Mystery Launch 19/09/2014
photo ex Dave Jackson via Adrienne
All I can tell you about the above launch / motor-sailer is that she is a Brin Wilson sedan. Now there can’t have been many sedans around with a stick, so lets see what we can uncover.
Jack Brooke Cruise Collection #2 – Ngatoa 1928- 29
Thanks to Robert Brooke for making these remarkable cruise drawings done by his father, Jack Brooke, available to ww followers. Jack produced a hand drawing on each cruise. Todays post is the second of several – enjoy.
The above drawing records the travels of Ngatoa during what I assume was their annual Christmas / New Year Cruise. They certainly clocked up some miles – with White Island to the South & Great Barrier to the North. From the drawing of White Island it would appear that she was very active at the time.
This one does not list the crew.
500,000 VIEWS – A big day on waitematawoodys today – people have viewed waitematawoodys.com 1/2 million times.
In the last 18 months waitematawoodys.com has grown into a wonderful classic wooden boat community. You are all a big part of that with your comments, stories & photos sent in & I would like to thank you all for being helping make ww so special. One of the best buzzes is when we connect the dots between people & boats – ww has put a smile on many a face , young & old & I get very cool feedback & have meet some truly inspiring people. All this makes the time spent pulling together unique stories everyday worthwhile. I hope you have enjoyed the ride & hang-on-in-there for the next 500,000 views. Alan Houghton
Some facts:
Best Day: 4509 views – the Whangateau Traditional Boats Open Day feature. view here https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/05/05/whangateau-traditional-boat-regatta-yard-open-day-part-1/
Worst Day: 4 views – that was Day One & given so many of you missed Day One – I have re-posted the photo of Lady Gay & Waitangi taken by myself at the 2013 CYA Classic Yacht Regatta, below.
Some Stats:
1st Person to log-on & comment – Chris Leech (Castaway)
2nd – Steve Horsley (Ngatira)
3rd – Rick McCay (Luana)
4th – Baden Pascoe (John Dory)
5th – Russell Ward (Romany)
6th – John Wicks (Sirena)
7th – Colin Pawson (Marinus)
8th – Roger Guthrie
9th – Harold Kidd (Romance II)
10th – Peter Mence (Jenanne)
Most Prolific Followers:
# 1 A visitor from Hawkes Bay
# 2 Harold Kidd (harold531harold)
# 3 Nathan Herbert (Nath)
# 4 Ken Ricketts
# 5 Murray Deeble
# 6 Pam Cundy (whangateautraditionalboats)
# 7 Russell Ward (vintagesteamer)
Whose Reading ww:
Many NZ but there are followers all over the world – see yesterdays viewer countries below –
Why are we doing all this?
Well waitematawoodys.com was founded upon a desire to record the history of our classic wooden boats, the craftsman who built them & characters that owned & crewed on them. Archiving the information on these magnificent craft ensures they remain a part of our maritime history for future generations.
Along the way we hope to empower you to tell us the stories about the classic wooden boats you have rubbed up against in your life & your experiences around them, through photos & words.
Remember – at waitematawoodys, its all about wooden boats.
NEREIDES
Thought I’d drop something with a mast in to keep the sailors happy, saying that Nereides is more of a motor-sailer. Looking very sharp. Photo taken at Opua by Ken Ricketts.
Jack Brooke Cruise Collection #1 – Arohia 1952-53
waitematawoodys would like to thank Robert Brooke for making the remarkable cruise drawings done by his father, Jack Brooke, available to ww followers. Jack produced a hand drawing on each cruise. Todays post is the first of several – enjoy.
The above drawing records the travels of Arohia during 3 events – the 1952 Ocean Race to the Bay of Islands, the Whangaroa – Mangonui Race & their Xmas 1952-53 Cruise.
Jack & crew were in great form with :- 1st to finish & 2nd on handicap for the Ocean Race. Winner of the Russell Regatta. 1st to finish & 2nd on handicap for the Mangonui Race. If you look in the top right corner there is a legend that shows the individual passages.
The cruise crew were made up of the Brooke family – Elsie, Jack, Donald, Robert & Judith + Elgin Rhind, Norman Leese & Tony Yates.
Harold Kidd Reply
Jack Brooke was a genius and a great teacher and leader. I’ll never forget the winter evening lectures the Squadron used to hold for secondary school boys (not girls) at its rooms in Endean’s Building at the foot of Queen Street in the ’40s and ’50s. Not only did we get taught all sorts of useful nautical things by expert people like Jack (“Mr. Brooke”, of course), Arthur Angell, Jim Frater, Bressin Thompson and Jim Faire, but there was cocoa and fruit cake in front of the fire. And the ambiance! Those oak-framed photographs of heroic Logan and Bailey gaff cutters and the glitter of trophies in the firelight. Then the ferry ride home on a steamer. Life-changing stuff!
LITTLE JIM
Little Jim is a rather special boat, almost royalty – blue blood 🙂 Designed by Arch Logan & built by Bill Couldrey in 1934 under Arch’s discerning eye.
When you start life with parents like that, when you get older & it comes time for some orthopedic surgery, only the best wooden surgeon will do – enter Peter Brookes, this artisan has worked his magic on Little Jim twice. The first time was a 2 year major refit in 2007/8, which saw strengthening work to the step and bow sections and a full interior reconfiguration. The keel was off & got new bolts & the systems were replaced or overhauled. Currently Little Jim is in Peter Brookes shed getting the finishing touches to an extensive renovation. Hopefully Little Jim’s owner Rod Marler will chip in here & walk us thru whats been happening to Little Jim over the last 12 months (photos ex Peter Brookes shed below).
And at the risk of falling off-side with the gaff-rig cohorts, Little Jim being sloop rigged is just so much more sailable (if there is such a word). No need to spend hours ringing around looking for crew, Little Jim is easily sailed by two.
When she was relaunched in 2008, Lew Barrett, one of the WoodenBoat Forum guru’s made the following comments –
“I like the textures and lightness in the handling of the interior. The glossy highlights of the trim (and the beautiful natural color of the wood) works perfectly against the subdued but flawless finishes of the cabinetry. The paneled locker doors and trim are simple but elegant. It’s exactly what we love about old wooden boats. They fully respected and retained the feel and sense of age while making her new. This is a really sensitive and demanding restoration objective to accomplish.The exterior is as clean and purposeful as the interior. It all really works to make a place you want to be.”
Our own Harold Kidd commented in 2008 at her relaunch
“it remains today an eye-catcher & a head-turner by any standards, so beautifully does form fulfill function. The aesthetics of its lines remain exquisite.
We are almost spoilt by the number of classic wooden yachts in & around our harbour, they are all special in their owners eyes but few are drop dead gorgeous – Little Jim is.
(note: Interior photos ex Chris Miller ex 2010 CYA Classic Register)
Week-end Crusiing Yacht Race to Waiheke Island
Photo ex Simon Smith, courtesy of the Sir George Collection.
A collection of yachts from both the Akarana Yacht Club & Ponsonby Cruising Club, in a combined race to Matiatia, Waiheke Island.
Photo taken on a Saturday shortly after the start of the week-end cruising race.
Whats the yacht in the forefront? Extra points if you can name the yachtsman stowing the tender 🙂
BONUS
And as a wee extra check out the link below (click blue type – The Racing Tender) to Classic Yacht TV & watch the newly restored American schooner Kelpie of Falmouth, designed by Francis Sweisguth, raced for the first time after her 17 month restoration in Cornwall. The event is the 2014 Pendennis Cup. http://www.thependenniscup.co.uk/
Note – Kelpie of Falmouth is ‘just’ the racing tender ……………….. the mother ship is the legendary schooner, Mariette.
Mansion House Bay Launches
Photo ex Simon Smith, courtesy of the Sir George Collection.
The above photo is of Mansion House Bay, Bon Accord Harbour, Kawau Island.
A ‘little’ later than yesterdays photo, thence the colour. A good collection of launches in the bay. Always amazes me how restrained we have got, in these old photos people anchored a lot closer in than we do these days.
How many of the launches can we ID ?
And the large yacht at the wharf?
As always – if you click on the photo, it will enlarge 😉
NGATAKI VIDEO – PART THREE – Tony Stevenson – Tino Rawa Trust
Last week the classic wooden boating community were treated to a double whammy – the re-launch of Johnny Wray’s yacht Ngataki & the launch of a 75th Anniversary edition of his book ‘South Seas Vagabonds’. A grandson, Kelly Hunt, of one of Ngataki’s original crewman – Snow Hunt was on hand to film the official side of the occasion. There are 3 short video’s.
NGATAKI VIDEO – PART TWO – Bruce Ansley – New Introduction Author
Last week the classic wooden boating community were treated to a double whammy – the re-launch of Johnny Wray’s yacht Ngataki & the launch of a 75th Anniversary edition of his book ‘South Seas Vagabonds’. A grandson, Kelly Hunt, of one of Ngataki’s original crewman – Snow Hunt was on hand to film the official side of the occasion. There are 3 short video’s.
