MYSTERY WELLINGTON CLASSIC WOODY + Xmas Presents Sorted

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MYSTERY WELLINGTON CLASSIC WOODY

WW has been contacted by Martin Orme regarding a small launch that interests him as a restoration project. Martin came across it under a tree in Wainuiomata, Wellington. 

Martin commented that he thinks he can just make out the name MARETOSA on the stern, or something close to that ,  and not sure if that name is the original. So woodys can anyone help Martin out with intel on the vessel.


PERFECT XMAS SANTA SACK ADDITION – Classic Woody Calendar


Once again the team at the Lake Rotoiti Classic & Wooden Association have produced a stunning 2025 calendar – probably the best ever, but I’m biased as I snapped a lot of the photos :-)A bargain at $15 – order here https://form.jotform.com/233366600330850

CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT PUB CRUISE TRIP REPORT 40+ Photos

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NGARO

CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT PUB CRUISE TRIP REPORT 40+ Photos

Saturday was a great day for the classic wooden boating community – 13 classic craft (twelve launches and one yacht) made the journey up the river to the waterfront Riverhead Tavern for lunch.

In addition to the 13 woodys we were joined by 5 skippers and partners who made the trip by car.

As seems to always be the case – the weather and sea conditions was perfect for the trip and everyone had a great time.

Nice to welcome several newbies to the flock – these gathering are ideal for meeting fellow classic boating enthusiasts – the anchoring, coming ashore to the wharf and dining make it a shared experience and helps break the ice with ’strangers’. These days people seem loath to row up to another woody in a bay and say hi, some anything that grows the classic woody community is to be encouraged.

Saturdays cruise was the last event on the Classic Woody Calendar for the year, we will be back to you in the new year with details on more events. As always click on photos to enlarge – photos thanks to Margo Hudson & yours truely.

NEWSFLASH – as I have told anyone and everyone, the Mahurangi Regatta in late January is not to be missed. PLUS – details soon on an exciting new activity for the Sunday – the heads up – old school yachting and launch race/cruise to Kawau Island and a party at Kawau Boating Club on Sunday night. Perfect for those wanting to enjoy Mahurangi / Kawau longer eg not heading back to Auckland on Sunday morning.

A sad reminder that we were missing one of our family awaited us on the tables at the tavern – RIP David Cooke 😦

SO MANY CLASSIC WOODEN CRAFT TO BE VIEWED HERE – 1971 One Ton Cup

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LINK LINK BELOW TO VIEW

https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/the-one-ton-cup-1971

SO MANY CLASSIC WOODEN CRAFT TO BE VIEWED HERE – 1971 One Ton Cup

During the week John Bullivant sent in a link to a very cool film of the One Ton Cup series held in Auckland in 1971. So many classic craft out and about watching the racing. Personally my eye is drawn to the classic launches but there are 100’s of craft afloat. The 34 minute video is narrated by Chris Bouzaid. If you have the time watch the entire film but if time isn’t your friend – most of the spectator footage is around the 7:00 minute and again between 14:00 > 18:12 minutes. I think Lady Crossley makes a cameo appearance around 24:20 minutes.

Enjoy the film and thanks to NZ National Film Unit and NZ ONSCREEN for the original footage. 

CAN WE LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CLASSIC LAUNCH – MINAMOOKLA

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CAN WE LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CLASSIC LAUNCH – MINAMOOKLA

Todays woody photos come to us from the camera of Alan Sexton and show the launch – MINAMOOKLA hauled out at the Sandspit Yacht Club yard.

Alan commented that he believes MINAMOOKLA  is one of Dave Jackson’s builds and that woodys is all we know

More details would be nice, so if you are familiar with the boat, let WW know.

CRUISING UP THE UPPER HARBOUR TODAY FOR THE WOODYS RIVERHEAD PUB LUNCH CRUISE. TRIP REPORT NEXT WEEK

WAIWHARE – MAYBE A WOODY, MAYBE A TUPPERWARE – BUT STILL A CLASSIC 

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WAIWHARE – MAYBE A WOODY, MAYBE A TUPPERWARE – BUT STILL A CLASSIC 

Yesterday was another journey on the ‘Holiday Highway’ to Sandspit, spotted a classic craft on the marina that caught my eye – wasn’t sure if its a woody of plastic, or a combination of both.

These ‘Grand Banks’ designs offers lot of boat for the money. A friend once owned one and he always impressed visitors by asking if they would like a bath – technically more a shubb but it was a good break the ice line.

Todays craft is named WAIWHARE, my pigeon Maori tells me the name probably translate to Water House, which is probably a very appropriate name.

WAIWHARE is presented in very good condition – we like that, when an owners cares for their pride and joy.

Can we confirm the vessels breeding and build.

INPUT ex Brian Fulton – “I thought WAIWHARE meant WHY WORRY” 🙂

INPUT ex NIXON FRYER – she’s my grandads launch, Dennis Craig, Ex owner of the 28ft Couldrey Pirimanu. Waiwhare is a 34ft CHB built in Taiwan to the design of a grand banks. Power is by a 120hp Leemans Ford. And yes she is fibreglass hull and topsides but absolutely covered in teak inside and out. Next time aboard I can get some photos for a peak down below.

MAKE LIFE EASY FOR YOUR KINSFOLK THIS XMAS – Tell them to buy you a copy of the 2025 Mahurangi Cruising Club Year Book. Always value for money and choker full of great tales and amazing photos of our classic wooden craft. It will be in store next week at the retailers shown below – $20 well spent. Edited / crafted by design guru Steve Horsley, who has promised me that they is a fair division of yacht / motorboat photos. I know there is a least one launch article – I wrote it 😉

SAD DAY YESTERDAY IN THE CLASSIC WOODY BOATING COMMUNITY

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SAD DAY YESTERDAY IN THE CLASSIC WOODY BOATING COMMUNITY

Yesterday, one of the seriously good men that I called a friend, – left us – David Cooke, skipper of TRINIDAD. David lost the battle in his amazing fight to beat the cancer that was razing his body.

Most other humans would have surcomed a long time ago but not Cookie, he amazed us and his doctors with his ability to counterattack and box on. But even the best can’t take the number of blows that David did for so long and the body said enough.

There will be a lot more said about David,  the ‘seriously good bugger’, but today our thoughts and love go out to Barbara and the Cooke family. 

MYSTERY WELLINGTON WOODEN LAUNCH

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MYSTERY WELLINGTON WOODEN LAUNCH

Todays woody made an appearance on Bob Jones fb, thank you John Dawson for the link. The location and identity of the launch / motorsailer hauled out created some debate. General consensus was the Wellington region, with potential being – Petone foreshore, Balaena Bay / Evans Bay. Would be nice to confirm the location.

As to the vessel – my monies on VAGABOND – photo below and previous WW story links. VAGABOND was built / launched by Joe Jukes in 1926. A ’sister’ ship to NEREIDES.  Jukes yard was located in Balaena Bay, which adds weight to the photos location.

WW Jan 2016 https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/01/10/vagabond-sailing-sunday/

WW Feb 2018 https://waitematawoodys.com/2018/02/08/vagabond/

⬇THIS SATURDAY ⬇

CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – FLORENCE – Getting Some TLC

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – FLORENCE – Getting Some TLC

The classic wooden launch – FLORENCE has made several cameo appearance on WW, mainly via Dean Wrights camera as he has been cruising the Bay of Island.

Back 2013 we had a peek down below and then in2014 we had a wonderful insight into her past – links to this two stories below

Oct 2014 https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/10/29/florence-3/

April 2013 https://waitematawoodys.com/2013/04/09/florence-1910-hn-burgess-motor-launch/

Last week while in Opua for the re-launch of ALMA G II, I spotted FLORENCE hauled out. 

Florence was designed and built in 1910 by H N Burgess, Parnell Auckland – as was yesterdays woody ALBERTA – that man had a very good eye for designing good looking craft.

The question of the day – what’s happening on the bow with this two small section cut out, both port and starboard sides.

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – ALBERTA – 4sale

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LAKE ROTOITI CLASSIC & WOODEN BOAT PARADE

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – ALBERTA – 4sale

The classic 1913 wooden launch – ALBERTA was designed and built by H N Burgess, in Parnell, Auckland.

Alberta is a woody that I have always admired when visiting Lake Rotoiti, she has a rather prominent waterfront berth and is one of those lucky craft that looks dam near perfect from any angle. 

Her specs are 28’ in length and has a beam that would make her a trailerable classic – given the cost of a marina berth in most NZ cities thats a serious bonus.

Powered by a 30hp Lombardini, new in the boat approx. 5 years ago, with 138 hours on the clock – not a lot of places to go to on the lake 😉

Configured currently as a day / picnic boat she is all good for overnight / weekend cruising.

Fresh from a visit to one our best classic boat yards (Craig Marine) where she had a refresh to paint and varnish work.

Starting to sound like a woody 4sale advertisement – well she is. And probably the buy of 2024, even allowing for transporting her back to the Waitemata and setting her free again 🙂

Link here to a 2022 WW story – lots more photos and links to previous ALBERTA stories https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/09/15/alberta-a-peek-down-below/

Interested parties contact her owner Jon Dustin for more details – honedustin@gmail.com

INPUT ex PAUL DRAKE  – I came across the photo below of ALBERTA which I took in 2006 at North Harbour Marina. Pre Rotoiti days and without a dodger.

LOOKING FOR HELP IDENTIFYING THIS WOODEN BOAT

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LOOKING FOR HELP IDENTIFYING THIS WOODEN BOAT

Todays woody story could be a long reach – but the woody universe is longer, so fingers crossedHarold Kidd was recently counted by Lindsay Woodward regarding the launch – MINERVA, that Lindsay believed was once her grandfathers (Charlie Woodward).    

Harold commented that he was pretty sure the launch in the photo supplied by Lindsay is not her grandfather’s MINERVA. Records show that the grandfather’s  launch was a 30 footer built c.1912 by Miller & Tunnage in Port Chalmers. The vessel pictured above is much bigger and a later build. Harold also is of the belief that the location of the photo may be Port Levy, Banks Peninsula, South Island.

So woodys can we put a name to the above launch and possibly learn more about her.

Input From John Gander: The photo looks like the Claud Wells boat “Noeline’ 45’ x 11’ 1932 and built for the French Pass D’Urvile island mail run


NOT TO LATE TO RSVP FOR NEXT SATURDAYS WOODY CRUISE TO THE RIVERHEAD PUB FOR LUNCH

RSVP – TO waitematawoodys@gmail.com