Yesterday WW was contacted by Jan Berber who is trying to uncover what became of her father’s classic wooden launch. The launch was named Norwind, 36’ in length , made from kauri and slept six. Some intel that Jan has some recall on – she may have had outriggers originally and sailed out of Tutukaka. Her engine possibly a Fordson diesel that gave her a cruising speed of 8 knots. She was sold in the early to mid 1970’s. Jan’s father’s name was Max Greg and he owned Norwind in the 1960’s, during this time she was moored at Westhaven, Auckland. Jan recalls that when purchased she had painted coamings but Max stripped all the paint off and restored her back to the beautiful kauri.
So woodys – cast your mind back 50+ years – does anyone recall Norwind and can we learn what became of her. Jan would love to hear that she is still afloat.
The 30’ 1914 Lane Motor Boat Co.designed and built launch Mapu has just emerged from the Blair Boats yard in Oromahoe, Harare (Far North) after a some TLC.
Mapu is one of the lucky woodys, still in the family of the great grandfather that built her. Like most woodys from her era she has undergone several additions / configuration to her tramtop / doghouse but the hull is still the original solid carvel planked kauri.
While it appears from the photos that she has lost her varnished coamings – I can report they were never varnished – the finish was a very smart brown paint and made of ply.
Mapu has appeared numerous times on WW – lots of history and photos in the links below.
Has it stopped raining………. I’m too embarrassed to tell you how many nights I’ve spent on the boat this year, makes the return on investment look very sad. But thankfully most of us don’t measure life on that template.
So on the assumption that the current meteorological conditions will end , we have pulled together a calendar of woody gatherings for the 2023 spring > summer period. Later in the year we will publish the 2024 calendar.
So woodys circle these dates on the calendar, and we will talk to you closer to each event.
In the meantime, light the fire and open that bottle you have been saving for a special occasion.
The 36’ Fraulien Maree would probably just just slip into the CYA criteria as a classic, designed and built by Jim Ashby in 1967. Her tme listing states that she is a Mullet design, someone from the yotting fraternity will have to explain that. Built with kauri planks on Kowhai frames and matte decks. Rather a sexy stern.
Her interior is very salty with that classic Herreshoff look – white panels with varnished trim.
When the wind dies there is a 30hp Vetus diesel to push her along.
When I was sent the link below re a proposed maritime anchor watch rule I had to check the calendar to make sure it wasn’t April Fools Day.
Seriously – What is Maritime NZ on? Read below ex a Yachting NZ post on the story –
“Maritime New Zealand recently stated that all vessels (recreational and commercial) must maintain a continuous anchor watch (lookout by sight and hearing) under Maritime Rule Part 22.5. Maritime NZ has recently shared the interpretation as: “At all times – during the day, during the night, when travelling to and from fishing grounds, fishing, while at anchor, or drifting.” With this interpretation, you may be breaking the law by leaving your vessel at anchor to have a walk ashore or going to sleep while anchored in a typical pristine protected anchorage.“
There was a poll / survey by YNZ calling for feedback, sadly that has closed off. Hopefully enough people responded telling them to stop interviewing their typewriters and actually talk to the boaters out there.
UPDATE – It would seem that Yachting NZ have got themselves a tad mixed up and made news out of something that wasn’t news.I received the note below from Jim Lott – I’ll let Jim take us thru the situation –
“This is not a joke and it has always been the case. All vessels are technically required to keep a watch at anchor.I’ll wear my ex-hat as a nautical school tutor and examiner for a moment.You suggest there is a new interpretation about recreational vessels and keeping anchor watch.For the past several decades (last Coll Regs rewrite was in 1964) there has never been an exemption for recreational vessels from keeping watch at all times (which includes at anchor) in the rules. All MNZ has done is confirm existing legal requirements, even if many yachties are unaware of it.Indeed, all the sections in the Maritime Transport Act and Rules made under the Act, including “Coll Regs”, Navigation Safety rule, and also regional Bylaws apply to all vessels all the time.There is an additional requirement for any ‘hire and reward’ i.e. commercial vessels to be surveyed to meet a set standard, and the skipper/crew to have a formal qualification (ticket).All other requirements including any penalties or fines apply equally to recreational and commercial alike.So where does that leave us?Nothing has changed so I suggest carrying on as usual, but be aware of the legal requirements.If we all sleep at night, or all leave the vessel, the skipper is still responsible for what happens on board. If a watchkeeper on board could have prevented an incident such as dragging, sinking or fire, then the skipper may have committed an offence under the MTA for “endangering property”, but I have never heard of a fine or prosecution for failure to keep a lookout while at anchor.Should, or could, NZ exempt recreational vessels from the international law we signed up to? It would require the change to be put through cabinet and being an international agreement, it is highly unlikely.(Insurance companies state that boats at anchor must not be left unattended for over 24 hours.)Other information Re: anchoring, you may be interested to note that there is nothing in the Coll Regs to say that a vessel underway has to give way to an anchored vessel. However the ‘ordinary practice of seamen’ to do so has been confirmed in court cases, and the obvious practicalities apply.There is an anchoring section in the Navigation Safety Rule to say that when anchoring, a vessel must not put at risk another anchored vessel. It means that if you drag into another you are at fault, or anchor too close and bump someone you are responsible.”
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Just click the email link here and tell me your name, postal address and number of caps required. I’ll come back to you with payment details – $38 + $6 p&p. waitematawoodys@gmail.com
Todays woody was nearly one of those projects that got started then life and time got in the way – thankfully Simon Raikes discovered the hull and took on the project.
What we see above is the result of Simon’s very talented skills. Simon’s company Craftbuilt won the 2023 Supreme Award at the Master Joinery Awards.
The launch is 30’ in length, constructed of diagonal laminated kauri planks and powered by a 80hp Ford D series engine. Not a lot more is known about the launch, so if anyone recognizes her – let us know.
The launch Nana popped up on tme 4sale by boat yard as a ‘As-Is-Where-Is’ sale.
Someone needs to snap her up – she has blue blood – designed by C. Bailey Jnr. , and built in 1934 by Chas Bailey & Son . 35’ in length and a very pretty woody.
Nana has appeared on WW several times – back in Feb 2017 she had just been repaired after being t-boned on her mooring by a wayward vessel. Link to that story with lots of pictures here https://waitematawoodys.com/2017/02/01/nana-resuced-restored/
Woody John Dawson sent in the above photos of the vessel – Gaylene, and commented that they were dated Jan 1955 and the event was her official launching.
Based on her configuration, its safe to assume she was a work-boat, hard to read but her reg # may be AK96.
Location – the old viaduct, possibly near the P. Vos Shed. A quick scan of the P. Vos book – ‘Launching Dreams’ didn’t uncover her build name, so its not a Vos built woody.
The question today is what became of her and is she still around.
INPUT ex Chris Rabey via Russell Ward – GAYLENE has been Gisborne based for many years, I think she is still there. I took the picture below a long time ago in Gisborne.
INPUT and photos below ex Cameron Pollard – sadly Gaylene is no longer afloat, sunk. Unsure of reason, location, date.
A woody friend, Andrew Christie also sent me a link to a 3 minute birds-eye video of the fleet filmed by Saxton Thomas – what an impressive gig. I can see Jason Prew salivating over this 🙂
It always amazes me when people trying to sell a vessel go to great lengths to tell you about how many it sleeps, how comfortable it is and I quote “features an actor winch” but tell you nothing about the age , who built it etc. Its a little like advertising on trademe – Car For Sale, 4 tyres and comfortable seats.
Putting this to one side – Triton V is 45’ in length, powered by twin Ford 120hp diesel engines, giving her a cruising speed of 8.5 knots.
Can any of the Motueka woodys enlighten us more on Triton V.
INPUT EX RUSSELL WARD – photo below was given to RW by Layne Stephens of Triton in her original form. Russell commented she would be much more liveable with that top but he would rebuild the original. Original owner Ken Butland used to take sea scouts out to teach navigation. She had a folding chart table and the orders would come down an ex Navy voice pipe from up top. Triton slipped along quite well with her original petrol engines – quite a slippery wee hull. Joe Tatham had her in the 1960s and his kids reckoned she was a real roller.
And more ex RW – Colin Wild built her but refused to do the open bridge that Ken Butland wanted. Lanes finished that off. She was a little MTB and rather tasty. Layne Stephens did the closed in wheelhouse up top in later years. More habitable but I preferred her original config. An early owner was quite tall and had the wheelhouse top raised -you can see the line. Dunno where the V came from.
AND THE WINNER OF SATURDAYS QUIZ RE THE LOCATION OF THE AUCKLAND MOTOR YACHT CLUB LOGO IS – Russel Ward . The answer was on the front door of what is now the RNZYS Training Building in Westhaven.
Todays story on the Logan yacht – Gypsy, appeared on WW back in June 2013, given the increase in viewing numbers since then e.g. from less than one thousand to tens of thousands, a lot will not have seen the sinking of Gypsy’s and her rebuild – enjoy 🙂
We have some very generous & talented people in the wider classic boating community. The story of the collision & sinking of the Arch Logan designed 1939 yacht Gypsy has been well documented & can be viewed here http://gypsy.org.nz.
Yesterday I took some photos of her out on the Waitemata. You will see the owner has gone back to a cabin top that closer matches how she looked when she was launched, we like that. Well done to everyone & to John Pryor for bringing her back from the deep.Thanks to Jason Prew for the salvage photos.AH
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