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
Haerere was indeed Lidgard built -though without that doghouse (which isn’t bad).
I first met her at anchor in the lee of Takangaroa Island (I’m sure we called it Goat Is) in Kawau Bay early ’60s. In the ownership of Trevor (Charlie) and Deslea Conway of Remuera -a delightful couple -she was very forthright and called him “Good Time Charlie”. They were round the corner and we couldn’t see her at anchor this time, but this man came swimming past us and came back sometime later with a sizeable mullet in tow. He ventured that he had herded it inshore and just grabbed it. We bet that he found it in a rock pool.
Trevor kept Haerere very well -out every winter. Flap Martinengo told him if he sanded the mast much more there’d be no wood left. I see that she has an alloy mast now. He had been an active sailor in Auckland circles but he never sailed Haerere -I flatted with their nephew in Dunedin and we often laughed about his activities. David Jackson will know I am sure.
Most summer weekends, they’d just motor down to Drunken Bay and tuck up round the corner -we called him the Harbourmaster. All these characters -long gone.
She’s in the creek at Whangateau awaiting Pam’s pleasure
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 !!!)
