Todays woody made an appearance on Bob Jones fb, thank you John Dawson for the link. The location and identity of the launch / motorsailer hauled out created some debate. General consensus was the Wellington region, with potential being – Petone foreshore, Balaena Bay / Evans Bay. Would be nice to confirm the location.
As to the vessel – my monies on VAGABOND – photo below and previous WW story links. VAGABOND was built / launched by Joe Jukes in 1926. A ’sister’ ship to NEREIDES. Jukes yard was located in Balaena Bay, which adds weight to the photos location.
2024 CENTREBOARD CUP – Traditional Centreboard Classic Yachts
A cancelled happening had an upside – I pointed the car to Marine Parade in Herne Bay Auckland to see the start of the 2024 Centreboard Cup.
The race started back in 2013 and is based at what the locals call ’Sloane Beach’ – one of Aucklands hidden gems.
The traditional centreboard yachts do two laps of a course that takes in Watchman Island and the Chelsea Buoy (off the Chelsea sugar works).
Numbers were done this year but that seems to be the norm of late – but on the plus side, the fleet was 300% up on Fridays CYA Classic Weekend Rally turnout 😦
I’ll hand over to Andrew Mason who supplied the results.
“The winner Scullet L56 finished in 52:20. Rangi Manu L52 was 2nd just 48s later. Melita L28 withdraw on leg one. All boats had a most enjoyable day on the water.”
Beach / Clubrooms below
CAN WE LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CLASSIC YACHT – MANURUA Recently WW was contacted by a gent considering purchasing a Bob Stewart designed 1965 yacht (Camelot design) named MANURUA. The craft is currently in Opua, Northland but the story goes that she was apparently built by Oliver and Gillpin in Tauranga, and possibly operated as a dive charter vessel in Bay of Plenty. The current owner doesn’t have much history, so woodys can we confirm / expend on the above.
Recently Jason Prew from the Slipway Milford has been wandering around the upper South Island on a 4×4 rally – being the good lad he is the camera was at hand to record any woodys he spotted.
Todays craft was seen moored in Waikawa, Picton, Marlborough and is named JOAN.
Lots of styles on display, but it kind of works for me.
Keen to learn more on JOAN
INPUT ex NATHAN HERBERT – Joan needs explaining, perhaps by Harold? Collings and Bell is obvious in her transom being typical of Ruamano, Paikea, Fleetwing etc. That eould seem to drag her build date 20 or so years back from what I’ve seen noted before(1940s 50s?). I would assume that her hull has been raised to a flare and the superstructure/coamings rebuilt at that stage? She doesn’t appear in old photos, perhaps she was reclusive or just not a ‘club boat’?
21-01-2025 –INPUT ex PHIL VINING – Around 20 years ago we had this vessel listed at Vining Shipbrokers Ltd and the information supplied by the owner at the time is below.
CYA 3 Day Classic Spring Rally – Report
Not really sure if it warrants a report. Excuse the photos – my roving cub photographer needs some lessons 🙂
Sad to report only one vessel on the start line (late) – the organisers yacht. Well he had to turn up I suppose. At the published time a launch arrived from the direction of Waiheke but with not another vessel in sight – didn’t hang around.
Maybe after two years of ’thanks but no thanks’ interest – this event needs to be retired from the calendar.
I’m told there was an impressive gathering of jet ski’s out.
The Australian Wooden Boat Festival (AWBF) is excited to launch its 2025 Festival Program, proudly presenting “The Pacific” as its central theme. The festival will showcase this vast ocean region’s cultural and historical significance, featuring content from New Zealand, Hawaii, Tahiti, New Caledonia, Japan, the US West Coast and other Pacific locales.
Tasmania’s largest free event and the largest celebration of wooden boats and maritime culture in the Southern Hemisphere will be held 7–10 February 2025. Over four days, Hobart’s waterfront will reach its fullest potential and become a place of pilgrimage for 400+ boats and tens of thousands of visitors from across Australia and the world.
Highlights of the 2025 Pacific-themed program include the Pacific Seafarers Precinct presenting navigators, artists, curators, and maritime artisans who embody the ancient and ongoing traditions of the region, feature vessels such as the recently restored 1896 New Zealand built yacht Te Uira—one of the first racing yachts to make it to Australia—and the Australian debut of the Kumundar Gujo Project, a giant Japanese-inspired jungle gym that kids build themselves.
AWBF General Manager and Festival Director Paul Stephanus said, “The AWBF is a celebration of our collective heritage. The 2025 theme allows us to explore our connection with the Pacific like never before, bringing visitors face-to-face with historic vessels and remarkable people from across the ocean. We hope to create a festival experience that feels both grand in its spectacle and intimate in its sense of community.”
The 53’ Phillip Rhodes designed yawl – WIND ROSE was built by the Salthouse yard and launched in 1967.
WIND ROSE has spent a large chunk of her life doing laps of the Pacific, Australia and NZ. Recently the Robertson Boat Yard has given her a refresh.
And she has just changed hands – and woodys if you wanted an indication of the boat sales market favouring buyers – WIND ROSE sold for sub $200k. That would have to be the buy of the last 2 years.
Woody John Dawson sent in the top photo that he came across on fb, originally posted by John Newman.
The haulout area at Westhaven will be very familiar to a lot of our readers, the tagged dates is c.1970’s.
Can we put names to the two craft indicated in the 2nd photo.
WW MAGIC – one of the cool sides to WW is connecting the dots – I was recently contacted by a gent looking to find a home for a very impressive flagpole. One conversation and its done – yesterday we visited to check on measurements and logistics etc – More details soon when its in its new home 😉
KAWAU ISLAND SPRING SPLASH REGATTA REVIEW – 70+ CLASSIC WOODEN BOATING PHOTOS
WoW what a long weekend – our first long weekend as we slide out of winter into summer. The on-the-water boating season kicked off this year with a new event on the calendar – the ‘Labour Weekend Spring Splash Regatta’ at Kawau Island, in the Hauraki Gulf. Going forward the hosts – Kawau Boating Club and race organisers – Ponsonby Cruising Club intend to ran the regatta every year. The weather gods were against us at times – but the weekend was a winner with everyone that attended.
Firstly I’d like to thank all the skippers, family and crew that took the leap of faith and pointed their craft north in conditions on both Friday and Saturday morning that can best described as character building for the skippers and testing for the craft.
I went north at mid day on Friday and all I saw in terms of other craft afloat was a procession of yachts returning to Auckland after pulling out of the Coastal Classic race to Russell. Big ups to the yachts that pushed on and completed the race, I’m sure most skippers will have trouble rounding up crew for next years race 🙂
Fridays race to Kawau was light on numbers due to the weather but the fleet pushed on and most made it to KBC to swap stories. Mike Mahoney commented that his majestic 1935 Logan built classic – TAWERA spent more time going thru the waves than on top of them.
Saturday’s around the island race was cancelled due to high winds, but the KBC turnover was the winner. A great night ,with a DJ on hand.
Sunday we had the Waitematawoodys classic parade and 15 woodys (one yacht) did a lap of BON ACCORD Harbour – a brilliant turnout for the opening year. Those participating were recorded with stunning weather.
Post the parade, the yacht race got away, check out the video below of TAWERA coming in hot to the finish line – perfect timing by skipper Mike and crew, Only problem it was to decide 3 and 4 place 🙂
Sunday nights prize giving was a hoot and most people left with a prize and a smile.
Other activities over the weekend were a children’s lolly scramble and the KBC AGM on Sunday morning. Brilliant turnout at the AGM and very positive vibes.
The weekend report wouldn’t be complete without a mention of the recently refurbished KBC clubroom / bar / bistro – the presentation of the interior is a perfect fit for a boating club of the KBC’s standing.
And the food and staff…………… 10/10 – the food photos tell their own story.
The winner of the major prize for parade participants – SPONSORED BY THE SLIPWAY MILFORD – was Jill Hetherington and her 1939 C. Bailey built launch – TUNA. Jill’s prize is a haulout and 3 days hardstand at the classic friendly railway slip.
I have to sign off now, I’m falling asleep at the keyboard.
Enjoy the photo gallery & videos, several people clicking the camera (phone) over the weekend, so thanks for everyones contribution.
Now if you haven’t managed to get afloat this Labour weekend, I hope you are at least close to the water.
One of my overseas based progeny sent me the top photo recently, it popped up on her Devonport residents fb feed.
The location is Cheltenham Beach, Devonport and was taken by A H Jones in 1913. Source is the Auckland Libraries Heritage Collection. Obviously the image has been colourised, a common habit back in the old days.
I sent back the 2nd photo that I took earlier in the week – same beach and one of the reasons I live in Devonport. The other reason is Cafe Santini (63 Lake Rd), owner and barista Alessandro makes the best coffee in Auckland and if you ask nicely he will sell you the legendary TONI’s pizza dough – perfect for the home pizza oven (photo below – its been a while since I did a food photo 🙂
WOODEN LAUNCH NICOLA + LABOUR WEEKEND WOODY DETAILS
Todays woody photo was sent in by Ken Ricketts who ‘uplifted’ the image off fb.
The 36’ launch in the photo is named – NICOLA and from the NZ Herald press clipping (29th August 1930) we learnt that NICOLA was referred to as a ‘Hired Launch’, which I assume means she was in charter eg day cruises / trips.
She drifted from her mooring at Devonport and came ashore on the new city side waterfront road, again assume in the Orakei area.
The press clipping stated that NICOLA was extensively damaged – do we know what became of her and who designed / built her.
WEEKEND – OVERVIEW
Hopefully by now you will have been significantly exposed to the boating activity at Kawau Island this Labour weekend – so much on, starting on Friday with the ‘race’ , open to all vessels, from Westhaven to the Kawau Boating Club, this is a combined KBC and Ponsonby Cruising Club gig and sees the inaugural hosting of the SPRING SPLASH REGATTA, an event to mark the start of the summer boating season. Saturday, Sunday and Monday have action a float and shore side – see flyer below for details.
IMPORTANT INFO FOR CLASSIC WOODY SKIPPERS
# WOODYS ARE MEETING ASHORE AT 5PM AT LIDGARD HOUSE FOR A CATCH UP – ALL WELCOME BYO (note if wet > KBC clubhouse, but not BYO)
# SUNDAY MORNING AT 11 AM THERE WILL BE A PARADE OF CLASSIC VESSELS AROUND BON ACCORD HARBOUR – MEETING OFF KBC WHARF.
LOTS OF COOL waitematawoodys PRIZES TO BE WON, INCLUDING A LIMITED EDITION BREW OF THE WORLD FAMOUS IN DEVONPORT TOMATO SAUCE AND THE BIG PRIZE – A HAUL OUT AT THE SLIPWAY MILFORD RAILWAY HAULOUT YARD, INCLUDING 3 DAYS ON THE HARD. To be eligible for the haul out prize draw you must during the parade by flying one of the following burgees – KBC, PCC , waitematawoodys.
IF I WON LOTTO – WHAT CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT WOULD I OWN
Well woodys the first thing I would do is jump on a plane and fly to Melbourne , Australia and go and see Tim Phillips at The WoodenBoat Shop in Sorrento. I met Tim in Feb 2023 aboard his 100 year old ’cruising smack’ – STORM BAY at the Australian Wooden Boat Festival in Hobart, Tasmania. Tim, family and cruising buddies had sailed over for the festival. Fresh crew attire was supplied via the waitematawoodys merch bag. (Photo below of Tim aboard STORM BAY)
At the time I just thought Tim was a genuine good bugger but unbeknown to me Tim is the powerhouse behind Australis’s leading wooden boat yard – The WoodenBoat Shop. And that woodys is who I would trust to build me my dream boat. Visit the website here to view / read more about them www.woodenboatshop.com.au
The TWBS team have just launched their latest creation – WINTER COVE, the Deal Island 50, on display this weekend at the Melbourne International Boat Show at Docklands Marina.
As well as building and restoring wooden boats, the WBS have their own custom range of bronze chandlery.
In the photo gallery above, most of the photos are of the WINTER COVE the Deal Island 50, but I have included a few workshop and other TWBS craft images to help set the scene.
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