MYSTERY WOODEN MOTOR YACHT – WHANGAREI TOWN BASIN – Riddle of the Sands
Todays wooden was spotted yesterday in the Whangarei Town Basin. I’m not sure how you would describe / classify her – ‘pilot house motor sailer’ / pilot house yacht … open to input. Not a design we see much of in NZ.
Given that WTB is a magnet for international cruisers maybe she is from foreign shores. What ever her roots she is quite a big girl.
Can any of the northern woodys help us out regarding the vessel.
Speaking big girls – the rear on 65′ ARCTURUS, the 1930 John G. Alden (USA) designed schooner is a work of art.
18-09-2026 INPUT ex MARK MCLAUGHLIN – Originally called Solaris, now known as Riddle of the Sands. She is a ferro Hartley Tahitian hull built at Span Farm, with deck and wooden superstructure built by Jim Young.
Recently WW was contacted by Robert Williams concerning the launch – LADY LUCK. I need to take a deep breath when I read the email – why?, well turns out LADY Luck is a 38ft Vindex built by Jim Young, (unknown year). But a quick glance at the attached photos and I was pleasantly surprised with todays top photo – quite a looker in her day.But too sure about the look after someone got tired of sanding and varnishing.
She was part of the Auckland Volunteer Coastguard main rescue ‘Cutter Group’.
The photo showing the varnish sides was as she was leaving the Tamaki River after a thorough clean and repaint. The photos of her in mainly white colours was taken many years later in possibility Half Moon Bay Marina during the 1990’s.
Can we learn where LADY LUCK is these days.
INPUT ex BILL UPFOLD – Up until late last year Lady Luck was sitting outside a panel beater’s on Union St. Howick. it had been sitting there for a few years then disappeared. Not sure if it has been moved into a shed on the property or moved elsewhere.
INPUT ex ALAN SEXTON – Lady Luck is not a Vindex, she was a design from Jim that predated Vindex, he told the story in his self published memoirs
In late December 2025 both Ian McDonald and Brook Sommers drew attention to the classic wooden launch MOEHAU that had appeared on tme. Brook commented that she was built by Jim Young and Brooks father rebuilt the sedan launch many years ago. MOEHAU was the family boat and made regular trips to the Coromandel and Great Barrier.
Sadly after his passing the boat fell into disrepair in Westhaven Marina. Interested to learn if she sold and if so, where she calls home now.
NGARUNUI was designed by Jim Young c.1955/7, I’m unsure of the builder, can anyone advise?
Built from kauri planks, carvel on ribs, she measures 48’ in length, with a beam of 12’ and draws 4’8”. Power is via a 200hp Doosan L136T engine that gives her a comfortable cruising speed of 8.5 > 10 knots, at idle she will do 5 knots, so only slips fuel. A bonus is a 20hp Yanmar auxiliary with its own prop, not seen often these days but a nice comfort factor. The Yanmar also drives the freezer compressor.
As seen in the photos she really fits into the motor-sailer categorY. With a combined fuel tank capacity of 1200L and 800L water NGARUNUI i is well set up for extended cruising.
Back in March we sadly reported that the Jim Young designed launch – Lady Gazelle (formerly Gazelle) had been struck by another vessel and came free from her Coromandel Harbour mooring. Lady Gazelle ended up on the rocks and sustained enough damage for the insurance company to write the vessel off. Link below to that story.
We were heartened to learn that a new owner had stepped up and bought the boat and had started to repair her.
Today we can report that she was relaunched this week at Clevedon and looks as new. Well done to all those involved in her rebuild.
It saddens me to report the demise of the launch – Lady Gazelle (formally Gazelle), designed and built by Jim Young c. late 1950’s. During the recent Cyclone Gabrille, Lady Gazelle was put on the rocks in the Coromandel Harbour. Owners Mitch and Cathy Edwards commented that she had been struck by another drifting boat and cut from her mooring.
While she will no doubt be written off, the Edwards hope that the four years they spent restoring her has not all gone to waste and that someone will tender for her and hopefully repair her.
Princess – Lake Taupo
Ian McDonald also reported in that the launch Princess was blown off her mooring in Acacia Bay, Lake Taupo. Hopefully re-floated – can anyone advise. Previous WW story on the launch here https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/01/05/princess/
The Jim Young built, Couldrey design launch – Cleone, has appeared on WW before – link below, lots of details and photos. Now thanks to Ian McDonald and tme we get to have a peek down below.
Another photo from Brian Peet, the craft was designed and built by Jim Young. Brian commented that he assumes the piece of hardware on the cabin top is the exhaust muffler and if so, then that’s a maritime engineering feature thankfully consigned to the ‘no longer a good idea’ rubbish bin. 🙂
So woodys – what’s the name of the launch, who was it built for and what became of her?
Input ex Brian Peet – It’s the Tamaki Yacht Clubs patrol boat, imaginatively called ‘Tamaki’. Designed and built by Jim Young. My father John Peet was Secretary of the TYC, so became the go-between for the club and Jim to get the project underway.
Input ex Neil Chalmers – I found the below extract from ‘’ The Tamaki Yacht Club : A brief history of its 75 years ‘’ by Frank Davis 13 April 2002.By the way ‘Tamaki’ is moored at OBC and has a blue engine. I think Brian Peet and I should share the cigar 🙂
25-01-2023 INPUT ex ROBIN ELLIOTT – Neil’s input is correct. Jim Young built her but did not design the Tamaki.
Sea Spray November 1952 page 11. ” At J.H. Young’s yard was the new rescue boat for the Tamaki Yacht Club. She is built to a design by P.W. Willetts and will be finished off by club members.”
I’m not sure when she was actually launched but the second photo appeared in Sea Spray October 1953 page 38. The caption also states that she was a Peter Willetts design.
As to the exhaust, it is there because she was to rescue and retrieve crews from capsized centreboarders. Most centreboarders of the time could not right themselves (although that was quickly changing) and had to be towed to shore, partly submerged.
“Note the low freeboard and narrow decks aft, ample cockpit and the exhaust above the cabin top, out of the way of the people being rescued. …. Power comes from an Austin Skipper.”
WW doesn’t do death notices so you have to have been a good bugger to get one. Well Alan was more than a good bugger he was one of the best. He rubbed up against so many classic boat owners and admirers that I’m sure it will be standing room only at his funeral – 10.30am, Feb 1st, Davis Funeral Home, Henderson.
Our thoughts go out to his partner – Nicky and family.
Half Moon Bay Marina Jan 1978Pre purchase travel lift haul out at Half Moon Bay – Jan 1978Pre purchase inspection at Half Moon Bay – Jan 1978Leigh – Aug 1978A permeant roof being built over the cockpit – Oct 1978Flying bridge being built at Half Moon Bay – Dec 1978Flying bridge being built at Half Moon Bay – Dec 1978
Ngarunui 1970s > 1980s
Back in 2015 when Ngarunui first appeared on WW Robin Elliott commented that to his mind she is the best looking boat in the Bay (Bay of Islands). Since then Ngarunui has mad numerous WW appearances – links below. The 2016 one gives a great insight into the building of Ngarunui and the 2022 give us a look down below.
Last week Mike Mulligan sent in the gallery of photos above from when his family owned her, they purchased her after selling the launch – Patina, approx. time line of ownership is late 1970’s > 1987.
During this period Mike’s father fitted the Yammer auxiliary engine and fly bridge.
Ngarunui was designed and built by Jim Young in 1955 for J.A.K. Spicer and C.R. (Russ) Pollard. She is 48’x46’x11’8″x4’3″ and was originally powered with twin GM 165hp diesels of 1942 vintage (ex-USN) + an 11hp Coventry Cub. These days the engines are a 200hp Doosan and a Yanmer auxiliary.
