Category Archives: Yachts

LABOUR WEEKEND CLASSIC WOODY BOATING AT KAWAU ISLAND

Posted on by
3

LABOUR WEEKEND CLASSIC WOODY BOATING AT KAWAU ISLAND

In recent years the Kawau Boating Club have probably been the must progressive boating club in town with their upgrades to facilities – clubhouse, jetty, fuel dock etc and securing the longtime tenure on the clubs assets.

In addition to all this the club, spearheaded by Mike Mahoney, have been planning to create an icon event for the club – well sometimes looking backwards is a smart thing – for decades the KBC hosted every Labour Weekend an OPENING WEEKEND REGATTA, but for all the wrong reasons the event had slipped off the calendar. Fast forward to 2024 and opening weekend at Kawau is back – bigger and better than ever. 

KBC will be holding hands with the Ponsonby Cruising Club to offer up an action packed long weekend of boating activity – afloat and ashore. See below for details.

While most of the on-the-water activity is sailing focussed, WW have been working with KBC and PCC to encourage classic woody launches and classic cruising yachts to attend. 

The plan is to hold a classic woody event on the Sunday where woodys will participate in a parade around the bays / baches in Bon Accord Harbour – along the lines of the Mahurangi Weekend launch parade. Meeting time will be 11am off KBC wharf.

We will spice it up with prizes for things like – Best Dressed Craft / Longest Traveled / Oldest Boat / Lucky Draw etc – + all woodys in the parade will also go in the draw for a haul-out at the Slipway Milford yard. On the Saturday there will be a waitematawoodys gathering ashore to catch up and enjoy each others company. There will be lots of opportunities over the weekend to enjoy the recently refurbished clubhouse – so make plans to be there.

So for now

1. Circle Oct 25 > 28 in the diary

  1. 2. View / download the file below to read all about the weekend.

3. If you own a yacht or crew on one – down load the entry form at the link below

LABOUR WEEKEND SPRING SPLASH (12)Download

And there is always a woody boat story – check out the photo below ex Ken Ricketts of two woodys in Whakatakataka Bay (Orakei, Auckland), can we put a name to the boat in the foreground. Excuse the image quality – pulled off TV screen.

INPUT ex NATHAN HERBERT – It’s Natasha which kept sinking and then was hauled at Okahu and presumably left by road or bin. The other is a Kempthorne / Salthouse KB760 type, presumable fibreglass. https://waitematawoodys.com/2017/06/07/natasha/

CLASSIC LOGAN GAFF RIGGED YACHT – WAIRIKI – Ponsonby Cruising Club

Posted on by
1

CLASSIC LOGAN GAFF RIGGED YACHT – WAIRIKI – Ponsonby Cruising Club

Thursday night was the second event in the Ponsonby Cruising Club’s new initiative called ‘Featured Vessel Series’ , this time the vessel on display at one of the berths outside the Westhaven clubhouse was the 1904 Arch Logan designed, built by Bennett Bros & Stitchbury, 34’5’’ guff cutter yacht – WAIRIKI. 

15+ years ago thanks to the talent, determination and deep pockets of Jason Prew WAIRIKI was successfully saved from a beehive restoration and totally rebuilt and relaunched in 2010.  For the next 10 years Jason and WAIRIKI were a familiar sight at every classic event, then he saw the light and came over to the dark side with the purchase of the launch – MY GIRL, another total rebuild. This coincided with WAIRIKI being acquired by current owner – Keith Logan, grandson of Arch Logan. You can view the restoration at this link https://www.my-girl.co.nz/Wairiki1904/Welcome.html

Complimenting WAIRIKI was a collection of Arch Logans tools on display upstairs at the club, video below + ‘RUMBO’ spiced rum tasting 🙂

THE SAILING SCOW RIPPLE – CAN WE LEARN MORE ABOUT HER

Posted on by
11

THE SAILING SCOW RIPPLE – CAN WE LEARN MORE ABOUT HER

WW has been contacted by James McLaren who recently was mooching around the riverside docks at Warkworth and noticed a scow named – RIPPLE keeping the JANE GIFFORD company.

James and myself were unaware of RIPPLE and would love to learn more.

So today  a question today for the Mahurangi River woodys – tell us what you know – old/new, wood?, builder, engine etc 🙂

INPUT FROM JOHN WICKS – Ralph Sewell’s Ripple. Not a scow – she has round bilges, though she has very shoal draft and a centreboard.

INPUT ex PETER MENCE – Ralph Sewell referred to her as a round bilge scow. Ralph designed and with Alison and Peter built her – launched on the beach at Okura in the 70s I think.
INPUT ex PAUL BARLOW – Ripple is a round bilge,drop centre board vessel.I owned her for several years when I was based in Coromandel town.She was built by Ralph Sewell (who also built the Breeze).Ralph used her as his family boat when he lived in Coromandel Town.Her shallow draft allowed her to be berthed in the creek at the end of the 309 road /Waiau river. Similarly,I had a jetty berth in Furey’s creek where she was berthed.
INPUT ex ROSS DAWSON – Yes, Ralph Sewell’s replica NZ trading ketch, according to Bill McCarthy little book “Blokes & Boats”, he notes..”built of Californian Redwood in just nine months, without any plans, by a guy who hated school and had no formal boat-building or engineering training, it’s a pretty impressive achievement.” He says that vessels like this were common at the turn of the century carting everything from livestock to gravel and timber all round the northern coastline. In later years Ralph built the brigantine Breeze now in the Maritime Museum…no plans, “a case of a great eye coupled with a natural talent.” “If it looks good from any angle, it’s a good boat, says Ralph.” (Ralph died 1999)

CLASSIC YACHT – MARERE I1 – Looking For A New Home

Posted on by
3

CLASSIC YACHT – MARERE I1* – Looking For A New Home

Recently WW was contacted by the owner of the mullet boat – MARERE asking for help finding a new custodian for the yacht. 

MARERE was built by Fred Mann in 1919 at his yard on John St, Ponsonby. She was designed by Ralph Goodwin, who owned her until 1923, when she was passed on to Olie Goodwin who kept her until 1935. (*note – sail number is I ONE)

In the gallery of photos above we she her in 1922 in a Henry Winkelmann photo and in the more recent colour photos, given the outboard on her transom. I’d guess late early 2000’s.

In the last photo she is wrapped up for storage, waiting a someone with the passion and wherewith-all to return this 105 year old piece of NZ’s maritime history to her former glory.

WALL OF SHAME -I think I need to start a wall of shame – woodys whose owners need to better care for their craft or pass it on to someone that will.

First Photo On The Wall – LEXIA, the 1904 Chas Bailey Jnr. Built yacht.

NGATAKI – JOHNNY WRAY’S HOME BUILT CLASSIC YACHT

Posted on by
1

NGATAKI – JOHNNY WRAY’S HOME BUILT CLASSIC YACHT

You have to applaud the Ponsonby Cruising Club for their new initiative to get people interacting with boats on the water. Last Thursday (Aug 22) the club held their first ‘Featured Vessel Series’ , the name could do with some improvement 🙂 Simple idea – they host a vessel at one of the berths outside the Westhaven clubhouse and people can board and chat with owners / crew. Then afterwards there is a presentation upstairs at the club on the boats history.

The PCC kicked off with the famous (infamous) historic yacht – NGATAKI, from the Tino Rawa stable. 

Unless you have been living under a rock, you’d know that NGATAKI was the yacht made famous in Johnny Wray’s cult classic book – ’South Sea Vagabonds’.

If you haven’t read the book – put it on the Fathers Day list – its a cracker. Myself and a lot of others reread it every few years, it reignites my passion for NZ and our wooden boating community.

Read the book to learn the link to why there is a bowl of oranges on the deck 😉

CHECK OUT DATE FOR NEXT PCC FEATURED VESSEL SERIES AT THE LINK BELOW

https://www.pcc.org.nz/fbs

WHO CAN NAME THIS CLASSIC YACHT HIGH & DRY

Posted on by
Reply

WHO CAN NAME THIS CLASSIC YACHT HIGH & DRY

As a result of a story back in June where we asked woodys to ID a yacht that was high & dry we learnt it was NGATIRA and the location was Devonport.c.1917.

Today we have another classic yacht, that is still sailing today on the Waitemata Harbour, that has had an unfortunate oops – so woodys – all correct names of the boat go into the draw to win a WW burgee. If you also get the location correct you get two chances in the draw. Entry be email only to waitematawoodys@gmail.com Closes at 5pm 11-08-2024 – The sender of the photo and extended family are excluded 😉

PONSONBY CRUISING CLUB – NGATAKI EVENING

Check out the poster below, sounds like a great night – August 22

CLASSIC YACHT JANET COMES HOME

Posted on by
3
Leaving Havelock
Arriving Auckland

CLASSIC YACHT JANET COMES HOME

Back in June we reported that the owners of the 1902 yacht – JANET were looking for a new custodian. Of course they looked long and hard, it would be like looking for a rest home for your 122 year old grandmother, you would only want the best of the best. 

JANET had an 11 year sojourn in the Hawkes Bay and was cared for by passionate Napier woody Micheal O’Dwyer and his sailing partners. Now thanks to their affection for JANET and their generosity, JANET arrived back in Auckland yesterday and into the arms of a new ownership partnership that are perfectly qualified and situated to care for her.

Some facts – Designed by Chas Bailey Jnr and built by the Sutherland brothers in Devonport.  JANET was launched in1902.

Now if the new owners are wondering about who gets to go sailing and when – check out Mike’s 2016 b/w photo below – plenty of room 🙂

12-08-2024 UPDATE ex Richard Guy –  My Grandfather Clement Menzies owned “Janet” many years ago (after WW1) and the photo below is from when he had it.

RSVP – waitematawoodys@gmail.com

CLASSIC WOODEN YACHT TAIROA RELAUNCHED

Posted on by
6

CLASSIC WOODEN YACHT TAIROA RELAUNCHED

During the week I received an email from Otto Schuttle with the great news that the Athol Burns designed 26’ cutter – TAIROA had been relaunched after her unfortunate 2015 accident. Read below- 

Back in June 2015 we ran a story on the yacht being swiped onto the rocks during a fierce storm in Wellington harbour. From the ‘news’ photos things looked grim but Athol Burns built his craft like the proverbial brick out house.

Thanks to the efforts of Russell Ward and family we received photos of TAIROA being salvaged. Then in Oct 2018 we received an update from her new owner (Otto) with some work in progress photo. 

Link below to the 2015 story – lots of photos and details  https://waitematawoodys.com/2015/06/20/tairaroa/

Otto’s note covers off the news and his happiness at finely getting her back afloat – I’ll hand over to Otto – 

“It was a tremendously emotional day for me on Saturday 27th July 2024 when many friends and family gathered at the Evans Bay Boat yard to see TAIROA relaunched.

This has been a long journey with a vast amount of research and learning ,many hours watching YouTube. Trying things and scraping them locating materials online to find it wasn’t exactly what I wanted or it didn’t quite fit. . at times things went wrong and had to be redone, or just pack up and go home and come back another day and have another go with fresh eyes and mind. OH and going to work when things were going really well on a project and wanting to get back to it. having to pack up and go away and wait for the glue, varnish or paint to dry,

She is now afloat in the Evans Bay marina looking as if she belongs 

I still need to have some sail modifications done to suit the furler, permanent mooring lines fitted to the berth and some interior work done but its a boat always work to do and things to buy don’t you just love BOATING”

Photos below from 2015 and 2018

2018

UPDATE: Todays story prompted two woodys to contact me re a photo of the yacht , not long after launching – the amazing thing was it was the same photo – below.
Brian Peet commented  – the photo was taken by my father John in the 1960s. Alby Bland was a member of the Glendowie Boating Club and he built the boat in his back yard. I used to walk past it everyday on my way to school. 
Russell Ward commented – the photo of her was when new. It was sent years back by the builder’s daughter. Fabulous ship. The spirit of Athol Burns.

1902 CLASSIC WOODEN YACHT – 4sale

Posted on by
1

A CLASSIC WOODEN TRAILER-SAILER YACHT – Yeap You Read That Right 🙂

As covered many times on WW the cost of a marina berth is the #1 deterrent to owning classic wooden craft. I have speculated that smaller trailerable woodys will be the future of the classic boating movement in NZ.

MERLN – todays 22’ clinker kauri built, gaff-rigged sloop is one such boat that ticks all the boxes. And most importantly MERLIN is a looker and we like that.

Built c.1902 as a motorboat she was converted in the 1920>30’s to a yacht (deadwood/keel added etc). Then in the late 2000’s restored by professional Christchurch boat builder – Davie Norris. 

MERLIN received another birthday in 2015/16 with restored gaff-rig and ‘converted’ to tabernacle set-up, plus new sails and all rigging. Also included was a new custom trailer and new 4-stroke 6hp outboard.In the last 10+ years MERLIN has been shed stored and only used on Lake Hood, Canterbury, South Island.Her current status is in storage and as with all traditional built clinkers may need some tweaking / re-caulking to the garboard seam.

So woodys if you’re considering stepping up to life as a classic woody owner, MERLIN is the vessel for you and at the end of a days sailing you get to take her home. Interested parties to initially contact Andrew  andrew@siseed.co.nz for more details. And almost forgot – she will sell for around $25k – a bargain.

RSVP – waitematawoodys@gmail.com

MAIA II – Sailing Sunday

Posted on by
2

MAIA II – Sailing Sunday

Todays woody is the very salty looking Woollacott yacht – MAIA II. Built in 1949 she is one of the ‘Ghost’ designs and is 28’ x 8’ + a draft of 4’6”.Her owner asked for a plug on WW re her being for sale, and of course I said yes – the boats very smart and Devonport based so couldn’t say no.When required forward motion is via a 13hp Shibaura engine and the sale includes a spare engine.Again dont normally talk $$ on WW but at $12k ono it has to be a bargain for someone wanting to join the classic wooden boating movement.A very strong and active Woollcott owners association is a bonus.
Initial interest via email –  sazoriginals@hotmail.com

Sea Scouts Need Some Help

Recently WW was contacted by Keith Christensen from the Kotuku Sea Scout Group in Levin asking for help finding a new home for one of their boats – I’ll let Keith tell the story – 

“This is a 17′ kauri clinker standard Sea Scout cutter, #112 Moutere, built in 1967.  She has spent most of her life in a shed and on Lake Horowhenua with occasional trips to Wellington. Her greatest stress has been trailering across town from our boat shed to the lake. Her major challenges are a split strake, a few cracked ribs and a very interesting repair in the front. I have started renovation by stripping 95% of the paint. She comes with a trailer different than she is on in the photos which will need work as it has no mudguards. We have the rudder and some stretchers and can rummage up a mast (Oregon). 
Any money donated to our group will be used for our youth programs as well as repairs to our other 3 Cutters. It’s sad to let her go but she has spent 13 years untouched so we need to focus on our other boats. 
Because this is standard boat you will be able to find other  people who have done refits. I think it’s common to put an inboard in them. The transom on our other one got a bit beaten up with a Seagull so I wouldn’t recommend it.”
Contact Keith Christensen at  drkchristensen@hotmail.com

RSVP – waitematawoodys@gmail.com