Lady Gazelle On The Rocks

LADY GAZELLE (GAZELLE) On The Rocks

It saddens me to report the demise of the launch – Lady Gazelle (formally Gazelle), designed and built by Jim Young c. late 1950’s. During the recent Cyclone Gabrille, Lady Gazelle was put on the rocks in the Coromandel Harbour. Owners Mitch and Cathy Edwards commented that she had been struck by another drifting boat and cut from her mooring.

While she will no doubt be written off, the Edwards hope that the four years they spent restoring her has not all gone to waste and that someone will tender for her and hopefully repair her.


Princess – Lake Taupo 

Ian McDonald also reported in that the launch Princess was blown off her mooring in Acacia Bay, Lake Taupo. Hopefully re-floated – can anyone advise.  Previous WW story on the launch here https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/01/05/princess/

Clyde Quay Boat Harbour 

Clyde Quay Boat Harbour 

Wellington woody admirer Geoff Fiebig sent in the collection of photos that he snapped off while wandering around the Clyde Quay Boat Harbour , Wellington on Sunday.

Can we put some names to them – • I’m sure the top photo is well know, but the bigger question has to be – how come its so unloved?

• The blue open double-ender looks very salty, and cared for.

• The tender is probably best overlooked, several sheets of ply on display. But no doubt a very useful work horse to get to & from a bigger moored craft (love the boat sheds paint scheme).

• The smallish woody yacht at a guess would be Lizzie the 1909 Edwin Bailey built 19>22’ gaffer. Read more about her below:  http://www.wcyt.org.nz/abode/getAdminCategoryProducts.do?_siteId=708&method=getCategoryProducts&_categoryId=4436 

Corinna

CORINNA

WW was sent the above photos of the launch – Corinna, by John Burland. John was mooching around the marina at Havelock.

Corinna is an unknown to WW so very keen to learn more.

INPUT EX TRACY & ALAN GILDER – She looks similar to Kokoru. Definitely a Jack Morgan design / build. There were 6 Jack Morgan vessels built in the fleet along with Kokoru, her being the last. We saw Hawaiki on the hardstand at Waikawa Picton Feb 2020 (photos below), looking very forlorn and neglected.

INPUT EX DICK HALL – Hawaiki was the first of Jacks design about 1950.The others being Gerola (only one with focsle head & now called Kiwa),Safari Queen, Siren (aft W/House) Corinna, Kokoru.. Pania was built to the same design but I think 2ft longer. Corinna built new for the Teece family and I think still in their ownership

POLL – LAUNCH CRUISE TO PAEROA HISTORICAL MARITIME MUSEUM AND PARK – INTERESTED ? To help with planning for a potential Easter Weekend cruise up the Waihou River to the – Paeroa Maritime Museum & Park. Link below to last years cruise. Can we ask that you complete the simple poll below – THUMBS UP = Interested THUMBS DOWN = Not Interested Many Thanks 🙂

2022 Cruise Story https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/04/19/woodys-classic-launch-easter-river-cruise-to-paero

Alibi – A Peek Below

ALIBI – A Peek Below

In early Jan 2023 we featured the 42’ Mason Clipper – Alibi, entering the Sandspit shed of Greg Lees Boat builder. That story generated a great inside into her past, link below to that story.

https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/01/02/mason-clipper-alibi/

Today thanks to the ‘Mason Clippers’ group and Lew Redwood’s fb we get to see her interior. The photos show her almost unchanged in 42 years with the original upholstery still in great condition. 

Looking forward to seeing what Alibi well look like after the Greg Lees team have rubbed their magic over her. (Nudge nudge Greg)

Woodys Stillwater Picnic + Next Event Announcement 

Sadly Saturdays waterfront picnic was postponed based on weather forecasts and sea state. The right decision on Friday night and probably the wrong one at mid-day Saturday. There will be announcement later in the week re a new date. But moving on – the next Woodys event is a long overdue lunch cruise to the historical Riverhead Tavern.

See below flyer – but quick overview – Sunday 26th March – meeting at 10.am off Lucas Creek / Herald Island.

RSVP with vessel name and approx. number aboard to waitematawoodys@gmail.com

Priccilla / Priscilla – Sailing Sunday

PRICCILLA / PRISCILLA – Sailing Sunday

A couple of weeks ago WW was contacted by Andre Vanwonderen concerning the yacht – Priccilla – a 32’ Plant Class yacht, designed by Claude A. Smith and built by Allen Smith in 1966.

Can we expand more on this class of yacht, quite a looker. Andre is considering selling – aren’t we all 🙂

Input ex Neil Chalmers – Alan Smith’s Planet class is  similar to North Sea 24 and its smaller sister the Twister both from the well known English designer CR (Kim) Holman. All influenced by the RORC rule.

There is a Sea Spray article on the Planet Class design.

Rata – A Peek Down Below

RATA – A Peek Down Below

The launch Rata is 35’ in length, has a 9’ beam and draws 3’.

Rata was built in 1926 from Kauri, carvel method by Dick Lang in St Mary’s Bay.  Powered by a 85hp Ford Lees Marine diesel, giving her a 7 knots cruising speed.

And that is all we know, lots of craft named Rata on WW but this ones a newbie. Was hauled out on the hard at Waiheke Island for an extended period. Thanks Ian McDonald for the heads up.

Mystery Whangaroa Launch 1930’s

Mystery Whangaroa Launch 1930’s

Todays woody is a big ask to identify – the caption is captioned ‘1930’s Whangaroa’ but the vessel is unnamed.Its mooching around a large school of Kahawai so no doubt is trolling a lure.

The photo comes to us from the British Museum via Lew Redwood fb and the photographer is probably J.M. Booth.

Are we able to put a name to the launch?

REMEMBER – WOODY STILLWATER DOCKSIDE PICNIC TOMORROW

Cleone – A Peek Down Below

CLEONE – A Peek Down Below

The Jim Young built, Couldrey design launch – Cleone, has appeared on WW before – link below, lots of details and photos. Now thanks to Ian McDonald and tme we get to have a peek down below.

Quick over view- built c.1950, triple skin kauri, 30’ in length, 10’ x 5” beam. Powered by a Ford 72hp diesel. Previous WW Story https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/06/11/cleone-2/

MYSTERY NAPIER LAUNCH

MYSTERY NAPIER LAUNCH

Todays woody is what appears to be a very smart sub 30’ double-ender launch, seen in the above photo anchored in Napier’s Inner Harbour. 

The photo comes to us from a late 2022 Maurice Sharp fb post.

Would love to put a name to the launch and an approximate date to the photo.

Tall Ships At The 2023 Australian Wooden Boat Festival Short video to given you a quick overview of the Tall Ship eye candy at the festival – all earning their keep doing inner harbour cruises. Enjoy 🙂

Tall Ships @ AWBF 2023

Mystery 40’ Bridge Decker

Mystery 40’ Bridge Decker

Todays 40’ woody if you believe her tme listing (thanks Ian McDonald) was built / launched in 1928 by Miller and Tulloch.

Forward motion is from a 120hp Ford diesel. Home port is Tauranga. And that woodys is all we know about her.

I did have a note I had written with the name – Aoroa on it, but I can’t remember if that is the vessels name or not.

Anyone able to ID the boat and tell us more?

INPUT ex WILLIAM BROWN – Check out an earlier WW posting https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/03/12/aoroa-a-peek-down-below/

Someone please buy her and restore her to her former glory!