Category Archives: Yachts

Sailing Sunday

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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.

The Racing Tender

Screen Shot 2014-08-23 at 4.57.43 AM

Mansion House Bay Launches

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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

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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

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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.

NGATAKI VIDEO – PART ONE

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NGATAKI VIDEO – PART ONE – Finlay MacDonald – Harper Collins Publishing

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.

Woody Report From A Far #3

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Woody Report From A Far #3

My cub reporter sames to have reverted to his past – the latest trip report is all sail & even a steel one, I have sent a strongly worded note reminding him his lavish retainer is based on a supply of wooden motor boat articles 🙂
OLD IRON SIDES

Only in the USA – the USS Constitution 200+ years old and even though now a museum, she is still a commissioned warship. Despite her nick name her hull is 21 inches thick timber. Undefeated in battle she was feared by the British who gave her the nickname as they could not sink her.

PEKING
One of the last generation of great sailing ships, the windjammers. Peking was built in 1911 & not a woody as her hull is steel.She is permanently berthed these days at New York’s South Street Seaport.

Ngtakai / Johnny Wray – South Sea Vagabonds

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NGATAKI / JOHNNY WRAY SOUTH SEAS VAGABONDS

Big day down at the waterfront yesterday, we had over 200 people turned out for the Tino Rawa Trust re-launch of Johnny Wray’s Ngataki & the Harper Collins launch of the 75th Anniversary edition of ‘South Sea Vagabonds’.

Todays post is a photo essay of yesterdays events. As always, click any photo to enlarge 😉

Ngataki

Ngataki Memorabilia

South Sea Vagabonds 75th Anniversary edition launch

Finlay McDonald – Harper Collins
Bruce Ansley – author of the Intro
Tony Stevenson – Tino Rawa Trust

Friends of Ngataki  (Andrew Fagan’s – ‘Swirly World & K. Hammond /  A. Sully’s – ‘Seaward’)

Swirly World
Seaward

The legand lives on

Something really cool – at the book launch Findlay MacDonald from Harper Collins Publishing advised that the Red Cross were the benefactors of Johnny Wray’s will, so proceeds from the book sales go to them, BUT the Red Cross has decided they will split the proceeds with the Tino Rawa Trust to help maintain Ngataki. How cool is that – remember the Red Cross next time one of their collectors rattles a money box in front of you – or more likely, you get a phone call.

Remember – the boat & the dockside exhibition is open Saturday & Sunday – see details below.

Click the link below to see some launch day photos ex Tony Stevenson

http://classicyacht.org.nz/cyaforum/topic/ngataki-restoration/#post-124899

Ngataki in the International Media

The relaunch &  book launch is featured in the Oct 2014 edition of the Classic Boat UK

CYA NZ Classic Register 2014/15 Edition

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CYA NZ Classic Register 2014/15 Edition

At long last its out. Chris Miller & myself craft this book every season. Each year we say “never again” 🙂

Click the link below to view 200+ classic boats – note the link takes you to the CYA website so if you want to return to the ww site you will have to re-log in. Also the on-line addition does not show owners contact details for obvious reasons 😉

http://classicyacht.org.nz/demosite/wp-content/uploads/Classicreg2014/mobile/index.html

 

South Sea Vagabonds – Competition Winners

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South Sea Vagabonds – Competition Winners

The correct answer = Rasmic

Rasmic

The two winners of a copy of the 75th Anniversary edition of Johnny Wray’s book – South Sea Vagabonds are below. Waitemata Woodys would like to thank the Tino Rawa Trust & Harpers Collins Publishing for the prizes.

First Correct Answer Winner = M & M Howson

Random Draw Winner = rhodes 33

MORE COPIES TO BE WON – If you click the link below to the Classic Yacht Association forum, there are two copies of the book to be won there, so if you missed out on woodys, try your luck there 🙂

http://classicyacht.org.nz/cyaforum/topic/win-a-copy-of-johnny-wrays-south-sea-vagabonds/

BOOK STORE SALES – Copies will be available from all good book stores but it would be nice if you supported the crew at Boat Books, 22 Westhaven Drive. Ph: 09 358 5691 http://www.boatbooks.co.nz
The book launch date is August 1, but if you order & pay now, you’ll get a $10 Boat Books voucher 😉

I Have Bought A Yacht

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I Have Bought A Yacht

Now I know that headline will have had a few of you chocking on your weetbix, but relax, its just a continuation of my fixation with pond yachts.
I have had the sloop (below) for approx. 20 years & own several KZ-7 replica’s that at last count are probably worth more than Raindance’s kauri clinker dinghy 🙂

Last week I acquired off an old friend the gaff rigged ketch below – sans the bow sprit its approx. 900cm long & rather nice.

Now that’s not the real purpose of today’s post – tomorrow morning (Saturday) waitematawoodys in association with the Tino Rawa Trust & Harper Collins Publishing will be offering up two copies of the 75th Commemorative Edition of Johnny Wray’s book, ‘South Sea Vagabonds’. This updated edition is a cracker & will be a must have in your collection.

If you have, like so many, been unable to track down an original copy now’s your chance to own this kiwi classic. I have read the book five times, the closest any other comes to that is twice.
If you are one of the lucky ones to own an original edition – buy the 75th edition because in additional to ‘new’ content & photo’s, you will now have a copy that you can loan out 🙂

Entry will be simple – just answer the question from the book that I post at 8.00am (NZ time) on Saturday morning. The first correct answer, either posted on the ww site or emailed to ww, wins a copy, PLUS – all entries correct or not will go into the draw for another copy. Entries close at midnight (nz time) 26/07/2014. As always the judges decision is final, so Jason Prew, wearing your TRT hat, the judge rules you out 🙂

So dig out your original copy or find a friend that has one & have them on stand-by on Saturday morning 😉