U-turn By Council Set To Block Bayswater Marina Development Plans
Owners of Bayswater marina, who also own – Pine Harbour and Hobsonville marinas) who were planning a 119 unit housing development on the adjacent land suffered a major blow last week, when Auckland Council withdrew its support for the proposal. This was a huge turnaround from what most had assumed was a happening thing. Read below – (Article below – Reproduced ex ’The Devonport Flagstaff’ community magazine)
This week we have had a several very fine looking woodys appearing on WW, today we have another – Alecia and she comes to us from John Dawson who sent in the above photo.
With that very distinctive scroll (is that the correct term) on her bow Alecia couldn’t be anything other than a Bailey & Lowe design / build.
Do we know what became of the launch – is she still around today?
If you lose the tram top, its very similar to Harold Kidd’s old launch Romance II, also a Bailey & Lowe – photo below
UPDATE – SORRY IF YOU EXPERIENCED SOME DUPLICATION WITH THIS STORY – ALL SORTED NOW 🙂
Have had a request from Mike Mulligan as to what happen to / the where abouts of the ex NZ Navy launch, nick named the Green Parrot , and at some stage named Lindauer.
In the above photos ex Mike’s family collection, we see her in North Cove, Kawau Island. The date is 27-12-1980
I’m sure Chris Leech will be able to comment on her past.
09-10-2022 INPUT ex John Newham. – photo below of her inc.1953/54 9n Naval service – with the Queen onboard.
A Whiff Of A Bad Odor At The CYA
Those of you that follow my observations on the tide going out at the NZ Classic Yacht Association will be interested to learn that the newly elected CYA committee has hit a few rogue waves – only two meetings into the new year and the vice chairperson and a general committee member have resigned – not for me to say why but here’s a clue – waterfront docks…………
Sadly as per the past, the two won’t be replaced, or if they are it will be with more ‘also-rans’ so the committee ends up weaker, as normally its the talented free spirits that protest with their feet……….
Todays woody launch – Rosella recently popped up on Lew Redwoods fb, and comes to us from the Auckland Libraries Heritage collection, and was originally taken by Frank Morris.
The photo is tagged 1930>39 and the location is Falls Park, Henderson, West Auckland.
To me a very pretty boat, the proportions are spot on. Little features make a big difference to the look of a boat – the ‘eye-brow’ on both the tram top and doghouse is an example of this.
Are we able to cast some light on her provenance ?
The 32’ Lake Rotoiti based launch – Manowai has been owned by a string of owners that have lavished time and $$ on her. That we know of, this started around 2003 when boat builder Colin Brown undertook major refit, including new interior. Fast forward to 2015 and Manowai has been relocated to Lake Rotoiti (Nth Island) and spends a year in Craig Marines shed where boat builder Alan Craig undertakes a 12 month refurbishment of her interior & exterior. At the same time she was re-powered with a 4 cyl. 40 hp Lombardini diesel.
Now in 2022 she has just emerged from Alan Craig’s shed after some serious TLC and addressed some issues with the steel screws used in her construction. Links below to previous WW stories – lots of photos and chat.
Manowai’s past is a little cloudy but she was possibly built in 1921 by Bailey & Lowe – would be nice to be able to confirm her provenance.
Half Moon Bay Marina Jan 1978Pre purchase travel lift haul out at Half Moon Bay – Jan 1978Pre purchase inspection at Half Moon Bay – Jan 1978Leigh – Aug 1978A permeant roof being built over the cockpit – Oct 1978Flying bridge being built at Half Moon Bay – Dec 1978Flying bridge being built at Half Moon Bay – Dec 1978
Ngarunui 1970s > 1980s
Back in 2015 when Ngarunui first appeared on WW Robin Elliott commented that to his mind she is the best looking boat in the Bay (Bay of Islands). Since then Ngarunui has mad numerous WW appearances – links below. The 2016 one gives a great insight into the building of Ngarunui and the 2022 give us a look down below.
Last week Mike Mulligan sent in the gallery of photos above from when his family owned her, they purchased her after selling the launch – Patina, approx. time line of ownership is late 1970’s > 1987.
During this period Mike’s father fitted the Yammer auxiliary engine and fly bridge.
Ngarunui was designed and built by Jim Young in 1955 for J.A.K. Spicer and C.R. (Russ) Pollard. She is 48’x46’x11’8″x4’3″ and was originally powered with twin GM 165hp diesels of 1942 vintage (ex-USN) + an 11hp Coventry Cub. These days the engines are a 200hp Doosan and a Yanmer auxiliary.
Our friends at the Australian Wood Boat Festival have just released another film in the ‘Boat Folk’ series.
Todays one is on the 1947 Tasmanian built 43′ yacht – Westward.
Westward started life designed as a recreational fishing yacht but prior to completion was converted to a racing yacht. Quite a successful one – winning the 1947 and 1948 Sydney > Hobart race.
After a long life of extended cruising Westward was donated to the Maritime Museum of Tasmania. These days she is back home in her home state and has been restored as a floating exhibit at the Constitution Dock in Hobart.
Down at the Milford Slipway Milford during the week and spotted a woodys that we do not see much of these days.
The 46’ 1948 Lidgard built launch – Valsan, in for some TLC, including a Jason Prew Paint Job. Valsan has been a regular woody on the site but in recent years with her owner, Ian Nicholson being based off shore we haven’t seen a lot of her.
To my eyes the keel > shaft > prop > rudder set up is a tab unusual – interested in others thoughts.
Links below to WW past stories – the 1st (2013) has a lot of photos and intel.
Earlier in the week I was visiting Thames and popped into the Thames Sailing Club marina, as mentioned the other day, first time when the tides been in – certainly has a different feel when all the woodys are floating 🙂
I went for a wander around the docks and spied the above bridge-decker – no name and crying out for some serious TLC, you could land a helicopter on the duck board.
One feature stood out – no windows on the port-side aft cabin, intentional? Or just never got around to fitting them?
I get back to Auckland and I’m showing the Thames photos to a woody mate and they tell me it may have changed hands and be joining its new owner’s armada in Auckland …………..
Can we put a name and some history to the craft?
INPUT ex Mark McLaughlin – This is KAKARIKI (launched as GEORGELLA). She is one of the three remaining Norm Beetson designed “four sisters” which have all featured previously on WW.