Category Archives: Yachts

DO WE KNOW THE WHERE ABOUTS OF SAILOR DON ROBERTS

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Don Roberts heading off to Rotorua Regatta
Race Day – Tamaki
Race Day – Tamaki
WHY & BOKEY – Bucklands Beach
BOKEY, ZEPHYR, WHY – Maraetai Regatta 1954

DO WE KNOW THE WHERE ABOUTS OF SAILOR DON ROBERTS

Todays story is in answer to a request from Brian Peet, the secretary of the Zephyr Owners Association. WW doesn’t normally run stories like this but in my book Brian is good man and is probably better known to WW readers as the author and publisher of the impressive book ‘DES TOWNSON – A SAILING LEGACY’, so the story makes it onto WW. I’ll let Brian tell the story:

“Above are five historic Zephyr photos taken by Don Roberts, who in 1956 owned #4 ‘Why’. Unfortunately they’re low res photo-copies, so it would be great to access originals for scanning. Efforts to track down Don or his descendants have been unsuccessful. Next year will be the Zephyr class 70th anniversary and early imagery is keenly sought. Could there be a WW reader who can help establish contact with Don or his descendants?

What’s known is Don purchased the forth production hull from Des Townson in 1956 while living at 15 Highland Ave, Mt Albert. A year later he sold the completed boat to Nev Thom and repeated the process with unfinished hull #25. In 1964 he’s recorded as owning Kitty cat ‘Katawall’ – possibly living in Clevedon. In 1980 there’s a record of him on Papakura owning ‘U Choose’, a Davidson 28. 
Any help from your readers would be much appreciated. “

Brian Peet can be contacted via the WW comments section or on email at peetfamily@orcon.net.nz

CLASSIC YACHT KIATERE – A SEQUEL

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CLASSIC YACHT KIATERE – A SEQUEL

Following on from yesterdays story on the yacht – KIATERE, WW was contacted by Ben Butcher, son of the current owner with an update – reproduced below. The gallery of photos were just too good to add to the existing story so today we have a follow up on Tuesdays story – Enjoy

“Hey guys – In relation to the recent article on Kiatere. 

I grew up sailing and adventuring around the Marlborough Sounds on her. My dad has taken great care of her over the years but sadly we don’t get out on her enough these days. 

She still sits on a mooring in Whatamango Bay, near Picton, and dad still goes out and checks on her regularly . We would love to see her get a few more miles under her belt as she nears her 100th birthday – so yes, still looking to pass her on. 

In the photos thats yours truly at the helm.“

CLASSIC YACHT – KIATERE + SEAWAY FAIR OPPS

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CLASSIC YACHT – KIATERE + SEAWAY FAIR OPPS

Earlier this year WW was contacted by Ian Butcher who owns the classic wooden yacht – KIATERE, built by 1936 at the Lidgard yard.

The yacht has been in the Butcher family for 35 years and at the time Ian was considering moving  her on to the next custodian.

Not sure if she has changed hands, also keen to learn more about her.

The Land Rover in the bottom photo has my name all over it 🙂

WEST BAY, RAKINO SHARK BITE

The classic launch – SEAWAY FAIR had a wee boat v’s solid item moment in West Bay , Rakino Island. I’m embraced to admit I know the spot…..

Currently hauled out for some treatment from the reconstructive surgeon 🙂

NEW ZEALAND MARINE ENGINES – Seven Part Series

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NEW ZEALAND MARINE ENGINES – Seven Part Series

The seven part series is viewable by the individual links below. The series was collated by Ken Ricketts and edited by Corinne Pettersen. As always we have endeavoured to be as factual as possible but there will always by matters others will either know more about or be able to correct errors – so woodys are encouraged to contribute via the WW comments section. ENJOY

PART ONE – https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/04/04/an-insight-into-nzs-unique-marine-engines-part-one/

PART TWO – https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/04/12/an-insight-into-nzs-unique-marine-engines-part-two/

PART THREE – https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/04/18/an-insight-into-nzs-unique-marine-engines-part-three/

PART FOUR – https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/04/26/an-insight-into-nzs-unique-marine-engines-part-four/

PART FIVE – https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/05/03/an-insight-into-nzs-unique-marine-engines-part-five/

PART SIX – https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/05/06/an-insight-into-nzs-unique-marine-engines-part-six/

PART SEVEN –https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/05/15/an-insight-into-nzs-unique-marine-engines-part-seven/

WHAT WE USED TO DO BEFORE BOAT HAULAGE CAME ALONG

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WHAT WE USED TO DO BEFORE BOAT HAULAGE CAME ALONG

Todays woody photo was sent in by John Dawson who found the photo on a Paul Lishman fb post. Paul commented that the location was Vine Street, St Marys Bay, Auckland and taken by M. Friedlander.

In the comments section there was debate on both the design of the yacht and the possible date. Paul commented it was 1970 but others felt based on the cars shown it was more likely in the 1950>60’s period.

Comments that the yacht looked like a Townson design, possibly 30’.

Any woodys able to help confirm the approx. date and  design.

A scary observation – when this photo was taken you could have bought a house in Vine St for around $5,000 – did a search on a random number e.g.10 Vine St = $3,650,000 …………  

INPUT ex JIM LOTT – Definitely a Townson 30 with higher freeboard than the 26 ft earlier design. Looking in the Townson book, Magic Flute was finished by Alan Warwick who took delivery of the hull in 1966 and lived in Herne Bay. Des built all the hulls himself. Owners finished them off. Names include Firebird, Mercury, Falcon, Anitra, Finesse, maybe about 4 others, so probably 1967 or 68.

WOODEN LAUNCH – RANGATIRA + I BOUGHT A YACHT

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WOODEN LAUNCH – RANGATIRA + I BOUGHT A YACHT

The wooden launch RANGATIRA recently popped up on tme (thanks Ian McDonald) and reading the listing it sounds like an abandoned vessel forced sale.

34’, kauri hull, Perkins 6 cyl. engine (not working) – that is about all we know other than a $1 reserve. 

Possibly beyond a restoration but surely someone needs some kauri for a project……

I BOUGHT A YACHT

Well a small one, very small eg vintage pond yacht. Another one for the collection. Very good condition.

On the centre cockpit there is a cover (to keep water out – this one actually sails) on the top are the letters ‘RMYC 1923” and two burgees / pennants – refer photo below. My initial thought was ‘Royal Melbourne Yacht Club’ but can’t find any reference to that other than a Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron and they have no reference on their website to those two ‘flags’. Anyone ablate help ID the graphics / yacht.

MILFORD MARINA MOOCHING

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MILFORD MARINA MOOCHING

Given all the recent upgrades in the marina it seems wrong to refer to it as Milford Creek. Maybe the areas now fitting of the name that some of the mud berth dwellers use – ‘Wairau Cove’.

I spent some time there yesterday helping with the relaunch of Angus Rogers 1968 Bailey & Son built launch – CENTAURUS that had been out at the Slipway Milford railway slip for some TLC and a JPPJ (Jason Prew Paint Job) – a minor opps – flat batteries………. meant a delayed start, so plenty of time to pull the camera (phone) out. A 3.5m tide equalled a lot of activity at the Slipway and the adjacent Milford Cruising Club hard stand.

The standard of the woodys in the marina seems to be improving in the last few years , probably a combination of the new bridge , upgraded MCC yard and the big crew working at the Slipway Milford. 

Nice to see that the small berths along the roadside have almost exclusively been taken over by the Pied Piper fleet. The MCC yard was home to some out for early winter TLC.

I won’t disclose how many berthing attempts we had back at CENTAURUS’s marina but while Angus blamed the out going tide and wind – me thinks the new JPPJ was the reason i.e. skipper was a tad gun shy and didn’t want to mark the boat on the first outing 😉

THE SINKING OF THE WOODEN SCOW – KALAIA

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THE SINKING OF THE WOODEN SCOW – KALAIA

Todays woody images come to us from Owen Aspden and show the auxiliary scow – KALAIA, built in 1909 by boatbuilder Davy Darroch.

Owen included an excerpt from the Court of Enquiry Report into the vessels sinking in 1936.

“During the early hours of March 25 1936, the scow foundered near Castle Rock south of Mercury Bay. There was a heavy sea and the wind had reached gale force, two hand pumps were manned but the scow settled by the bow and at this point two Maori members of the crew were washed overboard and lost in the darkness.

An attempt was made to launch the dinghy but the propellers then half out of the water threatened to stove in the small craft but reassured by the calls of the two Maoris who were excellent swimmers, the crew stood by the dinghy until the  KALAIA was sinking beneath their feet.

The two Maoris were picked up and the five crew rowed through five miles of rough water and through the surf on to Hot Water Beach.”

Owen commented that back then this was just part of the job for these tough sailors.

28-04- 2025 INPUT ex STUART JOHNSTON re STANMORE BAY – As a young fellow and regular holiday and weekender to Stanmore Bay  Whangaparaoa, I have memories from early/ mid 1950’s of Scows grounding in the shallows at the eastern end of Stanmore Bay loaded with red chip road metal (from McCullams Island I think) destined for Hopper Bros. Hoppers trucks, some being ex WW2 were loaded by on board Dragline before departing up what is now Stanmore Bay Rd destined for road seal and or concrete footpaths and foundations.

Whence this procedure terminated, scows were motored up the Wade River to the then new landing stage to feed the growing needs of the area which included a ready mixed concrete plant and later concrete building blocks and other construction needs. This was probably very late 50’s early 60’s. Are there any historical photographic records on the beached scows as this activity was instrumental in the growth of Whangaparaoa?

SEEMS OSH / SAFE BOATING REGS DO NOT APPLY TO CLASSIC CRAFT

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SEEMS OSH / SAFE BOATING REGS DO NOT APPLY TO CLASSIC CRAFT

The top photo comes to us ex a post on the ‘Wanganui Historic Time Line’ fb – we see the stern wheel steamer – MANUWAI on a day excursion on the Wanganui River. The vessel was operated by AC Hatrick & Co. and believe it or not ‘licensed’ to carry 400 people…………..

Fast forward to 2025 and some plonkers are still doing it, see below………..

CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT SPOTTING IN THE BAY OF ISLANDS

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CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT SPOTTING IN THE BAY OF ISLANDS

Last week I received a note from Denis O’Callahan, past owner of MV TASMAN, Denis commented  that he had been sailing in the Bay of Islands with his son Logan on his Farr 10.20 “Drums of Time”.

Logan wanted to explore the KeriKeri inlet in his newly refurbished wooden dinghy so they rowed up to the Stone Store, observing the many boats on pile berths along the way.

In the top photo we see the Brooke families Colin Wild launch LINDA, which resides in Kerikeri these days.

Later they were at Paradise Bay, Rangapukapuka and photographed the bridge-decker TAMAROA – link here to previous WW story on her https://waitematawoodys.com/2020/09/21/tamaroa/

Later in the trip they were at Matauwhi Bay anchored near the ketch/yawl – OKERE. History unknown, can we learn more.

Finally, as Denis was preparing to go ashore for the bus trip home they were anchored at Paihia near an old gaffer named FROLIC. 

Logan later leant that FROLIC is from Hobart and is preparing to head up into the Pacific soon.