Mystery Yacht – C2

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Mystery Yacht – C2

All I can tell you is that the photo is dated c.1920/30’s and the yacht is sailing in a regatta in the Hauraki Gulf.

Should be an easy one to ID for those that have access to yacht registers ??

Input below from Denis O’Callahan –

“Back in the 1930s Scout was owned by one of my father’s buddies Ted Hay, who I think changed her from gaff to bermudan rig. From 30 December 1932 to 20 January 1933 Scout cruised to the Bay of Islands, the crew being Ted Hays, Jack Callagher, Bob O’Callahan (my father) and Copper Speight, who represented New Zealand at Rugby in 1893, playing 7 matches on tour. Copper was older than the rest of the crew and died at 65 years in 1935.

In 1932 it was the depression time, Ted, Jack and Bob may well have been unemployed and reading between the lines I think Copper paid for the cruise. He enjoyed it so much that he had a log typed up and I inherited a bound carbon copy. I have passed this log on to the present owner of Scout, Martin Farrand. (Of course I first scanned it and kept an electronic copy.) In return Martin gave me a copy of the excellent history of Scout “100 years astern”, written by Sandra Gorter, who also wrote the book about Ranger. To celebrate Scout’s 100th birthday in 2009 Martin took her to Newport Rhode Island to compete in a 6 Metre regatta where she was the oldest boat in the fleet. She now sports the sail number NZL-1. Unfortunately there are no photos from the 1932 cruise but I attached the cover photo from the book.”

Sea Princess / Sea Prince

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Sea Princess / Sea Prince

In the above photo we see the charter launch Sea Prince docked at Circle Cove, Lake Manapouri. Sea Princess has appeared on WW back in January , link to that story below. https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/01/12/sea-prince/

At the time Harold Kidd commented that she was built at Fairlie in 1947 by Jones Motors’ boat building division under S J Guard. She was built for the Wanaka tourist trade as Malibu. She was a 30 foot hard chine vessel with a Kermath Sea Prince 100hp engine. She was sold in 1956 and renamed (then or perhaps earlier) as Sea Prince after her engine.

Scott Barnsdale advised that she ended up as a fishing boat at Stewart Island, looking very different to the photos and unfortunately, she disappeared from her mooring during a severe gale in 1987, sadly never to be seen again.

YESTERDAY QUIZ WINNER

Very few read that email was the channel to answer, and of those that did, none had more than one boat. So after discussing with Flora McKenzie – it was decided Dick Hall’s reply in the comments section was the most deserving winner – well done Bill, a WW t-shirt is on the way – check your emails 😉

Mystery Picton Launches

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Mystery Picton Launches + Win A WW T-Shirt

The above Picton photo popped up on Lew Redwood’s fb earlier in the week, at the time Nathan Herbert commented that two of the launches are theses days moored alongside each other in Orakei Basin. I’m guessing the one on the left side of the dock (with people on cabin top) is Silver Spray, but I’m more often wrong than right 🙂

I’m sure at some stage during the day Nathan will correct me.

First woody (excluding J Prew esq) that emails the correct boat names to waitematawoodys.com wins a WW T-shirt. Mr Herbert will be the judge. 

Triesta

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TRIESTA

Earlier in the week I was mooching around the Kerikeri Cruising Club marina in Dove Bay and spotted the woody – Triesta. A total unknown to me, but some distinctive style features to her so I’m sure someone/s will chip in with details.

The marina is a gem and a credit to the KCC, there is a lot to be said for ‘club’ owned marinas versus big business owned e.g. West Harbour, Bayswater, Pine Harbour 😉

Gwenelda

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GWENELDA

I was recently sent the above photos of the launch – Gwenelda, by Mike Shaw, along with a note saying that a friend of his had bought the boat in Whanganui and knew nothing about the woodys history.

Can anyone help out and shine some light on this old girl? There appears to be a nice hull below that timber shed 🙂

Mystery Bay of Islands Woodys + Heritage Basin

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Mystery Bay of Islands Woodys

The above photo dated 1939 and tagged – Russell, comes to us from Lew Redwoods fb.

Can we ID any of the vessels ?

Short story today, as the message below needs some air time – the dullards driving this project appear to have tunnel vision and be deaf. Maybe the mainstream media need to know what is happening down at OUR waterfront.

Haumoana

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HAUMOANA

The 1949 Colin Wild designed and built launch – Haumoana has made several appearances on WW, primarily because its a Col Wild, so it is very special and secondly because its owned by a very nice Lake Rotoiti couple that kindly host us when we are at the lake for the annual Lake Rotoiti Classic & Wooden Boat Parade. Link below to past story. Haumoana measures 30’x9’5”x4’ and has undergone several refits in her life.

WW link  https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/06/05/haumoana/

One of neat things about WW is when out of the blue you get an email like the one below from Doug Peacock whose father – Chris, once owned Haumoana and kept her at Half Moon Bay marina.

“My parents owned Haumoana from about 1990 through to mid 2000’s. I was showing my father your Waitamata Woodys site last night for two reasons, 1. I’m obsessed with your site it’s really incredible what you are doing telling the stories of all these wonderful boats with so much history, and 2. Because I’d seen there were some new photos of Haumoana on Lake Rotoiti that I wanted to show him.  

Next thing he disappears down stairs for a while and came back with a photo album dedicated to Haumoana. I took a quick few iPhone shots of the photos to share with you, sorry they have a lot of reflection.  He said he has heaps more stuff he couldn’t find last night. 

Anyway I have great memories of summers away on Haumoana and am chuffed that it’s being kept in such great shape by it’s current owners.”

In the last photo above the lad on the left is Doug. Photos below of Haumoana on Lake front Rotoiti.

Luyvon

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LUYVON 

 A few weeks ago Glenn Martin sent in the above photos of woody speed boat hibernating in Taupo. Do not want to give the location away but – near the marina.

As Glenn commented there appears to be a cool hull shape hiding under that tarp. Well thanks to a WW story back in Oct 2017 by Paul Drake we know that the hull was very quick – back in c.1935/36 she narrowly missed out on being the fasted boat on Lake Taupo – just beaten by Piri Pono. Read the story at the WW link below, make sure you also read the Comments Section – good chat there. https://waitematawoodys.com/2017/10/31/three-taupo-boats/

Thanks to Paul and Harold Kidd we know that Luyvon was designed and built by Jack Taylor and launched in November 1934. She was two skin kauri and supposedly 23ft x 7ft. On her trials she attained 25mph.

I love that its tied onto the fence post – just in case it floats away 🙂

I Told A Woody Lie

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I Told A Woody Lie

Several WW stories ago I asked the question about a certain woody being the biggest wooden classic, floating down under – seems I was wrong 🙂 The 100’ Sea Breeze III takes that title surely. Built in 1976, it would have to be stamped as a ’spirit of tradition’ vessel. Formerly named Ulysses and owned by the Kiwi that tops NZ’s Rich List – Graeme Hart, these days she appears to be in charter.

Twin Detroit 12v71 450hp engines get her off the dock and know doubt deliver an impressive speed underway.

Not a classic but a woody and cool to get a peek down-below 🙂

Popeye

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POPEYE

The woody day boat Popeye last made an appearance on WW back in August 2018, at the time we uncovered a lot of history on her – see WW link to read and view  https://waitematawoodys.com/2018/08/28/popeye/

A few months ago her owner, Adrian Howitt contacted WW advising that she was most likely for sale and that he was testing the water on tme.

Popeye was built in c.1941 and started life on the Hokianga Harbour as a fishing boat. She has twice been given a birthday – back in c.1998 by Greg Lees Boatbuilders in Sandspit and in 2015 by Colin Brown Boatbuilder. 

The photos above are more recent from when Adrian gave her a ‘general spruce up’ (his words) A newish (2012) Yanmar 1GM provides the forward motion.

Nautical Car Boot Sale – This Sunday – 3rd – Sandspit Yacht Club

Seeing you have an extra hour to play with on Sunday (end of day-light-saving) why not point the car north and do a road trip to the famous SYC car boot sale – lots to see and buy + there is a live band and great coffee & food.

Sale starts at 8.30am > 10.30

Lots of other activities to do in the area, so get off the couch and head north.

WOODYS CRUISE TO CLEVEDON POSTPONED – NEW DATE TBA