Valeeka

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VALEEKA
Recently Valeeka popped up on fb chat and then today I get a note from Wade Nisbet those grandparents owned the launch and sold her in 1953.
The photo above shows her when owned by Wade’s family, beached in the Bay of Islands after a fresh coat of anti-fouling.
Wade would love to get confirmation of what (little) he knows about the boat and also learn if she has survived and if so where she is today.
Its rumored that – she is 36’, built in 1912, builder was Bailey & Lowe. Richard Petricevich has commented that she was owned by Nicky Williams from 1953 to the 1980’s. Used as a fishing vessel in Hokianga, plus to ‘power’ the Rawene car ferry. According to Richard she also pulled the last raft of kauri logs, floated to the mill on the Hokianga. At the time of purchase she was powered by a straight 8 Scripts marine’ised petrol engine, but was later re-powered with a 4 cyl. Fordson diesel. 
Valeeka was sold to a Graeme Lidgard of Whangarei, in the 1980’s. Can someone that knows Graeme ‘point’ this WW story in his direction so we can hopefully fill in some gaps. Graeme may have sold the launch to a doctor in Thames.
 
Richard Petricevich also posted the photo below of Valeeka’s name board and bow crest – which is a little disconcerting i.e hopefully souvenired  during a re-fit and not from a wreck……….
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Harold Kidd Input – VALEKA (original spelling; named after a current racehorse of that name) was a 33 footer built by BAILEY & TYER (not Bailey & Lowe) at Hall’s Beach Northcote in December 1912 for E. Porter of Northcote. She was probably designed by C. Harrison Smith who did the design work for Bailey & Tyer at the time. Her first engine was a 12hp Hercules which was replaced by a 50hp Kermath when Noel Campbell owned her in 1923.
Log Of The Rawhiti – OOPS FIXED
If you couldn’t open the link to read/view Sunday’s story on Rawhiti’s amazing passage from Sydney to Auckland – it now ‘live again’ – click below

Zephyr

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ZEPHYR
 
Last week I was contacted by Barry Robinson of Thames re his launch Zephyr which has  made a few cameo appearances on WW. Barry has owned Zephyr for the last 30 years and she is currently stored in his shed, at the tail end of a restoration and should be relaunched soon. 
Barry commented (in his words) that he was getting on new and probably it would be good for someone else to take her on.
 
The photos above give us a glimpse of the boats evolution during Barry’s ownership. 
The first one shows her up the Waihou River and then at Whangamata in 1994. The ones on the slipway are dated 1999 and shows cabin Barry added.
 
The last three photos record a sad day up the Waihou River. Barry tied Zephyr to pole at full  tide to go floundering. Out going tide, boat sat on under water old Pier poles. Two  speared  through the hull. With tides getting bigger Barry was able to fill cabin with 10  200 litre drums and got enough flotation to clear poles and drag her to shore with two 4  wheel drive vehicles. Pulled her onto the shore with a 17 tonne digger. Patched two  pole holes and towed her to Puke bridge (Maritime Park Paeroa). Then put her on road trailer  and with a tractor, towed her to the farm at Puriri.
 
Below are copies of an article on Zephyr written by Robert and Caroline Teixeira when she was owned by well known Bay of Islands commercial sports fisherman – Joe Miller (painting)
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29-07-2020 Harold Kidd Input – The first 3 paragraphs of the text of “Legends in Our Lifetime” sound like a waterfront yarn. . “Collins and Bell” and the “site of the Bridgeway Tavern” don’t go together.but there”s a kernel of fact in there I guess. The”Negro Minister” intrigues me. I’ve heard it before and wonder if it’s a conflation of Rev, Jasper Calder, but will check out this interesting angle and see if it has legs (mixed metaphors, anyone?)

Previous WW Zephyr stories

Zephyr

Zephyr

 

03-10-2022 ex Barry Robinson – Thanks  Alan.  Yes  still  have  the  Zephyr  tucked  away  in  the  shed  at  Puriri.  It  has  remained  under  cover  for  many  years  now.  Its like an  old  friend.Most  days  when  I  go  out to  the  farm I look  at  her ,  I get  a  pang of guilt  for  not  finishing the  finale  touches to  put  her  back  into  the  water. My  son  Sean  intends  to  take  over Zephyr. 

Log of The Rawhiti – bringing her home – Sydney to Auckland Passage

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LOG of The RAWHITI – 1947 Sydney > Auckland Passage

The log is reproduced below via the generosity of the Mahurangi cruising club, who ran an abridged version in the 2020 year book. Click link below to read/view – its a cool story, enjoy

The Log of the Rawhiti

Today’s WW story is an amazing account of the return of the 1905 Arch Logan designed, Logan Bros built yacht – Rawhiti from Sydney, Australia to its place off birth – Auckland, New Zealand.

Almost immediately after her 1905 launch Rawhiti headed off across the Tasman to Sydney where she spent the next 41 years. Sadly the last 10 of those years saw her laid up on the hard, rapidly deteriorating.

Luckily for the yacht and all classic boaters in New Zealand, Sydney Ernest Marler (Hek to most) entered the scene and purchased Rawhiti and immediately made plans to sail her back to NZ. Some rather questionable repairs were undertaken and she set sail on December 17th 1947. Her crew for the passage was Hek + Peter Henley (navigator) Brian Lane (shipwright) Roy Johnson (bos’n and ships ‘surgeon’) Norman Vickery (signaller and radio operator)

The passage was recorded in the form of a ships log, written by Hek to his father Hank ((Henry Maitland Marler) outlining the voyage and the crew’s experiences. The trip took 11 days, said to be a record passage from Sydney to Russell, Bay of Islands, that was unbeaten until the 1970’s. 36 hours of the 11 days saw the yacht becalmed, so woodys she was greyhound 🙂

It would be an understatement to say it was a pleasant passage – Brian Lane is on record saying that they were very lucky, if the weather had got any worse they wouldn’t have made it, Rawhiti was hopeless at laying up into the wind. But very fast, built to race on the Waitemata Harbour not ocean passages. At times they trailed anything spare off the stern in an attempt to slow her down. Brian constantly thought she would split in two when coming down off a wave, no splash just a crash that Brian described as like being dropped off the back of a truck onto a concrete road. If he had known the yachts condition and blue water abilities, he would not have ventured past Sydney heads – but they did and Hek went on to raise a family with salt very much in their veins. Son Bruce and grandson Rod continuing the families association with wooden sailing craft.

In the mid 2000’s Rawhiti underwent a total rebuild / restoration while in the ownership of Greg Lee, Greg and master wooden boat builder Peter Brookes conducted the 7 year restoration. Without a doubt she is New Zealand’s finest restoration of a classic wooden vessel. If you search Rawhiti in the WW search box you will get an insight into the restoration.

I bet her crew on the passage back to Auckland in 1947 would not have imaged that 73 years later she would still be sailing and commanding a prime spot  on the world classic wooden boat stage. One of the worlds most admired (&selling) wooden boating items is the Calendar of Wooden Boats by Benjamin Mendlowitz and Maynard Bray. Rawhiti is centre stage in the 2021 edition for the month of March. As are two of our launches – Jason Prew’s – My Girl (April) and Peter Boardman’s – Lady Margaret (June). Owning 25% of that real estate is pretty good for little old NZ, but it comes at a price and that price is all the time that a small bunch of woodys put in making Ben and Maynard so welcome in NZ.

Copies of the 2021 edition are available at

 https://www.woodenboatscalendar.com/wooden-boats-calendar.html 

 

 

Restoration of Pakeha

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Nancy & Beaven Burrows

RESTORATION OF PAKEHA
 
One of the great things about provincial New Zealand is that cool human interest stories still make the front page of the newspaper. On Friday (24th July) Jacob McSweeny ran a story in the Otago Daily Times on the ex workboat – Pakeha.
Built in 1925, Pakeha is the pride and joy of Beaven Burrows, whose connection to the boat goes back to his youth when he used to get rides on Pakeha off the coast of Kaikoura, where his family resided at the time.
I’ll let Jacob tell the story – At 16 Beaven was intent on becoming a commercial fisherman like his father, but that was not to be.’No, I want you to stay and work on the farm. It’s my wish’, his dad said to him. Beaven has been a dairy farmer ever since but his love of boats and the sea has never ceased.

Then four years ago, a friend pointed out Pakeha was for sale. ‘I’d always loved that boat . . .so I decided to buy it.’

The old fishing boat is a true survivor. Beaven believes it may the only one from Kaikoura at that time still around. ‘It’s been washed up on the beach . . .five, six times in its life and survived.’

There was quite a bit of rot in it and so when it was brought to Careys Bay Marine Services in October 2018 it had to be stripped down and rebuilt.

The boat builders were able to rebuild Pakeha referencing old photos and Beavans’ memory of how it was. ‘It’s always been one of the nicest, tidiest boats as a fishing boat,’ Beaven said. The boat is about a week away from completion, with just electric work to be done.

Beaven and wife Nancy are planning a big trip to the top of the South Island this summer, including a visit to the daughter of the first owner of Pakeha, who lives in Waimate, and to the boat’s old home of Kaikoura.

Video link below ex the Otago Daily Times digital edition
 
Would be nice if we can add to this story with some details on the builder and what see got up to over the years?
Photos below ex Careys Bay Marine Services fb page. Thanks Lindsay Grenfell for the heads up 🙂
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Westhaven Classic Launches

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WESTHAVEN CLASSIC LAUNCHES 

Today’s photos come to us from Scott Taylor and are from the same batch that Scott sent in earlier in the week. You may recall that Scott is the son of the late Mac Taylor, the Westhaven based boat broker.
Scott told us that the photos was probably taken by himself over fifty years ago while he was tagging along with his Dad at Westhaven.
In the top photo we see the 1970, Salthouse built launch -Idler, previously on WW  https://waitematawoodys.com/2013/03/27/idler/
In the 2nd photo, closet to the camera, we have a very new looking, modern, mystery launch, which I suspect used up a lot of sheets of plywood in her construction. Alongside her is what I assume is Connie V, the 1949 Lane Motor Boat Co. built launch. These days tucked away at The Slipway Milford, previously on WW
I’m unable to put a name to the last photo – Nathan?
She is an impressive looking craft.

Fiesta – B.O.I

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Fiesta

FIESTA – B.O.I.

Dean Wright sent in the above photo of the launch – Fiesta. Dean commented that she has lived at Waipiro Bay, Bay of Islands for a while now. The ‘hothouse almost gets a WW tick, very nice proportions, colour and design. In fact if the owner contacts me – waitematawoodys@gmail.com  I’ll give them a WW T-shirt. I’ll need some proof of ownership – eg more photos / details:-)

What do we know about her?

Heads up, don’t get confused with the 31′ sedan topper, built in 1964 by Phillip Lang, also named Fiesta, that lives on the Panmure River. Details on that one at the WW link below https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/01/07/mystery-launch-4/

Help Needed Identifying Waiheke Launch

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Mystery Waiheke Launch

Today’s woody is seen anchored in Matiatia Bay, Waiheke Island and comes to us from the Williamson family collection via Mitchell Hutchings fb.
And that woodys is all we know. Looking for help on this one 🙂
Update ex Nigel Minn – She is Matanui – more here

Mystery Westhaven Launch

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MYSTERY WESTHAVEN LAUNCH 

I have been sent the above photo by Scott Taylor, son of the late Mac Taylor, the Westhaven based boat broker. Scott advised that he had been going through a box of old negatives which he converted into digital photos and came todays woody is one of them.
Scott commented that  the photo was probably taken by himself over fifty years ago while he was tagging along with his Dad at Westhaven Marina.
Are we able to ID the launch – to me it screams late 1940’s Lidgard bridge-decker and I suspect I know the owner – but I have been wrong before 🙂

1895 Bailey Gaff Cutter – IDA – Launch Celebration

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1895 Bailey Gaff Cutter – IDA – Launch Celebration
Yesterday (19th July 2020) afternoon John and Lorraine Street officially launched the latest addition to The Classic Yacht Charitable Trust fleet – Ida the 58’ (45’) gaff cutter. Designed by Chas Bailey and built in 1895 by C&W Bailey.
In December 2018 John and the CYCT shipped Ida back from Sydney where she had resided since c.1985. It would be fair to say that she wasn’t in the best of shape – but Wayne Olsen & Mike Smith at Horizon Boats did their magic and today we got to see the 125 year old woody centre stage at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron.
I have previously covered the restoration and rigging etc on WW, links below. Also below is a link to the Classic Yacht Charitable Trust website that tells the complete 125 year history of Ida. So I’ll let the photos above tell today’s story.
Below is a video clip of Johns speech – as always very informative and entertaining – turn the volume up and enjoy 🙂
Full History and Photo Gallery

http://www.classicyachtcharitabletrust.org.nz/trust_boats.htm?boat_id=16

Previous WW Stories

Princess Pat + CYA AGM Voting Oops

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PRINCESS PAT

Recently on Michell Hutching’s fb the photo above popped up as an unknown launch, hauled out at an unknown location.
The photo is ex the Williamson family collection.
Quick as a flash Jason Prew commented that the boat was named Princess Pat and that killed off the on-line chat.
Today’s woody questions are:
1. Is Jason correct? he is after all, not Nathan Herbert 🙂
2. If she is PP, what is known about her past, she has no profile on WW
3. Where is she today
20-07-2020 Harold Kidd Input – PRINCESS PAT was built by T.M. Lane and Sons in 1914. She’s been around ever since, although she spent most of her life from 1922 until 1938 as CATHERINE, reverting to PRINCESS PAT by 1944 when she was badly damaged in a collision with the vehicular ferry EAGLEHAWK. Pretty well-known launch!
21-07-2020 PS When PRINCESS PAT was in the EAGLEHAWK collision in 1944 there was a pic of her half submerged in the Herald (refer below). It showed four portholes in the port side raised deck, one forward of the chain plates. I guess it’s possible she had four to port and three to starboard (as at present), or that the the forward port one was filled in during her reconstruction or later again.
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REMINDER – IDA RE-LAUNCH @ RNZYS TODAY – ALL WELCOME
Ida Invite
CLASSIC YACHT ASSOCIATION AGM – COMMITTEE VOTING OOPS 😦

It’s no secret that the CYA struggles to attract good candidates to stand for ‘office’, but then they don’t help themselves. See below. How can you vote when you don’t know who the candidates are? Then maybe its a ploy to discourage Proxy Voting ……… nothing would surprise me 🙂
And yes woodys – I have pointed the mistake out twice to the CYA and still no advice to the members or updating the website.
UPDATE – 21-07-2020 The Oops has been fixed, 12 days after pointing it out 😉
Proxy Voting Closes at 5pm Monday 27th July 2020
Nominations Close   at 5pm Tuesday 28th July 2020