CLASSIC DES TOWNSON 30’ YACHT – FALCON + Win a copy of the book – DES TOWNSON A Sailing Legacy

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CLASSIC DES TOWNSON 30’ YACHT – FALCON + Win a copy of the book – DES TOWNSON A Sailing Legacy

As most WW readers will know, Des Townson never designed an unattractive craft, that skill is harder to do as the size of the vessel decreases. I have often said on WW that very few people can get a >30’ craft looking ‘right’.

Mr Townson excelled himself with the design of the 30’ keeler – FALCON (Reg. #873), as seen above.

Falcon was built / launched in 1965 and constructed from double diagonal kauri, and no f/glass ✓.

Her owner Grant Wylie has been the custodian of FALCON for the last 17+ years and contacted WW to say that age and health were against him and could we help locate a new owner.

I asked Grant about headroom and I had to laugh at his reply – “Yes & No”, Des’s design eye always won out over comfort 🙂

FALCON is powered by a Bush 20hp engine and sports a KIWI prop. She is well kitted out for gulf cruising but needs a refresh, which is reflected in Grant’s price expectations.

A great opportunity to acquire for a modest price a classic yacht from the design board of one of New Zealand’s most paramount designers.

Continue to enjoy her as she is or put your sanding / painting skills to use this winter and prepare yourself for the compliments at anchor this coming summer.

Interested parties to contact Grant initially via email – grant.wylie@xtra.co.nz

AND AS AN ADDED BONUS TODAY – ANSWER THE QUESTION BELOW CORRECTLY AND YOU ARE IN THE DRAW TO WIN A COPY OF Brian Peet’s book – ‘DES TOWNSON A SAILING LEGACY’. A 343 page  insight into the man and his designs.

Enty ONLY via email to waitematawoodys@gmail.com

Question : HOW MANY INDIVIDUAL DESIGNS DID DES TOWNSON TURN OUT ?. (in the event no one gets the correct number – closest wins)

CLASSIC WOODEN BOATS NAVIGATE THE OHAU CHANNEL

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CLASSIC WOODEN BOATS NAVIGATE THE OHAU CHANNEL

Todays woody photo popped up recently on the postcard’s of old NZ fb page via a Marcus Hurst posting.

 The location of the photo is The Ohau Channel, that connects Lake Rotorua and Lake Rotoiti.

I know the channel is still in existence as the Lake Rotoiti Classic & Wooden Boat Association run an annual raft / float day down the channel – not sure what the depth is these days.  Any of the Lake WW readers able to put some names to the craft we see on the waterway.

CLASSIC WOODEN EX WORKBOAT – ARIANA / GLENROWAN / TE KAWAU

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c.1950’s

CLASSIC WOODEN EX WORKBOAT – ARIANA / GLENROWAN / TE KAWAU

Earlier in the week WW was contacted by Sven Wiig the owner of the classic wooden ex workboat – ARIANA. ARIANA made an appearance on WW back in Oct 2020 – link here https://waitematawoodys.com/2020/01/10/ariana/

I’ll hand over to Sven to tell the story – 

“Today I had a bit of a breakthrough researching my boats history. You may remember I bought ARIANA in about 2020 and have been searching for more information ever since. A while back I discovered that before she was named ARIANA and before GLENROWAN she was named TE KAWAU as shown in the top photo above which I had just discovered.

The other photos are also from the 1950’s. She was then owned by Bill Ryland and fished out of Wanganui. Bill owned her until 1974 when she was sold to the Turner family and moved to Nelson where John Turner ran her. Sometime in the 1980’s she changed hands again and was renamed GLENROWAN then to the John Stewart who had her converted then I bought her. 

So I’m hoping someone knows who owned her before Bill? The Turner family knew of the boat in the 1940’s as old man Turner fished on her then, possibly out of Picton. My best guess is that she was built by Lanes of Picton but searching the records does not come up with her name. I have been told that she may have been built in Lyttleton so maybe Millar Bros? She is similar to other boats built by Lanes and Millar and Tunnage so who knows? 

ARIANA / TE KAWAU is currently still on the hard where I have been undertaking a major rebuild / restoration of her.”

WW has asked to be kept updated on the project, so fingers crossed for more stories. In the mean time can we learn more about this classic woody.

Check out the size of the snapper on the trailer in the b/w photos

The photos below are from the Oct 2020 WW story.

CLASSIC LAUNCH KOURA – Your Own Dockside Retreat 

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CLASSIC LAUNCH KOURA – Your Own Dockside Retreat 

Todays woody story has a twist to it – while the launch KOURA is a genuine classic wooden boat her days afloat are over. Not by neglect or mishap – read on to hear her story and hopefully one of you might be the next custodian.

Back in October 2023 WW did a story on KOURA – below https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/10/02/koura-a-sunset-cocktail-cruiser/

At the time she had been transformed into a land based ‘man-cave’. Her new ownershad bought Koura to enable Chris Devereaux  – a passionate boatie – to enjoy owning a vessel again despite being confined to a wheelchair. The family had many happy cocktail hours aboard her and their grand children had fun sleeping aboard and playing captains and pirates  in the holidays. Restoring and creating the KOURA  as she is today gave Chris a purpose and much joy.

Sadly Chris succumbed to his auto immune disease in late May and now partner Barbara Harris is selling their Whangarei property and KOURA needs a new home.

So woodys – if any of you are interested in buying her  and continuing her story Barbara would love to chat. Whilst KOURA would be very cool as a ‘man cave’ , there must be a grandad out there with some spare land that he could install KOURA on. Me thinks that overnight you would become #1 grand parent.

If you or someone you know has room in their life for KOURA – initially contact Barbara at  Bjaneharris1@gmail.com

CLASSIC  WOODEN BOAT – KOMUTU – A Peek Down Below

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CLASSIC  WOODEN BOAT – KOMUTU – A Peek Down Below

Back in October 2019 woody IanMcDonald sent in some photos of the wooden launch – KOMUTU on the hard in Whagarei.We learnt that she was built by Curnow & Wilton in Motueka in 1950>52 (launched Dec 1952) to a Cliff Nalder design. Spec were 42’ x 12’ x 3’6”.                      

Lots more intel in the WW link below.
WW Oct 2019 https://waitematawoodys.com/2019/10/23/komutu-whats-on-for-the-long-weekend/

Fast forward to early 2025 and thanks to a tme appearance we get to have a gander down below. Forward motion these days is via 230hp Detroit 671 engine. 

MYSTERY LAKE BOAT – CAN WE ID HER

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MYSTERY LAKE BOAT – CAN WE ID HER

Todays woody photo comes to use from John Dawson. John believes the location is most likely Lake Rotorua, this is based on the photo album it came from. So if not Lake Rotorua maybe Lake Rotoiti.

Would be nice to put a name to the launch and learn some of her history.

2025 FIORDLAND CLASSIC BOAT FESTIVAL REPORT

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2025 FIORDLAND CLASSIC BOAT FESTIVAL REPORT

One of the many publications WW receives is ‘DEADWOOD’, the newsletter of The Picton Clinker & Classic Boat Club. They are an amazing club and so proactive. Each month reading the newsletter makes me feel very positive about the NZ classic wooden boat community, we need more clubs like the PC&CB thru out NZ.

The latest issue of DEADWOOD featured what I believe was the inaugural Fiordland Classic Boat Festival, held on the weekend of May 23>25 2025. I have included a few photos above and enclosed a PDF copy (below) of the newsletter for those wanting to read more.

The event also celebrated the tourist boat FAITH’s 90th birthday, a truely stunning woody operated as a charter boat by Fiordland Heritage Cruises – photo below https://fiordlandhistoriccruises.co.nz
Which reminds me I must do a WW story on FAITH’s provenience. 

COPY OF DEADWOOD NEWSLETTER

Clinker newsletter no 224 July 2025Download

YESTERDAY MYSTERY LAUNCH UPDATE – the mystery remains but I can tell you its not ARIES. Could go into a lot of details but simplest answer is only 2 pots holes – ARIES had three and they were round, not oblong – refer below photo. A tip use the WW search box before casting your vote 😉

CAN WE ID THIS CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH + Win A Off Centre Harbor Cap

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CAN WE ID THIS CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH + Win A Off Centre Harbor Cap

Todays woody photo was sent in by Nathan Herbert and shows a classic wooden launch probably berthed at Westhaven Marina, Auckland.

Nathan commented that the date was c.1960’s and that the launch had a Woolleys look to her.

She is one of those boats that looks very familiar but we can’t put a name to her.

So woodys – the first person to correctly* ID the launch wins a OFF CENTRE HARBOUR cap. All entries via the WW comments section. *NOTE: WW must be able to verify the launch name. 

VIEW OFF CENTER HARBOR HERE – offcentreharbor.com

UPDATE ON THE CLASSIC LAUNCH – COLUMBIA

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UPDATE ON THE CLASSIC LAUNCH – COLUMBIA

On Wednesday we asked for more information on the classic wooden launch – COLUMBIA and the WW readers delivered, link here to that story https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/06/25/looking-for-information-on-classic-launch-columbia/ . 

Then on Thursday night Sandra Gibson sent in the gallery of photos above and advised that “Columbia has been restored by Stanford Boatbuilders, as she had been gutted. And she is now powered by a V8 Cat and she is 2 meters longer. Cruises at 14 knots. Modernized inside and very comfortable.”aunt 

Reviewing the book cover below, her exterior hasn’t changed much in the last 30 years.

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – NAUTILUS GETS SOME TLC

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – NAUTILUS GETS SOME TLC

Earlier in the week one of the WW spotters, Alan Sexton, dropped WW a note to say that the 44′ Oliver & Gilpin 1964 built classic wooden launch NAUTILUS was hauled out at Sandspit Marina for some TLC. Always good to see the big old girls being looked after. My lips are sealed but NAUTILUS is another classic woody owned by one of NZ’s yachting ‘royalty’.

The first grouping of photos is as of this week, the b/w photo is probably as launched, and the last lot are from approx. 4 years ago + a peek down below (again 4>5 yrs ago). Forward motion is via twin120hp Isuzu diesel engines.

We understand home these days is the Whangateau area.