PHOTOS OF 1904 LOGAN YACHT – ARIKI BACK IN THE WATER
After an 8-month refit at Okahu Bay, Auckland, the 1904 Logan Bros. classic yacht Ariki was dropped back into the water yesterday at Westhaven.
Still needs the stick & rigging but she looks a treat.
You can see / read more on the refit here https://waitematawoodys.com/2017/08/14/ariki-restoration/
(photos ex one of my waterfront spies 🙂 )
Easter Woody Cruise – 36 photos
Wow – I can not remember when we last had 4 days back-to-back of stunning Easter weather. Not sure about the rest of the country but the Hauraki Gulf was near perfect. Each day the cloud / haze disappeared mid morning & the from then on it was 10/10, even the stick & rag boys would have been happy – enough breeze to push them along.
Above is a collection of random photos from over the weekend – on a personal front I had two highs –
1. Anchored briefly in Oneroa on Friday & bloke came over in his dinghy & said (to me the magical words) “I used to own your boat years ago”. Turns out he bought her off Blair Cole (boatbuilder), who rebuilt her after she sank (late 1980’s). She was keep in the upper Harbour near Riverhead & he confirmed that her original name was Lady Gay. Lots of chat & I was rapped to hear about a period of her life I was unaware off . I even forgave him for now owning a Riviera 😉
2. Second highlight was at last visiting Garden Cove, Waiheke Island. Every time I have attempted to enter the very small cove, it has been packed with plastic fizz boats. On Sunday morning the gods smiled on Raindance & we spent the day in this very special spot catching up with Sue & Mark Edmonds on Monterey. Even overnighted there. The entrance is very narrow & we witnessed a few fizzies enter via the wider side – luck must have been with them , as the dodged the bricks (the red arrow on the last photo shows the narrow entry point)
Garden Cove photos below, as always click to enlarge 😉
photo – Mark Edmonds
LEISURE HOUR
I have been contacted by Don & Teresa Windley, the new owners of Leisure Hour. Teresa & Don purchased Leisure Hour from master boat restorer John Wright and sailed her from Westpark Marina Hobsonville to her new home at Mahurangi Marinas. Built some 82 years ago she is built strong and has strong standing rigging. Her little Arona diesel engine performed well and didn’t miss a beat on the trip. Don told me that they will continue with the good work John Wright started in keeping this lovely old sail boat in good sailing condition, 1st project being rewiring all the internal electrics. This winter a planned haul out will include masts out which need re-varnishing.
Don thanked WW for publishing Leisure Hours story a little while ago that included some of her history from Harold Kidd. The WW story and the trademe ad helped them to make the decision to purchase a classic they could manage to sail together, as they had been looking for some time. It is always nice to hear that WW is helping people discover the classic wooden boating movement.
You can see/read more about her here https://waitematawoodys.com/2017/12/24/classic-vintage-1936-ketch-leisure-hour/
09-01-2021 Update from Angus Rogers – photos below taken at Gt Barrier Island 2020-21 xmas/ny period
As a bonus today – below is a link to a 30min video of the Melbourne based classic yacht Sayonara, in Sydney for News Eve 2001 , sent to me by Alan Good – enjoy it’s a cool look back at yachting 17 years ago.
Nana
Mahanui
Volantis
Korara
Classic Woody Riverhead Hotel Cruise
Not wanting to sound like a parrot but the CYA has an amazing track record of aceing the weather for its launch cruises to the waterfront Riverhead Hotel.
The forecast was average, but it just never eventuated & subsequently the boats that made the trip had a great day.
So cool to have one of our yachties make the trip, that center-board helped 😉
Highlight of the day for me was seeing John Wright’s recently restored launch – Nana. Nana was designed by C. Bailey Jun. & built by C. Bailey & Sons in 1934. You can view more on Nana’s amazing journey, from rescue to re-launch at this link https://waitematawoodys.com/2017/02/01/nana-resuced-restored/
John has one of the best eyes for how a woody should look, the final details on Nana make her look perfect, in my eyes. John, you should have finished the trip & come up to the hotel, I have a WW tee-shirt for you – email me your postal address – waitematawoodys@gmail.com
Also had a peek at the publican’s – Paula & Stephen Pepperell’s 1967 Jorgensen launch -Volantis, that is nearing the end of an extensive re-fit, Stephan is another woody with a great eye for detail.
Below are a collection of photos from the camera of Simon Smith who was perched on the Greenhithe Bridge – they give us another perspective on some of our classics. Pity Simon wasn’t there for the return trip – Raindance & the motor-sailer Korara, were just passing under the bridge, being good woodys, traveling to starboard of a large plastic yacht (a Hanse) that was approaching the bridge – when all of a sudden the yachts bow shot up out of the water & the yacht shot backwards. The reason – you guessed it – mast hit the bridge (photo of dent to the bridge, below) luckily they were travelling slow, any faster & they might have lost the mast. I suspect there was a change of undies needed for the crew.
Raindance & Nana
Lucinda
Lucille
Mahanui
Arohanui
Korara
Upper Harbour ‘V’s’ Yacht Oops
HDML – Kuparu – P3563 Looking Rather Smart
Kupara
MANAIA – Launch Day
The above photos of Manaia were sent to me by Paul Drake – I’ll let Paul tell the story behind them.
“The first four I took on launching day. I was 15 and in the midst of School Certificate. No exam that day, so off I went on my bike from home in Balmoral, camera in my bag.
In the second pic, Capt. Warwick Dunsford can be seen in charge on the foredeck (white boiler suit and black beret).
In the third pic, Percy Vos himself is clearly recognizable just by the fore foot.
The last two photos I have had since the 1960’s & most likely come from the camera of TW Collins. Great photos, especially the one from the port quarter, and show MANAIA at work.
MANAIA is certainly very original, but note that the stem now has an unattractive (to me) hook near the top. Much better straight in my view. Also note unusual chine aft. Double ender but hard chine aft. That’s why she can do 15 knots if required!
MANAIA was about the last of the large wooden pilot vessels built for New Zealand ports. About the same time as AKARANA and 10 years after TIAKINA (Wellington – and also a Collings design). TIAKINA of course built in England and steamed out via Suez Canal.”
You can see photos of Manaia today, looking very smart & read extensive details on her past here https://waitematawoodys.com/2018/01/26/manaia/
Volvo Round-the-World Yacht Race -Auckland Start
Photos Below In The Order They Passed North Head
And a couple of Woodys amongst the sea of plastic boats
Peter Boardman – Lady Margaret
Angus Rogers – Mahanui
NOR’ EAST
The above photo of the launch Nor’ East appeared via Lew Redwood on the NZ Cars, Boats etc. face book page. Its thought the photo was taken in the 1970’s.
I could be very wrong but to my eyes she looks to be leaving Milford Creek, Auckland.
What do we know about Nor’ East?
Input from Kevin Cassidy – The photo of Nor ‘East is from the cover of Seaspray mag in early 60’s with the caption Nor ‘East maiden voyage. She was built by Allen Williams at Milford creek.
97th Lipton Cup
Popped over to Westhaven to get some fuel yesterday afternoon & by chance caught the end of the 97th Lipton Cup, Mullet boat race (details below*). Not sure of the winner so will leave that announcement to the host club – the ‘Royal’ Ponsonby Cruising Club.
A nice breeze saw them scooting along at a good turn of speed. A selection of the boats below (ex iphone & blown up, so a little grainy)
*The Lipton Cup is NZ yachting oldest competed for trophy that is sailed for in 22ft (6.7mt) L Class yachts which are commonly referred to as Mullet Boats. Some of the race fleet are now over 100 years old and are still very competitive.
A Message for CYA Members
Next weekend is a double banger for CYA launch owners – on Saturday (24th) there is the annual Cake Day & Round Rangi Yacht Race. The day ends with a raft-up in Islington Bay, where along with lots of refreshing fizzy drinks, there is a cake competition (not compulsory but a lot of fun). The gathering is a great opportunity for CYA launch owners to mix & mingle with the rag & stick boys.
Then on Sunday (25th) we have a lunch cruise up to the Riverhead Hotel – these days are brilliant classic outings – details on the CYA website http://classicyacht.org.nz
If you are doing the trip (I will be) – be a good lad & follow the leader up the creek. The skipper of the plastic boat below, who shall remain nameless, but steers very big commercial vessels for a living, last weekend ignored the channel & spent a long night on the mud flats 🙂
MERMAID
Mermaid started life as a mullet boat (H14), built in 1914. At some stage she was converted to a launch & used for commercial fishing for many years.
She measures 28’ & is made of kauri carvel planked. Zoom zoom is via 1985 Ford Dover 80hp diesel.
With a little bit of work she would make a nice classic woody – winters coming up – a good project.
Thanks to Ian McDonald for the trademe listing heads up.
Any of the woodys able to tell us more about her past, including the days under sail?
Harold Kidd Input – MERMAID was built by Alan Crossley for his father Capt. G P Crossley of Bayswater in 1914, a 28 footer, basically for cruising. She was ballasted with rocks. Her 1914-22 sail number was 120, her 1922 sail number was H14 (28 footers were lumped into the H Class for 26 footers); her registration as a fishing boat in the 1980s was AK1441. The only racing she did was the odd local race with Bayswater Boating Club during its brief existence. Crossley sold her to W. Oxley of Mercury Bay in 1936 where she had one side stove in when fishing. Later owners included Ron Bowman and Max Brown in the 1960s.
Yachts at Kawau Island – Sailing Sunday – Win A WW T-Shirt
This Mansion House Bay, Kawau Island photo from the ‘NZ Car, Boats, >>> Utes Pre’75’ FB page shows a great collection of classic yachts (& a few launches).
I’ll put up a WW t-shirt to the woody that can ID the most yachts – given my launch angle – I’ll get a yachty to verify the answers. To stop copy-catting, entries ONLY via email to
waitematawoodys@gmail.com
LIPTON CUP RACE – SATURDAY – MARCH 17th
The 97th Lipton Cup race is set to take place on the 17th of March. 22 miles of blood, sweat and tears is to be raced by the 22ft L Class ‘mullet boats’ to see who will triumph as the winner of the esteemed Lipton Cup trophy. This is a highlight of the yachting calendar and this year it appears there will be fierce competition with a number of the mullet boats performing exceptionally well in recent racing. With only 3 years to go until the 100th you can expect there to be a lot more competition and boats coming out of the wood work to compete in following years. Previous crew and owners are always welcome to come down and watch with the club open all day with food and refreshments (with a lift for the weathered yachties).
The days events are as follows:
7am – Hot cooked breakfast (Prebooked)
9am – Race briefing
11am – Race commences
3pm approx – Race finishes
6pm approx – Prize giving and after party
Watch Video footage from last years race here https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3&v=LAZotynoqiA
Woodys at Kawau Island
The above photo of Kawau Island is ex Lew Redwoood via the facebook page ’New Zealand Cars,Boats,Motorbikes,Trucks,Vans,Utes,Pre 1975′ -the photo is tagged ‘ Pleasure craft at anchor in Mansion House Bay.
How many woodys can we ID?, I know Nathan Herbert was a little excited to see the family launch Pacific in the shot (top right).
If you are on facebook – you should ‘follow’ this page, there are some very cool old woody photos that pop up from time to time.
Aussie Boat Porn
I have featured several times The Australian Wooden Boat Festival that happens very 2 years in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. The video below is a 100% publicity video for Tasmania & the event – but dam its good. Have look, you’ll be blown away by the number of stunning woodys. Thanks to the USA based on-line membership only video website – offcenterharbour.com for making the video available. Its a great site, I’m a member.
https://www.offcenterharbor.com/videos/australian-wooden-boat-festival-tasmanias-warm-embrace/
Best Woody Boating Photos Of Summer
The above photos showing James & Michael Dreyer’s recently relaunched 33’ 1949 Luders designed motorboat – Laughing Lady & Jason Prew’s 1904 Arch Logan gaff rigger- Wairaki – are my 2 favourite photos from this summer. They capture what classic kiwi wooden boating is all about – fun, friendship & fraternity.
The rebirth of these woodys would not have happened without people like Jason & James & the dozens of talented, enthusiastic craftspeople & helpers that rubbed up against the projects. And amazingly both of the guys have other classic woody projects on the go – Jason is restoring (rebuilding) the 1925 Dick Lang motor launch – My Girl. And James has a Rhodes 33 sloop in restoration in the USA, that hopefully will makes its way down under one day. In the meantime he gets his sailing fix from a 1937, 31’ Yankee One Design – made of kauri here in NZ, that he co-owns with his dad, Barry.
If your interested in viewing the restoration of LL or Wairiki, just search they name in the WW search box.
At the other end of the scale below is a short video on the 1910 Camper & Nicholson 162’ classic super yacht – Orion of the Seas, for sale in Italy. It is just magnificent but her maintenance budget would be bigger than the GDP of a lot of African nations. Enjoy the varnish porn. Tomorrow I’ll share with you my trip aboard Trinidad from Whangaroa, down the west coast of NZ to Queen Charlotte Sound, Picton.
