Classic Yacht On-Line Magazine Jan/Feb 2015

Classic Yacht On-Line Magazine Jan/Feb 2015

Latest edition of the on-line USA magazine ‘Classic Yacht’ . Remember in the USA yacht = boat so there is lots of motor-boat related stories. Enjoy 🙂

click link to view   http://www.myvirtualpaper.com/doc/ClassicYacht/cym-janfeb2015/2015012001/#0

2015 Mahurangi Regatta Weekend – 70+ Photos

2015 Mahurangi Regatta Weekend – 70+ Photo Parade

The photos tell the story of the weekend – perfect weather, stunning boats & nice people having a great time. Todays post is just a slice of the 3 days of classic wooden boating. I have 100’s of photos that will filter thru into ww over time. Not all are ‘picture perfect’ – its hard to helm the boat (solo) & take photos in a very congested waterway.
As always you’ll see a mix of motor-boats & yachts because even though some people seem blind to the world of classic launches – the weekend is in fact the biggest collection of classic wooden boats afloat in one place in NZ. Remember people – its all about wooden boats 🙂
Saturday nights prize giving & dance ashore at Scotts Landing was one of those evenings out of the bag – a perfect sunset to cap the day off, the panoramic photo above was sent to me by Mark Lever (owner of the very smart 1926, B.J.L. Juke designed launch – Nereides) & portrays the scene perfectly.
I counted 30+ classic CYA launches around the bays – I’m sure there were more, just didn’t see them all. The launches had a wee parade around the bays on the Saturday to fly the flag for the CYA launch fleet. There was a ‘names in the hat’ draw at the prize giving & one of our newest members – Bill Mitchinson owner of MV Gay Dawn, who traveled up from Tauranga for the weekend, won the ‘Motor Launch Log Trophy’. Now all we need is for last years winner (a non CYA member) to play the game & return the trophy 😦
The trip north for me had one big objective – to see Pauline & Harold Kidd’s just re-launched classic launch – Romance II afloat. Harold & boat builder Marco Scuderi have rebuilt R2’s dog-house & tram-top to pretty dam close to the day in 1919 she slipped down the Bailey & Lowe ramp. In my eyes her lines & proportions are spot-on. There is a photo of her in todays post but I will feature her in more detail on ww tomorrow.
Winners Are Grinners – the CYA boats, skippers & crew cleaned up all the major sailing races at the regatta – photos from the prize giving at the end of the post.
Enjoy & remember you can enlarge any photo by clicking on it 😉

 

This is what makes the regatta racing so special – where else do you get sailing like this?

Yes, there were life jackets on-board for everyone

Saturday Night Prize Giving & Dance

 

Grinners Are Winners

Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta

Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta

photo ex Heather & John Lidgard

Today is the 175th Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta, for a young country like NZ that is a significant milestone. Out on the water today will be boats of all sizes & ages, from radio controlled pond yachts to the giants of the classic fleet – the A-Class keelers. Now even if you are boat-less today, I encourage you to head down to the harbour & grab a good vantage point.

For classic wooden boat lovers – the key times are:
10.00am for the Tug Boat Race. New inner harbour course this year with the start off Princess Wharf
12.00pm for the A-Class classic fleet start, again off Princes Wharf

Full details on today’s events here  http://www.regatta.org.nz/the spectators

Today’s photo from 1946 shows spectators cramming every vantage point they can at Westhaven. The large concrete building looks a ‘little’ more impressive today as the home of the RNZYS. The large launch on the right was Claude Atherton’s Manuwai.

If you do get out, take the camera & send me some photos 🙂

It would be amiss of me if I did not mention some of the people behind today’s regatta – I’ll upset somebody by saying this (but that’s ok) but without the support & effort of this core group of people from the classic boating movement the regatta just would not happen – (in no order) – Bruce Tantrum, John Street, Baden Pascoe, Joyce Talbot, Eric Mahoney & others I’m sure.

Pacific at the 100th Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta

Pacific at the 100th Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta

photo ex Nathan Herbert

Given that tomorrow is the 175th running of the regatta, I felt it was a perfect opportunity to post the above stunning photo of the launch Pacific & her crew watching the A-Class fleet compete in the regatta.
From L>R – A18 Tawera / A16 Little Jim / A2 Rawhiti / A14 ? / A15 Prize / A5 Rawene / A9 Moana

Tonight there is a big on-the-water fireworks display in the inner harbour so if you are in & around the city – check it out. Details at the regatta website (link below)

I would encourage you tomorrow to make the effort to find a good viewing point as the regatta is one of Auckland’s truly special days.
More details here http://www.regatta.org.nz/

Jack Brooke Cruise Collection #15 – Kiariki Anniversary Day Regatta 1962

Jack Brooke Cruise Collection #15 – Kiariki Anniversary Day Regatta  1962

Another  Jack Brooke drawing, published on ww thanks to son Robert for making them available to ww followers. Jack produced a hand drawing on each cruise. Today’s post is the 15th featured – this one features the 1962 Anniversary Day Regatta & show Kiariki, Kiatoa & Jezebel. I see there is a note that Moana broke her spinnaker boom.

Big crew on-board: John Brooke, Elsie Brooke, Mrs Owen Aisher, Howard Wallace, Monty Wallace, Bill Thompson, Richard Purchase & Mary Duder.

For details on this years regatta – the 175th & only 3 days away – refer here http://www.regatta.org.nz/

Felisa

FELISA

photo & details ex Harold Kidd ex John Blundell

Stan Blundell, of Fisher and Blundell, got his cousin Gerry Lane to design a 32’ x 9’6” motor-sailer for him in 1949. Gerry was then a school teacher but had served his time with Bailey & Lowe who had no job available for him when he came out of his apprenticeship at the beginning of the Depression. He never lost his skills and his love of boat building, however. Harold has heard a claim that the boat was designed by Garth Lane of the Lane Motor Boat Co, but says that’s incorrect.
Stan had her built by Phil Barton in St. Mary’s Bay. She was fitted with a 4 cylinder Ford diesel and, although lightly rigged, the Blundells used her sails to good effect in making passage and could get 8-10 knots under sail alone on a broad reach. Her coamings were teak and kept varnished. Stan named her Felisa as it is the Spanish equivalent of Phyllis, Stan’s wife’s name. Phyllis spent much of her early childhood in Guatemala and grew up bilingual.
The Blundells lived at Lynch Street in Point Chevalier. Felisa was moored off the property and took the mud at low tide.
Stan sold Felisa to Tairua, his son John thinks, around 1959, and she was later stationed at the Barrier. Harold had a report of her in 2000, owned by Callahan.
In one of the photos, she is on the mud off Lynch Street near a 20ft open cockpit hard chine launch designed by Ron Oliver, a design which won a Sea Spray competition. Several were built. The structure in the background is the old quarry on Meola Reef.
John Blundell would very much like to have Felisa’s recent history filled in.

Where is she now?

Update 27/01/2015 – CYA member Mark McLaughlin snapped the photos below of Felisa on her Tamaki Estuary mooring. The motor-sailer rig has been chopped ‘a little’.

 

Eric Price’s Motorsailer Awanui – Sailing Sunday

 

  Awanui – Sailing Sunday

photo ex Ken Ricketts

Today’s boat lives at Gulf Harbour & could be Awanui. If it is then its owned by Eric Price. Eric is 90+ years & uses the boat regularly. The impressive thing is by use I mean extended cruises for weeks at a time. My wife knows Eric & some of the tales from the cruises would make great reading.

Anyone able to confirm the vessels & also supply any details on her past – she has a Lidgard look to her.

18/01/2015 – Input from Garth Broadhead

On first glancing at the photo and without reading the text, it struck me like she looked like Eric’s boat which I was aboard several times as a teenager – so I’m guessing she is! Delighted to know Eric’s still alive and well!! Someone should ask him to post his tale of having his apendix removed underneath a coconut tree in Fiji – it’s a doozy!

Lake Rotoiti Wooden Boat Parade 2015 Calendar

Lake Rotoiti Wooden Boat Parade 2015 Calendar


Now I suspect numbers might be getting tight, but if there is enough interest, I’m sure they will reprint.
The price is $10 for 1 or $7.50 each for 5 or more. Postage is $2.40 for up to 8 calendars, $5 for more than 8 or courier ($5.50 North Island $6.50 South Island  –  RD extra).
Pay via direct to the account.  If you pay direct please use your surname as reference and let me know when you make the payment.
The bank account number is:    12 3155 0140546 00

However before doing anything – I suggest you email (address below) Rachel Jamieson & check on supplies 🙂

zea.rachel@gmail.com

ps I even make a cameo appearance in the month of June 🙂

Arcturus – Sailing Sunday

ARCTURUS

I snapped the above photos of the yacht Arcturus while anchored in Little Oneroa over the xmas / ny period. She is a 1930 John G. Alden (USA) design. She would have to be one of the prettiest vessels in the CYA.

Just need one of the ww yachting followers to chip in with more details on her.

Which they have (thx Rod Marler) http://www.classicboatcharter.com/history.htm

The Cruise of Calypso – Christmas 1919 – Sailing Sunday

The Cruise of Calypso – Christmas 1919 – Sailing Sunday

Story & photos ex Harold Kidd

The shot below of Calypso, Celox and Waitere II is from NZ Yachtsman and Calypso is on the left.

This photo shows Calypso under tow.

The hotel shot below is at the Duke of Marlborough.

Lastly the crew of Calypso

This log was written in indelible pencil in a notebook by C.B. Madden who, like some of the others, had just returned from active service (and survived the Spanish ‘Flu epidemic). So the cruise must have helped a great deal with the normalisation of their minds.

CALYPSO was a 26ft mullet boat built to the Restrictions by Tyler & Harvey in 1909 for the Wild brothers of Stanley Bay. Barkey Wild, Colin Wild’s older brother, was killed at Delville Wood in September 1916 and Harold Handley of 73 Calliope Road, Devonport bought her in the winter of 1919. WAITERE II had always been her companion 26 footer as she was owned by the Willetts family who lived close by in Stanley Bay. By a whisker, WAITERE II was probably the fastest pre-CORONA 26ft mullet boat.

The Cruise of Calypso Christmas 1919 (an edited version)

Crew: Skipper Harold Handley, R Rodger, A Madden, C Madden, Arthur Whitely, Tom

“24th December 1919; Left Calliope Dock 8.15pm. Wind SW, weather fine full headsail full main. Waitere waited half an hour for us to start. Reached Rangitoto Beacon 9.30pm. Ruahine with troops passed inwards. We kept watches all night and sighted Sail Rock at daybreak. SS Pakeha passed inwards at 7.30am SS Manaia at 9.30am. Had kept up with Waitere right up to Sail Rock. Several yachts and launches put into Tutukaka, also Waitere also us after short dinghy tow as wind very light. Arrived 8pm had grand Christmas tuck in with assistance of two of Waitere crew.

26th December; sailed North in a nice NNW breeze. Put into Whangaruru and anchored with Waitere. Went to Maori dance ashore.

27th December; ran up to Russell with Waitere in fine SSW wind.

28th December; Waitere was put on the beach for cleaning. The plate was dropped and taken ashore for local craftsmen to remove buckle. Caught 50 or 60 schnapper at Robinson’s Island.

29th December; Left for Whangamumu with Waitere under full sail. Gave caretaker at whaling station two fish. He was pleased to get news regarding liquor poll. We got rid of most of our surplus fish by giving it to the NSSCo’s auxiliary Tuhoe.

30th December; Set sail for Whangarei after cooking breakfast on beach.

31st December; Passenger launch Oleo offered us a tow in. Arrived at Onerahi at 11.15pm. Sailed up to town wharf. After some difficulty in getting a berth tied up alongside Seagar Bros Milly at steps. Went ashore had a look around got stores and had tea at Temperance Hotel.

1st January 1920; Put quantity of ballast and all cruising gear ashore and got ready for race which started at 10.30am. Confusion regarding marks. Result of race Waitere 1 Celox 2, Calypso 3. Race finished at 3.30pm. Had tea and sailed for the Railway Bridge. Launch Ranoni kindly offered us a tow to Town Wharf. Went ashore for a walk but did not get as far as yachtsmen’s smoke concert.

2nd January; Crew went by car to Kamo. In evening gave the pictures a go.

3rd January; Waitere crew entertained us at the Whangarei Hotel. A splendid dinner was put on for us. In the afternoon we all motored out to the strawberry gardens. Left Whangarei 7pm with a great sendoff. Anchored off freezing works for an early morning start.

4th January; Set sail at 5am in light northerly breeze growing in strength. Arrived at Mansion House Bay. Only 3 launches here. After tea hove anchor and moved across the bay for shelter. Had musical evening on board.

5th January; Set sail 10am for Waiwera. No yachts here. Went to Heads to fish. Arrived at Mahurangi Wharf at 9pm

6th January; Beautiful day, very light winds.   All hands went aboard the Waitere and we sailed up the river to Red Bluff where we inspected Morrison’s Orchard. Returned to Waitere and decided to proceed to Warkworth. Tide dead low. Stuck on the mud a few hundred yards from the Wharf. After lunch, floated off and proceeded to Wharf. Found Warkworth very quiet. Left Warkworth at 6pm. For 8 shillings a local launch towed us about ¾ mile past Red Bluff. At 9.30 back aboard Calypso.

7th January; Another day of the best kind. Very little wind early. Left Mahurangi as team for Tiri to fish. Left for Auckland 3pm. Put a good dinner on whilst lying off Tiri Light and entertained Waitere’s crew to their entire satisfaction.”