Early last week we ran a story on a launch named – Tranquila (link to that story below) at the time hawk-eye Nathan Herbert commented that it appeared to be the Don Brooke designed – Dundonald post a name change.
Fast forward one week and woody John Dawson confirmed that Nathan was correct and sent in the gallery of photos above. John commented that the launch was for sale back in April 2021.
Tranquila is 37’ in length, built from DD kauri (f/glassed) and powered by a Ford 120hp Otsan 6.2L 6 cyl. diesel that gives her a cruising speed of 9.5 knots- top speed is approx. 13 knots. https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/08/02/tranquila/
CAROUSEL Back in June 2020 we ran a brief story on the Lake Te Anau based launch – Carousel. At the time Peter Kicker advised that she was in charter and running cruises on the lake with “Cruise Te Anau’ (photo below on the lake) We learnt that she is a Oliver and Gilpin design, approx. 44’ in length. Being O&G she was built in Tauranga for a gent named Sid Gamman and was based in Tauranga before heading south.
Todays photos come to us from David Glen and show Carousel hauled out for some TLC, given her location and role, I can almost over-look the ‘block-of-flats’ 🙂
Boat builder Alan Craig (Craig Marine) sent in todays’ gallery of photos of the Brin Wilson designed launch – Colleen owned by Bill Stevenson. We see her being launched at Lake Tarawera where she still resides today. Appears that there were a few challenges with the lake level.
Colleen is a near sister ship to the other Stevenson family launch – Jan, refer photos below. Jan is maintained in an as new condition, some credit for this goes to Alan who has repainted and varnished the whole boat at different stages.
Also keen to ID the launch that is helping drag her off.
INPUT ex Hamish Moore “I have spoken with Mother on this, Jocelyn Stevenson. Seems you have amended some of the points already. – Typo, Spelling of the family name. ‘Stevenson’
Some info what what Jocelyn can recall;
Colleen was on Lake Rotoiti for a few years prior to been relocated to lake Tarawera, possibly up to 5yrs.
The launching of Colleen shown here could be at Lake Rotoiti and the little Tug boat could well be Sir Williams first boat on Lake Rotoiti, un-confirmed and details of the vessel unknown.
A notable mentioned needs to go to Norm Keane who was a local boat builder that Sir William employed to maintain all the boats, including Jocelyn in Auckland, and his property at Lake Rotoiti and I’d say Colleen while still in the family ownership. If I recall correctly one of your articles in the past may have mentioned Norm Keane.
Last I heard, Colleen has had some work done over the years and some of which was completed by Danny Pearce boatbuilding out of Rotorua. I’ve lost contact with Danny. However we had attempted to head down and cast an eye over Colleen but life just got to busy.
Jan remains in family ownership, by Sir Williams Grand daughter.
It would be fantastic to see some photos and and article on Colleen if you managed to shake down someone who has the knowledge and contact.”
I came across this photo a while ago and just love – it is of the crew from the yacht ILEX catching up with the locals at either Papatara or Horseshoe Bay on Motukawanui Island (the largest island in the Cavalli Island group, northwest of Matauri Bay, Northland)
Can we ID the yacht hauled up the beach and the significance of the number – RL 27
The gent in the white hat + pipe, holding the piglet does look familiar for other old photos.
I hope the crew were not negotiating the sale of the wee pig 😦
09-08-2022 INPUT ex Robin Elliott – This was taken by Henry Winkelmann in January 1906 during his 4th cruise on the Ilex.
His negative register records this and several other images that day as ‘Cavalli Islands, Group of Maoris an crew’. According to the Vivien Edwards’ book ‘Winkelmann’, the Maori were residents of the Motukawa Village on the island. There is no mention of the fishing boat in this picture.
The Ilex crew had stopped off at Motukawa for a spot of random goat shooting.
HDK has written extensively on the easy going gun culture of the day. Sitting on your boat while at anchor and taking pot shots at anything that moved on shore was generally regarded as ‘fair game’. See ” ‘Huntin’ Shootin’ and Fishin’ ” Boating World Magazine October 1994.
During that cruise Henry Winkelmann took 45 photographs, both Full Plate and quarter plate glass, of Whangaroa Harbour, Stevenson Island, Whangaroa township, as well as breathtaking shots from the top of St Peters and also from the top of the Dukes Nose. All the while lugging about those heavy glass plates and the unwieldy camera equipment to accommodate them. The man was amazing. His entire marine negative collection (or rather what has survived the last 100+ years or so) is held at the Auckland War Memorial Museum. Many images are online and well worth some time to trawl through them. https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/discover/collections-online/search?pht=True&k=winkelmann&dept=photography
Following on from yesterdays semi Sandspit story, I was there again during the week and did a quick loop of the SYC yard – nice collection of both traditional classics and spirit of tradition old hauled for some TLC.
If any of you are around any boat yards – get the phone out and take > send in some photo 🙂
Back in May 2018 when I was loitering around the waterfront at Sandspit I was taken by the 40′ canoe stern 1904 launch – Tamahere. She must have changed hands around the same time and at some stage relocated to Kerikeri, Northland.
Sadly she has suffered a mishap due to deferred maintenance and has taken of a lot of water, but didn’t sink. There is a long list of required work to get her sea worthy again but her current tme price / bid is sub $600. Auction closes this Sunday at 9.52am. (thanks Ian McDonald for the listing heads up)
As the owner states ‘definitely a project not for the faint-hearted’ – but a bargain entry into the wooden boating movement.
Very sad photo above of the 1958, 34’ Brin Wilson built launch Parma that sunk today near / under the Auckland Harbour Bridge. Cause of sinking unknown, it was a beautiful flat day on the harbour, a witnesses said she just starting sinking before their eyes. At this stage unable to comment on the condition of those onboard or whether she can be salvaged.
08-08-2022 UPDATE – dockside chat reports that Parma was refloated and currently hauled out at Westpark (Hobsonville Marina). ‘Probable’ cause of the sinking – not using the center span under the Auckland Harbour bridge and taking the gap between last upright and Northcote Point – lots of man-made bricks there – refer photos below
The 34’ Shipbuilders launch Grenadier popped up recently on tme. Built in 1976 with triple diagonal kauri planking below the water and double diagonal above (+ f/glass)
Forward motion is via a Volvo 200hp that has her cruising at 7>8 knots.
Now post the ‘modified to include a top helm’ (sellers words) Grenadier would have been a real looker, in fact one of the better Shipbuilders designs, some can be a tad boxy.
Still it only wood and nothing a sharp chainsaw couldn’t right.
COMMUNICATIONS– Staying In The Loop
Waitematawoodys have a lot of contact details for classic woody owners, but I’m sure there are gaps – We regularly send details on upcoming gatherings, but due to factors like people changing their email address or service provider, over time gaps occur. In the interests of ensuring you are kept up to date and do not miss out on upcoming classic gatherings – drop WW an email with your name/email/mob #
The answer to the above question is – YACHTS ONLY IN HERITAGE BASIN
This was confirmed at last nights Classic Yacht Association AGM.
At the 2021 AGM Chad Thomson told the meeting in regard to the new Heritage Basin marina – “the intention was to have NZ designed yachts and launches that fitted the dimensional requirements included”
Well in the last 12 months that has now changed to yachts only, that fit a very tight brief – and we are told that this request came from Panuku and the Maritime Museum – yeah right.
So if you own a classic launch, classic cruising yacht, B Class classic yacht or a classic work boat – you are effectively a second class citizen i.e. not accorded a fair share of respect, recognition, or consideration.
Bay of Islands woody – Dean Wright sent in the above iPhone photo of the launch – Tranquila, moored in the Kerikeri Inlet. The launch is unknown to both Dean and myself, so would like to learn more about her.
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