










The Rudder Cup From Up High











The Rudder Cup From Up High


ARGOSY – Sailing Sunday
Recently Chris Smith had been searching for the whereabouts of the yacht Argosy. Chris has just advised that he has just found her. She is sitting on the hardstand at Panmure Yacht club, where she has been for some time now. Unfortunately she has had a hard time and in particular she was damaged when another boat came off her mooring and hit her. The insurance company wrote her off apparently and she was bought by a scrap dealer, who no doubt saw value in her lead keel. Outwardly any damage is not readily apparent. The haul-out yard manager talked about ‘cracked ribs’.
Her current future is seriously in doubt as her haulage fees are somewhat overdue and the yard is talking about disposing of her.
She was built in the 1950’s at Papatoetoe by two brothers to a design by the British designer, Alan Buchanan, who was well-known for designing nice wholesome yachts. Kauri planked to the best of Chris’s knowledge.
HDK has commented that she is a workmanlike and handsome looking little yacht, not beyond repair. A great restoration project. Buchanan is a very good designer. She would be a worthwhile project for the right person.
CYA Rudder Cup Motor- Boat Race Results
The link below will take you to James Mortimers movie from the race start – tomorrow on WW I will have photos from the pre-start, start & the race + from the prize giving – but I can confirm the following results
VETERN DIVISION – STERLING
VINTAGE DIVISION = WAITANGI
CLASSIC DIVISION – TRINIDAD
OVERALL RUDDER CUP WINNER – STERLING

FLEETWING RE-LAUNCHES
UPDATE 08-12-2018 My spies snapped a photo of Fleetwing at speed, heading down the harbour toward the Harbour Bridge – looked fast was the comment.


NAPIER








Working Waterfront Boatbuilders Shed – 50 photos
As I’ve send many times before, if your want a stunning day weather wise, schedule a Classic Yacht Association event – the hit rate must be 9/10.
Over 100 CYA members & friends made the trip north to Lees Boatbuilders at Sandspit – our host for the day, Greg Lees, turned on a brilliant woody event – we had everything – woody projects underway, the best collection of 1/2 models I seen outside of the RNZYS walls, a photo montage recording the history of the yard & the vessels built over the years.
Center stage was Jenny & Angus Rogers – Mahanui, in the shed for a new deck, alongside her was a very original Chris Craft that was getting a restoration.
The varnish guru Dale has already applied 23 coats, with 6 more to come. Compared to our old girls, these American woodys are very lightly built, amazing that so many have survived.
Outside we had Anna & Nic Davidson’s – Juanita, on one slip & Barbara & David Cooke’s woody flagship – Trinidad, alongside the wharf. In midstream was Yvonne, waiting her turn in the shed.
On the hard was a selection of small craft built by either Greg, his father Tim or other local craftsman. Not woodys but certainly classic were Greg’s two English built, aluminium Albatross runabouts – the very rare 4 seater is next on Greg’s to-do list. Included are a few photos of other woodys in or out of the water.
Greg gave an articulate talk on his families boatbuilding history & how they came to be situated on the Sandspit foreshore. At the end he announced the official launch of the 2018 Rudder Cup launch race to be run on Friday 14th December to Sail Rock & back. See flyer below, I encourage all woody owners to consider participating. At this stage we (I’m on the race committee, along with Jason Prew, Nathan Herbert, Baden Pascoe & Barbara & David Cooke) are calling for expressions of interest in racing – entry to the race is by invitation, as per the original race format in 1908.
Big ups to Greg & family + staff for turning on the day, including BBQ. Special thanks also to the CYA committee members that pulled it all together.
Lastly a little something below for the petrol heads – Greg had on display his Jesser BSA 500cc twin, hill climb racer. Built in 1962 by Les Jesser, she is a 2 time Australian class champion.


