Rangi – Sailing Sunday

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RANGI -Sailing Sunday

In the top photo we see the B Class yacht – Rangi on the slipway at the W.G Lowe shipyard in Auckland, just prior to the start of the first Trans-Tasman Yacht Race in 1931, I believe there was only 3 yachts entered – Oimara (Australia), Teddy (Norway) and Rangi (NZ) – Teddy won.

In the second photo we see her being towed to the start line, and in the bottom photo, on the left is Alan Leonard, owner of Rangi, alongside Alan, steering the yacht is Master Lowe, the grandson of the builder of Rangi. The occasion is welcoming Rangi back into Auckland after the return voyage from Sydney. 

The race was held again in 1934 with only two boats entered – Te Rapunga (Germany) and the legendary Ngataki, with Johnny Wray at the helm – won by Te Rapunga. 

The photos comes to us from the Auckland Libraries Heritage Collection.

UPDATE: John Newsham has advised that Rangi was originally named ‘Schopolo’ and was built as a ‘schnapper’ boat for the inshore fishing trade – see photos below (ex Little Ships) . She was driven ashore at Cascade Bay, Norfolk Island when the crew was ashore after a wind change (1951)

UPDATE: Photo below, ex John Newsham, of Ngataki and te Raupunga at the state of the 1934 race. Ngataki (photo ex Century of sail) was sailed to Tahiti in the 1930s – John’s father’s cousin – Nip Colebrook was in the crew. John often used to see Wray cruising around Waiheke in his pre-war launch. He would always gave him a big wave  – mid 1960s.  

Una

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UNA 

Today’s photo is of the magnificent Royal Australian Navy sloop Una. HMAS Una was built in 1911 at the Bremen Vulkan shipyard (Germany), named Komat. On October 9, 1914 she and her 57 crew were captured by an Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force. She was then sailed to Sydney as a war prize. I have to say a very impressive score 🙂

During the time in which the Una was in service under Australia, the sloop was used as a Patrol and General Purpose Vessel. The sloop was used to patrol the areas of New Guinea, New Britain, New Hebrides and Malayan waters. After World War I, Una was decommissioned and taken to Port Phillip Bay, renamed Akuna and used as a pilot vessel. She was finally broken up in Melbourne in 1955.The small launch in the foreground was named Rex.

SOS at Scotts Landing

I received an email from James Groenhart giving me a heads up re a very smart double ender named Sentosa that is currently on the piles at Scotts Landing, & is at imminent risk of having an outboard well cut into her lovely hull. James commented that he had been told she was a slightly smaller sister ship of “Tuna”, possibly built on the Kaipara circa 1906.

She is for sale, for probably not much money. No engine or prop. Shaft is still in place but has been cut to remove the engine. Interior is basically stripped out. She needs a lot of work, but the hull looks pretty good, & she has some nice original features eg the original D front cabin has a nice profile. Someone save her – Owner is Paul 021 182 8135

Wairoa

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WAIROA
Today’s woody is a very salty looking workboat that has several features that step her up from the pure work horses that got thrashed around the Hauraki Gulf. Being a looker is probably why she survived and looks so good in the photos.In top photo she appears to be alongside the wharf at Russell in the Bay of Islands.The second photo looks like the eastern side of Marsden Wharf, Auckland and was taken by Dave Balderston c.1980.

The photos come to us from Dave Stanaway and Dave commented that he thinks Wairoa spent time on the Kaipara Harbour.

Can anyone tell us more about Wairoa and hopeful where she is today.

Lock down has seen the paint brushes coming out and my better half emerged from the spare room with a very cool (I think so) painting of Raindance 🙂

12-09-2022 UPDATE ex Sharyn Rogers – photo below Wairoa. When Sharyn’s father, Hugh (Val) Valentine was the fishery officer running her out of Whakapirau.

Victory – A Peek Down Below

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VICTORY – A Peek Down Below

Back in June 2016 we ran a story on the 1939, 40’ bridge decker – Victory (link below) now thanks Ian McDonald and tme we get to have look below decks. In the WW link there is some great history on the launch from Paul Drake.

https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/06/13/victory/

We know that she was designed and built by Jack Taylor in Nukuhau, Taupo. Victory is powered by a 80hp Ford Diesel engine that gives her a cruising speed of 8 knots. As per a lot of lake boats, Victory has a 12hp Yanmar auxiliary engine for trolling .

From 1939 to c.1973, Victory was used as a commercial charter boat by Jack and his two sons. She remained within the family until 1982 when she was sold another Taupo resident.

Te Rata

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TE RATA

More photos from the Auckland Libraries Heritage Collection, this time it is the launch – Te Rata built by W.G Lowe & Son’s, Auckland.

In the launch day photo we see Bob Adams, Tom Blackie and Jean Dickenson. An axe is being used to break a bottle across the bow.
A very smart looking launch, so as always – what became of her?

Kiriana

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KIRIANA MYSTERY LAUNCH 14-09-2021

Todays photo comes to us from Auckland Libraries Heritage Collection, many thanks Tim Barnett. Can we ID the boat and uncover some of her past – unless she has gone south, in the above configuration she isn’t known to me. Possibly named Ritunha or Rihuria.

UPDATE – correctly ID’ed by Nathan Herbert as Kiriana

And to my fellow Auckland woodys – another week of Level 4 lock-down …………. I try to steer clear of politics on WW but this is too much – open the borders and lets get on with business and life, Covid is here to stay, we just have to live with it.

Leeway

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LEEWAY 

Back in late 2020 I had an email from the owner of Leeway, Dick Knegt , and I asked former details / photos on the boat, but never heard anything back. Fast forward to last week and being ‘ so over lock-down’ I was chasing up some unanswered emails and I gave Dick a nudge – bingo back came the above gallery of photos.

What we know is that Leeway is a Donavan built bridge-decker. Built Dick thinks in 1958 in Auckland. She stayed there a while then went to Tauranga where she had a duckbill added to her and became a charter vessel for a number of years. Then went to the Malborough Sounds and then to Nelson. Dick and Vicki Knegt purchased her there and she now resides in Motueka. 

Can anyone enlighten us more on her past

Peggy Bawn

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PEGGY BAWN – 1894 G.L. Watson Cutter

Today thanks to the UK site ‘My Classic Boat and Bob Aylott we get to have a peek at one of the best classic yachts ever – Peggy Dawn, her owner Hal Sisk shows us around his beautiful 1894 G.L. Watson 36ft Cutter. Filmed in Cowes and The Solent on a day with not a lot of wind.

Hal Sisk also gives us a great insight into the genius of designer G.L.Watson.

If the above video has wet your whistle for more on the water time – check out below these links form the WoodenBoat Forum 

Link below to very cool vicarious cruising experience http://forum.woodenboat.com/showthread.php?279187-Cruise-of-the-Ketch-Julia
If you have more time – read the back story about the boat and the fit out – get tips and photos http://forum.woodenboat.com/showthread.php?279187-Cruise-of-the-Ketch-Julia

Anyone know Adam Leyden? If so, ask him to contact us at waitematawoodys@gmail.com

Leitner

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LEITNER

Leitner the 1913 Harvey & Lang built launch has just popped up on trademe, thanks Andrew Pollard (via Jason Prew) for the heads up. She last appeared on WW back in Sept. 2013 and that story has subsequently been updated numerous time with details and photos. Link belowhttps://waitematawoodys.com/2013/09/21/leitner/

Back in the 1940’s she was a real looker (b/w photo above) and in recent times while her appearance has been altered a lot, she was still a very smart woody (3rd photo above) from the listing it appears she has fallen back a little but at an asking price of $7,000> that is a lot of classic launch. Who’s looking for a project?

Clean Out At Thames Marina

See below – seems they are moving on some of the squatters 🙂 The notices appeared in the Set 10th. issue of ‘Thames – Neighbourly’.

What Happened To Kiwa

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Te Atatu BC Aug 2020 ex Jason Prew

UPDATE: Photos below ex John Wright who reports she has been repowered with a Doosan diesel and the boat is in fine condition.

What Happened To Kiwa

Back in Sept. 2014 Russell Ward gave us a heads up about the classic ex work-boat – Kiwa being transported from Hokianga to Auckland, sadly we never uncovered where she went or much about her. Yesterday hunting for a photo of a boat, I found an untitled folder with the photos above of Kiwa, but no details on where or when they were taken. 

Can we assume she made it to Auckland and underwent a restoration? If so where is she these days? Link to the 2014 WW story below

https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/09/30/boat-on-the-move-kiwa/