The 1919 classic – PHYLLIS M (once named WAINUNI) was built by the boatbuilder Fred Mann as his own vessel. She as made several appearance on WW , two of those stories are linked below.
These days she calls Sandy Bay, Waiheke Island home and reviewing the photos sent in by Angus Rogers has found her happy place.
CLASSIC YACHT – MARERE I1* – Looking For A New Home
Recently WW was contacted by the owner of the mullet boat – MARERE asking for help finding a new custodian for the yacht.
MARERE was built by Fred Mann in 1919 at his yard on John St, Ponsonby. She was designed by Ralph Goodwin, who owned her until 1923, when she was passed on to Olie Goodwin who kept her until 1935. (*note – sail number is I ONE)
In the gallery of photos above we she her in 1922 in a Henry Winkelmann photo and in the more recent colour photos, given the outboard on her transom. I’d guess late early 2000’s.
In the last photo she is wrapped up for storage, waiting a someone with the passion and wherewith-all to return this 105 year old piece of NZ’s maritime history to her former glory.
WALL OF SHAME -I think I need to start a wall of shame – woodys whose owners need to better care for their craft or pass it on to someone that will.
First Photo On The Wall – LEXIA, the 1904 Chas Bailey Jnr. Built yacht.
Back in 2016 the launch Phyllis M popped up on WW and was harshly listed as a finalist in the Husqvana Chainsaws Boat of the Year Awards. She popped up again in 2020 looking very smart after receiving a ‘top chop’. From these stories we learnt from Harold Kidd that she was built by Fred Mann in 1919 and named Phyllis M, when sold in 1953 her new owner, Clive Power, who renamed her Wainunu, and then later changed back by another owner to PM. Search either name in the WW search box for more details and photos.
Fast forward to yesterday and WW was contacted by Vic McDonald, Vic and partner purchased Wainunu in 1995 from Mark Power, Mark is the nephew of Clive Power. The McDonald’s owned her until August 2005. Mark Power and family restored and refurbished the craft after she had been stolen and scuttled in Big Muddy Bay, Waiheke Island.
In the photo above Phyllis M / Wainunu is seen during the McDonld’s ownership period. Vic commented on the original butterfly wing hatches, brass portholes and 2 masts with roller furling sails. The Lister engine had a dry exhaust from the top of the forward mast.
The craft has had a very interesting and colourful history, a lot of which was covered in a Jan 1995 Boating NZ article – refer below (click on photo to enlarge) Also below a very early photo.
Phyllis M Goes Topless Back in June 2016, I posted a photo of the launch Phyllis M with rather a large addition to her dog-house, photo below, at the time it created interesting chat re the +/-’s of the addition. Link below https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/06/25/phyllis-m/
Woody Angus Rogers on his summer cruise aboard Centaurus, snapped the above photos of her in Man O War Bay, Waiheke Island. As you can see she is now minus the addition – if the owner contacts me, I’ll drop a WW t-shirt in the post as a thank you 🙂 waitematawoodys@gmail.com
In the previous WW story Harold Kidd advised that Phyllis M was built by Fred Mann at John Street, Ponsonby in December 1919 for himself. After Fred died in 1945 she was sold to Clive Power who renamed her Wainunu. I understand many years later Keith Munro, changed her name back to as launched.
In the second photo below, Angus captured a stunning sunset at MoW – shot with an iPhone 😉
The photo of todays launch popped up Mitchell Hutchings fb page. Mitchell commented that he had been given the photo but there was no reference to its origin or the name of the launch.
Nathan Herbert has proposed that it might be Wainunu (photo below ex Nathan Herbert) or Phyllis M, anyone able to help us out ID’ing the launch?
Harold Kidd Update – Definitely WAINUNU (ex PHYLLIS M) built by Fred Mann at John St., Ponsonby in December 1919 for himself. She was sold to Clive Power in 1953 who renamed her WAINUNU and used her for yacht club work and a Coastguard auxiliary.
Photo below of Phyllis M ex Nathan Herbert
I was floating around on Saturday / Sunday so tomorrow I have a good collection of classic woodys out enjoying one of the best weekends of the summer.
The photo above of Phyllis M was taken recently in Smoke House Bay, Great Barrier Island. She would have to be a finalist in the Husqvarna Chainsaw Boat of the Year Awards 🙂
I know that some ww readers will beat me up for focusing on the construction added to her rear but bloody hell here we have a pretty motorboat that is obviously well loved, just look at the hatches & mast – that has been altered to suit an individuals personal requirements with no consideration to her historical design or aesthetics. I accept each & everyone of us can do what we want but you have to ask yourself, does the owner own her because its a cheap way to go boating or are they a classic wooden boat fan. The way she is cared for & presented leads me to think they do love her, so I have my fingers crossed that one day Phyllis M well have a top-chop 🙂
What do the woodys know about her past?
ps had a great response to yesterdays story about the Auckland Motor Yacht Club burgees (below), have a pile of applications for my assistant Flora McKenzie to review, so if you think your classic is deserving of flying one, send me an e-mail. waitematawoodys@gmail.com