Woodys At Ponui Island
Fiona Driver aboard her classic launch – Arohanui sent in the above gallery of woodys at anchor in Chamberlin Bay, Ponui Island on Friday evening. I’m told the woodys almost outnumbered the plastics 🙂
Nice to see the bridge-decker Lady Rae out and about, she was once one of the flagships in the CYA fleet.
2020 Wooden Boat Most Resembling A Block of Flats – Award Winner
The above photos from an anonymous woody spy, hit the WW email inbox on New Years Eve, so just made the 2020 cut.Normally the annual winner is a launch , but this year its a yacht. All I can tell you is underneath the additions was once a H28. Even in ‘as launched’ trim they were never the quickest of craft, this one would be an interesting sail. The USA, they have a cult follower and owners spend moon beams on them.
Hopefully someone will advise that its actually a plastic H28 and the award can be passed on 🙂
Check log in tomorrow – great story and 50 year old photos of the woody launch – La Rosa
EMMA J
During a recent chap with Ian Creevey concerning the big game fishing boat – Cara Mia , Ian mentioned that he owned a 33’ Gladden bilge keel motor-sailer that here would love to uncover details of her past life.
The previous owner, 5years ago, believed she may have been done in Marlborough Sounds prior to when he had her in Whangarei. Emma J is powered by a 45hp Perkins.
Any woodys able to help Ian out with Emma J’s past?
Sloanes Beach Regatta and Centreboard Cup
If you are wondering where Sloanes Beach is – google it. It is one of Aucklands hidden gems in the suburb of Herne Bay. The regatta is very low key, almost secret hand shake low key. Each year I try and drop in and grab a few photos to help promote the club (Herne Bay Cruising Club) http://hbcc.net.nz/
I had a full dance card yesterday, so only stayed for the start of the ‘bigger’ boats race. A little overcast but as I was leaving the sun came out and the wind picked up.Spotted an original burgee from the Auckland Motorboat Club handing from the rafters – you do not see many of those around these days.
Mahurangi Cruising Club / Regatta Year Book
The perfect stocking stuffer – available now at Boatbooks in Westhaven (or on-line) + at usual outlets around Warkworth.
Looking For Something Bigger
Grab a copy of Brian Peets book – Des Townson – A Sailing Legacy. A must for every kiwi yachtie and even launch owners 🙂 Also available from Boatbooks or https://destownson.co.nz/
WW Xmas Quiz Winners
Matthew Drake, Ken Goa, Simon Smith, Nick Voerman, Jason Prew – prizes on the way to you, if you have supplied your postal details.
Help Needed – Yacht Sojurn
WW has been contacted by Zoe Hawkins in regard to the yacht – Sojourn.Zoe is writing a story on the Northern Manukau Harbour and is looking for intel in regards to the keeler. She was built by the Davis Brother in Titirangi in the 1950’s. Zoe believes that It was put on the road and sold after one of the brothers became too sick to finish it and go sailing, most likely this was the 1960’s. An help very much appreciated. Two photos below.
And More Help – Yacht Hawk V67
Yesterdays WW story featured small boat builder – John Maxwell – recently when John was cleaning out his parents home, he came across the hand coloured old print, below, of the yacht Hawk V67. John told me that if the boat is still around, then maybe the current owners may like this photo. It isn’t large but is better condition than the photo shows.
Classic Wooden Small Boats
In the days before remote controlled model yachts – the yachts were divided into two kinds – Free sailing – were boats were sailed in open water and ‘chased’ by their skippers in dinghies who ’touched’ the yachts during the course of the race to adjust their course.
The other kind was – Pond yachts, sailed on small lakes, basins or special ponds (in parks), the skipper would race around the pond to tack or gybe the model as it got close to shore. Refer b/w photos below for examples of the racing.
The top colour photos were sent to me by an ex work colleague – John Maxwell, we worked together over 30 years ago in the crazy world of advertising in the late 1980’s. Unknown to me, one of John’s passions is the building of old style pond yachts, but with a modern take, refer examples above of Ranger, Innismara, Infidel, Meter class (black hull) and one in the vein of an A class. Not exactly accurate, but instantly recognizable as the original. They are all hand painted, so as to faithful to the old style. John commented that the problem with making the models sail, is that the depth of the keel, mast position/ height etc, have to be altered slightly from the plans of the real boat, otherwise it just sails sideways or rounds up into the wind. John aims to capture the spirit of the original, but still maintaining the ‘Old school’ charm of the yesteryear pond yachts. They are all free sailing models and quite big ie 1.8 m long. Typically they have a lot of lead on the keels approx 15-20 lbs., most are balsa over wooden frames with glass over the top.
Stunning work – but it doesn’t surprise me, John was / is a very talented man, and rather good with a paint brush and canvas.
OPUA MARINA / HARDSTAND MOOCHING
Woody Dean Wright snapped the above selection of woodys that he spotted at Opua at the weekend.I have supplied links to previous WW stories below. I know I’m a broken record, but Luana …………. 🙂
Luana https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/04/01/luana-4/
Ngapuhi – Ex pilot boat, more on this one later in the week
Florence. https://waitematawoodys.com/2017/12/28/florence-6/
Typee. No details known
Sea Mate (Birdsail 52 on the marina) – No details known
Dean didn’t catch the name of the ‘long’ keeled yacht in the last photo above – any one able to supply details?
Input from Neil Chalmers – Could be ‘Restless’ – Lou Tercel / John Alden April 1920.
Input from Simon Smith – The long keeled yacht is indeed the Tercel yacht Restless. 100 years old and owned by Russell resident Tim Beattie who being a master painter has her in beautiful condition. Always sails in the Tall Ships Race but with her ocean cruising rig needs a strong breeze to show her mettle.
Chantal – Sailing Sunday
Chantal was designed, and built in 1981, by Denis Brown, in the Bay of Islands. LOA 8.24m, DWL 7m, Beam 2.1m, Draft 0.9/1.9m Displ 2,450KG
A 3/4 rig, double ended, centreboard, sloop, that is easy to sail single handed, and very quick in light air. Great for cruising, as the shallow draft with the board up, gives you more options for exploring and anchoring. Fun to race as she is pretty efficient up wind, and has very low drag on a reach. Sailing photos taken during the 2017 Tall Ships Classic Invitation Race.
Constructed in Radiata Pine and Kahikatea, opposing diagonal 4.5mm laminated planking, outer sheathing 5mm lamination longitudinal. Everything well soaked in West System Epoxy. Centrecase fabricated in 6mm mild steel plate, which holds 1200KG of lead ballast. Centreboard is solid Kauri. Shaft tube and bearing setup for a small inboard motor, which we installed back in 2000 and removed again in 2001.
Sleeps 4 comfortably, and while space is fairly tight the arrangement feels generous. Single burner gas stove, storage space for a medium sized chilly bin and jerry cans for water. Torches and candles for lighting, and a chemical toilet. A very simple set up.
(details & photos ex owner – Bruce Mitchinson)
WIN AN OFF CENTER HARBOR CAP
All correct answers to the question below, go into the draw to win an OCH cap. Enter via email only at waitematawoodys@gmail.com Closes 8pm 13-12-2020
Q – Name Bruce Mitchinson’s classic launch
SCROLL DOWN TO YESTERDAYS STORY – STARTED OFF WITH ONE OLD PHOTO, MORPHED INTO AN AMAZING RESTORATION STORY 🙂
Classic Woody Weekend At Patio Bay – 60+ Classic Wooden Boat Photos
As you will have come to expect, the first weekend in December sees the CYA hosting the annual Patio Bay weekend, for some reason in recent years its morphed into a potpourri of events – these days its – the CYA Xmas party, a cake competition, a motor boat poker rally and what it always was – a yacht race down to the bay for a old school waterfront BBQ. A little busy these days but it seems to work 🙂
This year was the first visit since the ownership of the property changed hands from the Woolicott family (100+ years) to Mike Mahoney. It was comforting to hear Mike talk of their feature plans that include continuing the event.
New to the programme this year was a poker run rally for the CYA launches. Skippers collect a playing card from 5 collection on route and then play a round of poker ashore to determine the winner. The event was sponsored by The Slipway Milford. Winners below:
First Across The Line – Gay Dawn – Mark & Pricilla MacDuff – Burnsco voucher + wine
Poker Run Winner- Kumi – Hayden & Linda Afford – COMPLIMENTARY SLIPWAY MILFORD HAULOUT + 4L ANTIFOUL PAINT + WW T-SHIRT
Biggest Oops (involuntary swim) – Lucinda – Jason Davies – WW T-shirt
Shoddy Boat Handling Skills – Lucille – Alan Good (wife name withheld as she was innocent) WW T-shirt
A great time was had by all and special thanks must go to everyone that helps pull the weekend together. To me it always signals the start of summer boating.
Yacht Race Results https://classicyacht.org.nz/patio-bay-mark-foy-race-results-2020/
Mahurangi Cruising Club Year Book
Most WW readers will be very familiar with the annual Mahurangi Regatta – the biggest gathering of wooden boats in NZ. The MCC also put together a year book that is a one of the best boating reads each year and perfect for on the boat over xmas. So woodys, if your looking for a self present (always the best) or being asked what you want from the kids – at $20 for 108 pages it’s a steal.
Pre-order a copy here ngairehopwood@gmail.com Or pick up a copy in store or on-line at BoatBooks
PANTHER – Sailing Sunday
Dean Wright recently spotted the yacht Panther hauled out at the Napier Marina getting a large dose of TLC.While she lists the Napier Sailing Club on her stern with all that fruit hanging off the back, she must have clocked up some off-shore miles.Hopeful our resident Napier WW spy Michael O’Dwyer will dial in with more details.
Hopefully as you read this I’ll be waking from a pinot induced coma, at anchor in Patio Bay, which means woodys – a big story tomorrow to share with you all 🙂
It Was A Great Day/Night – more tomorrow
LUANA
Luana is a very special woody, in a lot of people eyes, the best looking afloat, sadly these days she calls the Bay of Islands home so we do not get to she in the flesh. Recently woody – Glenn Martin snapped the two yard photos above of Luana hauled out for some TLC at Opua – nice to see you are looking after my boat Rick 🙂 She has made numerous appearances on WW, just type her name in the search box to be wowed, but if you are lazy, this link will give you a gander. Enjoy. https://waitematawoodys.com/2013/04/22/luana/
Woody Weekend at Patio Bay – This Saturday – Be There
If classic wooden boats are part of your life, you will know the significance of the 1st weekend in December – its Patio Bay Weekend – the CYA celebrate the end of the year with yacht and launch racing down to Patio Bay, Waiheke Island. This year we also have a twist to the launch event – included is a ‘Poker Run’ – where entrants collect playing cards at 5 locations on route and later, ashore, play a game of cards to win cool prizes. Post racing, the real fun begins – the best old school boatie BBQ ever happens ashore. Probably 2nd only to Mahurangi Regatta weekend for the number of classic wooden boats anchored in a bay. Also back this years is the cake day competition – two prizes – looks & taste. If you have just arrived from another plant – click this link to see last years gig. https://waitematawoodys.com/2019/12/02/classic-wooden-boat-waiheke-island-party-50-woody-photos/
If racing is your thing – check out the CYA events calendar for details. https://classicyacht.org.nz/events/patio-bay-cake-day-race/
If you are a cruiser – just slide down to the bay anytime after 2pm-ish. The BBQ (everything BYO) normally kicks off around 4.30pm. BBQ’s for cooking available ashore. Note: to be eligible for the prizes you must be a paid up member of the CYA. If you are not, don’t let that stop you attending 😉
The Perfect Woody Stocking Stuffer
Every year the Lake Rotoiti Classic & Wooden Boat (Nth Is.) crew produce a very cool calendar showcasing some of the woodys that attended that years event – I have had a sneak peek at the 2021 edition and its very sharp + only $15 – a steal 🙂 Copies available here, but be quick, they sell out every year zea.rachel@gmail.com
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