by J. Lidgard at Bayswater in the 1930’s. Henry told Roger that she was built for an enthusiast for ocean cruising but the guy did not get very far. Roger remembers there were pegs to set the tiller so she would self-steer.
In the late 1950’s Henry sold her to a couple that cherished her for many years.
Roger is keen to discover what happened to Haerere, so woodys – can we help?
Harold Kidd Input
Fred Lidgard built HAERERE in late 1934 at Bayswater for Gordon Kells of Takapuna when he grew out of the 22 footer MARIE. Gordon sold her to H Kasper.
I sailed with Gordon and his son Bill in TEMPTRESS when I was at school in the early1950s but don’t recall any story about building HAERERE for offshore work. However, Gordon did have a lot to do with the Emtages of Motuora and the Lidgards all his life and was in that circle of Depression-era offshore yachties who were typified by Johnny Wray and Dick Wellington.
Russell Ward Input
How that’s just showing off 🙂
I went yesterday to the first of the New Zealand Traditional Boatbuilding School’s workshops, Saturday’s topic was Boat Maintenance & a very talented & knowledgeable group of speakers presented to the class of 25, lots of Q&A time which I think was the primary reason a lot attended.
There will be regular workshops on a range of topics so please do support the school. More details here www.nztbs.org.nz
The photo below shows one of the speakers Frank Warnock demonstrating his splicing skills (behind his back !!!)
TUATEA
Todays featured launch is Tuatea, in the photos above we see her weighing in a fish at Russell in 1984. At the time she was skippered by Hilton Polkinghorne.
She was previously owned by Morrie Mitchell of Russell for many years.
Photo from Dean Wright’s collection. The stubbie shorts are a blast from the past 🙂
Do we know any details on her design / build & where she is today?
SUSAN-ROSE
The photos above show the charter game fishing boat, Susan-Rose back in 1984 when she was owned by Gavin Cross & operated out of Paihia.
Photo ex Dean Wright. Do we know anything about her & where she is today?
Tasman Star – A Peek Down Below
Built in 1935 by Dick Lang, she started life as a commercial fishing boat – Danish seine netting. She measures 42’6” & is powered by a 150hp LXW Gardner. Thanks to Ian McDonald for the trademe listing heads up.
You can read about her colour-full life on this WW link https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/11/19/tasman-star/
Update photo from Greg Fenwick – Easter 2018 @ Whangaparapara
EXCLUSIVE LADY
The photos above from Dean Wright show the game boat Exclusive Lady fishing the Duke Contest in 1984. While the photos are a little ‘grainy’ from the scanning of 33 year old film negatives, the Lady still looks majestic. Thank you Dean for sharing 🙂
Question of the day woodys – what more do we know about her?
The Ultimate Woodys Friend
Ever thought -what’s the name of that boat or who designed her, or who owns her? well if its wood, a classic & the owner is a member of the CYA – then finding the answer is easy – grab a copy of the NZ Classic Yacht Association Register for the ridiculously low price of $15 & you will have access to the ultimate classic woody must have. Fathers Day is fast approaching…….. drop a hint to the partner / kids / grand children 🙂
To grab a copy (or 2 – one for home & one for the boat) contact the CYA on this email link admin@classicyacht.org.nz
A Woody On Tour + An SoS
Woody Paul Drake has just returned from a trip to the UK & sent in the above 2 photos – the first showing a very smart inboard clinker on the beach at Beer, Lyme Bay (1/2 way between Brixham & Portland Bill).
The bottom photo is of the Navy MTB24 ‘resting’ at Bembridge, Isle of Wight. Paul commented that she no longer rises with the tide 😦
An Urgent SoS
WW follower Scott Perry, has a small obsession with rather large woodys – he is currently rebuilding the HDML Kuparu, an ex naval patrol boat. He is nearly done with Kuparu & is now looking at saving HDML Black Watch, the 72 footer sitting out in front of Bayswater Marina for the last 10 plus years.
Scott is urgently looking for somewhere he could tidal slip her e.g. against poles, or a wharf, somewhere on the Waitemata. She has a bad temporary repair on her bottom that is failing & needs attention in the next couple of weeks. She has a swim prop, so can lean her on her side on the beach or deep creek. Any woodys know of anything about?
As an aside, she currently is ketch rigged & with Scott being a launch man, he would like to sell her 2 solid timber masts – so if someone would like to purchase them, you would make Scott a happy man. Scott can be contacted on 027 278 2542
Ps I’m sure Russell Ward will email be a photo of Black Watch, he had / has the ‘hots’ for her
Input from Russell Ward
Jeez, Scott. Knocking yourself around a bit ain’tca? You can get pills or ect for that sort of problem I am sure.Why not take on the Kahu? Lots of fun! I’ve attached a couple of pix of Ngaroma when she was a private ship owned by Capt James Lawler and kept at Cooks Lower Landing. The fair miles were built in NZ as part of the war effort and one should be saved.Just a thought.RUPDATE: Photo below ex Heather & Keith Nicholson of Kahu (taken last week)
Input from Paul Drake – below are two pics of my more humble HDML effort. This is MAKO, 36 inches long (half inch to the foot). I started building her in 1964 aged 16. The following year I was at sea with the Union Company as a Cadet. As shown in the first photo, I took MAKO to sea with me and building continued. The second pic shows her under way and more or less finished on the Avalon duck pond (Wellington). She now resides on my piano here in Taupo – still only more or less finished.
Updated photo of HDML Kuparu – berthed at Bayswater 07-07-2018
