Tag Archives: Eileen Patricia

DOCKSIDE WITH THE WOODYS – Auckland’s Wooden Boat Festival 2026

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DOCKSIDE WITH THE WOODYS – Auckland’s Wooden Boat Festival 2026

(CLICK PHOTOS TO ENLARGE)

Yesterday’s WW post focused on the undercover displays and the surrounding shore-side activity (scroll down if you missed it). Today’s instalment is a gallery from two days spent wandering the floating docks. Why two days?

The simple answer — there were just too many woody folk to catch up with for a quick chat. Every few metres another familiar face appeared, and before you knew it ten minutes had disappeared talking boats, projects and plans.

On the weather front the forecasters got it spot-on. Sunday turned out to be the pick of the two-and-a-half day festival, with warm sunshine and a welcome cooling breeze.

Between dockside wanderings I managed to sneak into a couple of the speaking seminars. One featured designer supremo John Welsford, the other Paul Stephanus, director of the Australian Wooden Boat Festival in Hobart. Both presentations were knowledgeable, insightful and — most importantly — highly entertaining.

Because Auckland’s greater boating community is spread across a wide geography — marinas, rivers and estuaries scattered from the inner harbour to the outer reaches — the public rarely gets to see our classic wooden boat fleet gathered together in one place. That’s what makes an event like this so special. Seeing so many woodys together is a reminder of just how strong and diverse the fleet really is.

Of course none of it happens without the owners. They put an enormous amount of time — and more than a few dollars — into getting their boats “show ready”. Beyond the camaraderie shared with fellow woody owners, the real reward comes from the reactions of the public. Owners might shrug off the compliments, but the praise, smiles and pats on the back certainly help offset the many hours spent sanding, polishing and crawling around the bilge.

Now, I know it’s not a beauty contest… but if I had to pick a few personal favourites from the docks they would be:

SAIL — RANUI
The 1936 ex-workboat designed by Korinius Larsen. Looking at her today, the standard of presentation is closer to a superyacht than a working boat.

MOTOR — REHIA
The 1938 Colin Wild designed and built motor launch. Over the last five years she’s been undergoing a rolling restoration, and every time I see her she looks better than the last.

TRAILER BOAT — LADY MAREE
A circa-1950 Cresta Craft classic runabout — pure period charm on a trailer.

TRAILER YACHT – I missed the detailers, has the look of a John Welsford design – can someone supply details ✔️ thanks. ‘Mystery’ solved – its a Welsford Navigator ✔️

As mentioned yesterday, events of this size don’t just happen. They require the efforts of hundreds of volunteers, organisers, exhibitors and supporters.

So a big salute to everyone involved in bringing the 2026 Auckland Wooden Boat Festival together. It was an impressive celebration of our classic wooden boating movement.

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – MONTEREY Gets some TLC + Updated Labour Weekend Woody Activity At Kawau Island

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – MONTEREY Gets some TLC + Updated Labour Weekend Woody Activity At Kawau Island

Last week I did the right thing and helped a wounded friend deliver his classic woody – MONTEREY to the Slipway Milford for some TLC, while there a quick inspection showed up some dodgy previous work that needed sorting out.  Worm damage to the stem/keelson that had been ‘bogged up’ and when the cabin sides were fibreglassed the f/g was taken over the beading, right up to the glass – perfect trap for moisture > rot.  Was impressed with the low level of growth on the hull after 2+ years in OBC. If that was Bayswater you would have needed a spade. 

Also out or waiting their turn was EILEEN PATRICIA, IONA II, and the Salthouse Southern Star 37 – CAPTAIN TOM.

UPDATE INFO ON THE LABOUR WEEKEND KAWAU SPRING SLASH REGATTA

Bill Couldrey And His Boats – Help Wanted

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BILL COULDREY AND HIS BOATS – Help Wanted

Book author and publisher – Jenni Mence (she will hate me using that intro, but its true) whose last book was the uber cool – ‘K CLASS – The Hauraki Gulf’s Iconic Racer Cruiser’, has committed to another mammoth publication. This time focusing on the Arnold Francis (Bill) Couldrey design and boat building bloodline.

Currently in the final research phase, Jenni has called out to WW readers for help identifying the boats and discovering / confirming things like –  the boats built and when, the current owner and/or anyone (owner or otherwise) who has a story to tell about the boat. Jenni would also love to talk to anyone who has memories of Bill himself.One has to assume many of the boats won’t have lasted the distance, however there may still be stories or family photos hanging around of them.
To help keep things semi organised we have broken it into loose categories

MULLET BOATS / 18 FOOTERS & SAILING DINGHIES

# Athena # Shamrock # Hawke # Limerick # Mamaru # Surprise 

# Desdemona # Lanai # Freedom # Nancye # Sonoma # Salome 

# Tamarus # Gay # Maui # Nudger # Kea # Mawera. 

YACHTS

# Gayleen # Awatere # Tarawai # Ocean Phoenix

LAUNCHES

# Pirimanu # Kereru # Cleone # Manunui # Reremoana # Tirimoana # Lisa Ann

# Rag Doll # Natalie # Cabaletta (may have previously been called Latitude) # Deborah Ann

Any further information anyone has on any of these boats – or other Couldrey boats we may not yet have identified would be really appreciated. 

As a reward for your input, everyone that helps out will go into the draw for a copy of Jenni’s K CLASS book + the best photograph submitted (judged by Alan H) also goes into a draw for a another copy of the book. Thats 2 Copies To Be Won. Draw Close off date is August 1st – just in time for Father’s Day

Initial Contact To Jenni Mence at jennimence@gmail.com

Mystery Bay of Islands Yacht – REGULUS

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Mystery Bay of Island Yacht REGULUS

On morning of 13th March Dean Wright spotted the above yacht off Moturua Island in the BOI.

A mystery to Dean and myself – can anyone put a name to the boat and tell us about her?

Input from John Bertenshaw. -the mystery schooner is Regulus , a William Hand design originally from San Francisco. Its been in the bay for some here. Circa 1928 build or so IIRC. Photo below 

The Mence armada, below, sharing the Slipway at Milford this week 😉

Jeanne & Eileen Patricia

The Balmain Bug

Hugh Gladwell sent in the above YouTube link to a very cool video on the Australian Balmain Bug – the six foot skiffs that hav been racing on Sydney Harbour for over 130 years.  As Hugh joked – perfect for someone wanting to get into classic yachting without the marina fees 🙂

A Couple Of Woodys Needing ID’ing

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A Couple Of Woodys Needing ID’ing

Now in the photo above we see on the right a launch that one would have to assume is the 1933 Arnold Couldrey designed and built launch – Eileen Patricia. I bounced the photo of Peter Mence, ER’s custodian and he is in agreement. The question of the day – what’s the yacht under tow? Peters guess was the yacht be by Teddy, that wa Slater wrecked off/on Kawau Island.

See WW story below, note there is a mismatch of dates, but we get that with old stories. Enlargements of the two vessels below + a link to Peter and Jennis stunning restoration of Eileen Patricia. (photos ex Andrew Donovan collection)
https://waitematawoodys.com/2015/04/26/the-wreck-of-teddy-sailing-sunday/

https://waitematawoodys.com/2019/05/20/the-launching-of-eileen-patrica-1933-classic-motor-boat-50-photos/

Busy Morning at Milford

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Busy Morning At The Slipway Milford

  1. Final prep to Eileen Patricia for a relaunch this weekend (photo below)
  2. The very regal Brooke family launch – Linda, was eased out of the shed after nearly 2 months of serious TLC, most at the hands of grand daughter Grace and partner Calvin. Fantastic to see 3 generations helping with the relaunch. Robert Brooke commented to me the other day that Linda has never looked so good – thats high praise from Robert. Also nice to see Robert back on the tools, my lips are sealed as to why his services were called upon :-)I caught up with son Russell and he was full of praise for both the standard of workmanship and facilities at the Slipway Milford, the project was split between the family and the Slipways Cam and Jason delivering another showroom the paint job + a few engineering odd jobs. Russell was also like Robert, over the moon with the kids (his word) diligence on the project. The future of the classic wooden boating movement is looking very rosy when you see two early twenty year old piloting Linda down the Milford Creek on their own.
  3. As soon as Linda had slashed, the Slipway boys were hauling Nathan Herbert’s launch – Pacific, out for her turn in the shed – photo/video below.
Eileen Patricia
Pacific
READ MORE https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/08/04/why-you-should-hold-off-paying-your-classic-yacht-association-subscription/

Woody Easter Weekend at Kawau Island

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PACIFIC

MY GIRL & LUCINDA

LUCINDA

EILEEN PATRICIA

HAMI (WANDA > WANDA II)
WOTAN

WOODY EASTER WEEKEND AT KAWAU ISLAND

Today’s photo gallery of woodys comes to us from the camera’s (phones) of Jason Prew and Nathan Herbert and were taken over Easter weekend in and around Kawau Island. Boats featured are Jason’s – My Girl, Nathan’s – Pacific, Peter & Jenni Mence’s – Eileen Patricia, Jason & Yan Davies – Lucinda. Plus cameo appearance from Paul Tinghy’s yacht -Wotan and Madeline Rundle’s launch Hami (previously Wanda / Wanda II).


Lucinda was built in 1930 by LC Coulthard and has just been re-launched after undergoing some running repairs at The Slipway Milford. Work included re-powering – out went the 50hp Perkins and in went a 100hp Isuzu, giving her a top speed now of 14>15 knots.

Milford Creek

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MILFORD CREEK (aka Wairau Cove) 

Very early start yesterday – left the marina in the dark, no issues with that but it was a 3.60m high tide so the harbour was full of junk / driftwood. Just off North Head there was a loud clunk, followed by multiple clunks – had collided with a 12m+ very bendy Pohutukawa branch, thankfully it was dispatched without having a relationship with the propeller.  The reason for the early departure was a quick trip to The Slipway Milford for a trip to the beauty parlour – 2 hour turnaround – water blast the bottom, fix a few scrapes and dents – Raindance was starting to look tad like a work-boat 🙂 Amazing what you can achieve with the right tools, product and a heat gun 🙂 thanks Jason Prew.

 
Along side Raindance on the #2 railway slip (there is 3) was Eileen Patricia, also getting some TLC, heads up – never ask EP’s owner to ice a cake for you…… 😉


As I was heading out of the creek, I had to wait while the very smart ex workboat – Te Hauraki came into the marina, on route to The Slipway Milford for some work to her decks. She always looks the part – her shape and paint scheme work perfectly.

Mahurangi Regatta – Woody Weekend – 196 photos

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MAHURANGI 2021 REGATTA –  196 WOODEN BOATING PHOTOS & VIDEOS

WoW what a weekend – perfect weather, perfect location and as always stunning boats. We saw a record turn out for the classic wooden boat parade on Saturday morning – the crowd ashore at Sullivans was a little thin on the ground, but if we are honest, we do not do it for them – its all about us 🙂 , a little like going for a motorbike rumble. We need more events where we just ‘hang-out’ together.

The regatta’s main event – the yacht race appeared to be a big success, the A-Class Logan –  Rawhiti, in the hands of her new owner – Peter Brookes, cleaned up all the major trophies. As has become the norm at Mahurangi races, the results process was a total balls up, it was very dark and late into the night before the final, final results were announced – fingers crossed its all kosher, last year it took days and numerous oops lets try that again announcements 🙂


The big band beach BBQ, was a hit, perfect on all fronts – weather, tide, the band, bbq’s and the people. Given the number of boats in Bon Accord Harbour, Kawau Island, most people headed there on Sunday. The Kawau Boating Boat was bursting at the seams but handed it well. I have split the photos into 4 galleries – Classic Wooden Boat Parade – Yacht Race – Beach BBQ – More (includes Kawau). If I missed your boat, you were somewhere I wasn’t, or in the wrong light , or your’e boats ugly (joking – sort off).
Enjoy a peak at the weekend., click individual photos to enlarge. Next weekend I’m off to the Lake Rotoiti Classic and Wooden Boat Parade –  its a biggie – they have 70+ entries  

CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT PARADE

YACHT RACE

BEACH BBQ

MORE + KAWAU ISLAND

waitematawoodys@gmail.com

Classic Wooden Boat Picnic – 20 photos

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John Dory
Arohanui
Eileen Patrica
  • Kereru
John Dory
Lady Crossley
Centaurus

Classic Wooden Boat Picnic – 20 photos

Firstly I need to thank Predictwind for Saturdays forecast, 100% on the button, as usual. One woody at the picnic didn’t come by boat based on the forecast published in Saturdays NZ Herald newspaper……………….. I suspect they also believe the horoscopes in the same paper are factual.


The morning started off a tad eerie with a sea mist blanketing a lot of the sea area off the east coast – but this burned off late morning and we then enjoyed perfect weather. The NZH and coastguard weather forecasts saw the numbers of launches attending drop to 12 but great to see so many turning up by car. Also very fine to have 3 past CYA chairman in attendance – Steve Cranch, Rod Marler and Peter Mence.
The waterfront based Stillwater Motor Camp is an idyllic setting for a gathering of classic wooden boats – deep water wharf access to raft up to + a tree shaded lawn. After some interesting docking (too many dockside expects) we had the launches tied up and everyone then decamped to the lawn. Special thanks to Mark Edmonds (Monterey) for again coordinating the venue.
A lot of the group had not caught up since the CV-19 lock-downs so it was good to swap stories and boating plans for the upcoming summer.


There has always been good camaraderie on the water between boaties and its something that we foster at Woody Classics Weekends – proof of it in practice is seen below in the photo of Rod and Fiona aboard Arohanui taking Murray Deeble’s Waikiore under tow. Towed him all the way back to the entrance to Milford Creek, where another woody – Jason Prew had ventured out in rather unpleasant conditions to get Waikiore back on her Milford berth. Well done to everyone.

Message for Murray – “should have bought a Yamaha” 🙂

Next Woodys on the water event – November 8th – Riverhead Tavern Lunch Cruise