Haven’t offered up a prize in a while so today is a goodie. Thanks to a Mitchell Hutchings fb post we get to share the two brilliant photos above of the St Mary’s Bay area. Mitchell commented that the photos were dated 1980 but he was not sure of the date. Neil Gillard also commented that the date was more like the 1960’s, as at that time he was serving his time at Chas Bailey’s yard and he recalls the boats (probably the ferries) being moored there then.
This how the quiz will work – each launch you correctly ID, gives you one point – get all there right and you have 3 chances in the draw. ID only 1 = 1 chance. Launch (c) will be a challenge.
THE PRIZE: A copy of the Jenni Mence’s superb tome – ‘K-Class – The Hauraki Gulf’s Iconic Racer-Cruiser’ – 360 pages of photographs, illustrations and tales from the skippers and crew that sailed these stunning classic yachts.
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
# 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
Update 05-07-2022 1st coat of the shinny stuff goes on
Classic Woody Yard Mooching
Dropped into The Slipway Milford the other day, very pleased to see the 1937, 38’ Sam Ford built launch – Menai, getting some serious TLC after languishing at the CYA’s Heritage Landing for many years, dockside chat was it was a permanent fixture.
As with most things in life, boat ownership goes in cycles and with new owners she is get the attention she deserves. Always nice to see painting prep well executed i.e. back to bare wood – that kauri looks as good as the day Sam Ford fastened it.
I understand a new engine has been installed so the TCL is serious – we like that 🙂
While there the 1945 K-Class – Jenanne was getting a Jason Prew Paint Job, the photo is coat one of two top coats, already very slick.
Now a tip on how to get marine engineers to come down to your boat – keep your engine room as ship-shape as the 1965 Owen Woolley built launch – Adonis – the man from the Moon didn’t even have to put his overalls on 🙂
Let me draw your attention to a scary fact – there are only 10 weeks till Christmas Day, so my question to you is – will you be on the water over the Christmas / NY holiday period?If you have been thinking that 2021 is the year you move up to owning a classic wooden holiday home – read on.
KIARIKI Woodys with age-less classic looks, racing pedigree and un-rivalled provenance are very few and far between in New Zealand, so when the time comes for an owner to start looking for the next custodian, the drums start beating.
The yacht Kiariki was designed by owner Jack (John) Brooke and built by John / Jack Logan / John Salthouse and launched in 1959. Using the best kauri, her specs are 40’ x 8’9” x 6’. During the Brooke family ownership period she was always one of the top 3 yachts in the K Class fleet. But to the Brooke family Kiariki was as much a family cruiser as a racer, and John Brooke had a wonderful ritual of recording every cruise in the form of a chart overlaid with caricatures of notable and amusing events – refer examples below.
After a period of ownership outside of the Brooke family – Russell Brooke acquired Kiariki back in 2009, completing the ownership circle – grandfather > grandson and commenced a restoration at the Salthouse Yard – Russell’s brief to the yard that originally built her was simple ‘return her to the thoroughbred form she was in when she was launched’. The work included her decks stripped, caulked and painted – new fastenings, teak rails, sea-cocks, hatches and skylights. The cabin top roof was replaced and her interior was refitted. Not surprisingly her planking did not need repair – originally fitted by Jack Logan, his perfectionist approach meant the hull was still as good as it was when it was new.
I would recommend that anyone interested in Kiariki or in fact the K Class, should purchase a copy of the magnificent book ‘K CLASS – The Hauraki Gulf’s Iconic Racer – Cruiser’.
Chatting to one of the leading lights of the K Class division, they had this to say “Kiariki is one of the faster and larger boats in the fleet and of course with great provenance. I was on board a few years ago and she certainly appeared to be one of the best in the group”. Another K Class owner commented that he recalls that in Kiatiki’s last season of serious racing, she beat Katrina (one of the fastest boats in the fleet – then and still today) across the line in 11 straight starts – so whilst a very comfortable cruiser, to use the horse racing term – Kiariki has got legs.
I can advise that we have been tasked with finding the next custodian for Kiariki – so woodys if you or someone you know wants to be cruising this summer – initial expressions of interest to waitematawoodys@gmail.com
30-10-2022 UPDATE – Kiariki has had a post winter tidy up, and will be ongoing detailing over summer. The K Class would have to be one of the smartest looking keelers afloat.
MARORO + SPECIAL INVITE TO VISIT BOAT BUILDER – PETER BROOKES SHED Thames woody – Brian Thomas, sent me the above photo of his launch Maroro, that he and his son have spent the last 8 years rebuilding at Kopu. Since her recent relaunch she now resides at Thames Marina. The above photo was taken of her from the Thames Wharf Cafe. In his note Brian mentioned a blog that featured the rebuild but I have been unable to trace it or get more intel from Brian, so today’s story is a bit of a ’name & shame’ i.e. hopefully Brian will see this and be in touch 🙂
From the photo it appears to have been a very smart restoration.
SPECIAL INVITATION – A Peek Inside One of Your Best Wooden Boatbuilders Shed
You are invited to an open afternoon at Brookes Boatbuilders, to view the restoration of:
Fife Yacht, Impala
Refit of K class yacht, Katrina II
Restoration of Launch, Amakura II
The many other wooden boats at the yard – Matia, Ladye Wilma, Kotiri, Pilot Cutter, Kenya II (Peter’s own classic launch)
DATE: Sunday 1st November
TIME: 2pm-7pm
ADDRESS: 108 Woodhill Park Road, Waimauku, Auckland These invites only happen every 3>4 years so woodys do not miss out, it will be an amazing afternoon.
Today’s launch was designed American designer – Ted Brewer and appears to be based on the traditional Maine lobster boat. She was built in New Zealand in c.1989 from strip plank cedar epoxied and glassed. She measures 30’ overall with a beam of 9’1″ and draws 2’4”. A fully reconditioned Nissan SD22 provides the forward motion.
Her tme listing (thanks Ian McDonald) is very impressive and she appears to be good value for the asking price. Home port is Kerikeri.
WIN YOURSELF A COPY OF THE HOT OF THE PRESS BOOK – K CLASS
This could be the final WW competition before Santa slides down the chimney. As always – entry is via email only to waitematawoodys@gmail.com
Entries close midnight Friday 20-12-2019 . All correct entries will go into the draw for a copy of the book – K Class by Jenni Mence. Plus a bobby prize – a waitematawoodys t-shirt, drawn from all email entries received – correct or not.
Q waitematawoodys editorial assistant – Flora McKenzie shares her name with a pioneer Auckland business women from the waterfronts past. What line of business was Flora in? Remember – enter via email only.
The above photo is dated 1956 and the venue is Seatoun Wharf in Wellinton. Not sure how the launch got onto this situation but hopefully she survived. Anyone with a non-self draining cockpit can relate to this. One of your worst nightmares.
I’m still getting late orders for WW gear for xmas, trying hard to fill the orders and post so they get out for xmas. Even doing a few deliveries to WW loyalists 😉
Mahurangi Cruising Club Year Book – the best ever, its packed with photos of both launches and yachts – seems my constant nagging has finally paid off 🙂
Grab a copy at Boat Books, either at their Westhaven store or on-line.
The above photo of a launch hauled out at Maraetai Beach c. late 1950’s > early 1960’s, comes to us from Ian Richards, the son of the late John Richards, via Ken Ricketts.
Ian recalls going out on the launch when here was a young boy (born 1961).
Today’s woody challenge is can we ID / confirm the name the above boat? It may not be easy, read below.
Ian has a view that it was called Lady Ellen, after his grandmother – Ellen Muir Richards, but the name board while having two words visible, they appear too short to read Lady Ellen. Also things are some what confusing – in the 1950’s the Richards family owned a Mcgeady launch named Lady Ellen (which is not the above boat), they sold this boat c.1962 to Harry Collard. The Collard family went on to own Lady Ellen for 55+years.
So – is todays b/w photo an earlier Richards boat that shared the LE name, or just a random photo from the Richards family album? (love the clinker)
Either way its a great segue to the fact that Lady Ellen, now owned by Bruce Mitchinson is scheduled to be re-launched this weekend after a 4 year refit 🙂
Input from Ken Ricketts
After contacting the several members of the extended Richards family, Ken has advised that the boat is Lady Fay and most likely one of the Sam Ford ‘ non pounding design’ series, which he built in the later 1940s-50s.
Ken also obtained a history of the family’s boating life, which covers two generations & with the help of Harold’s input, is as follows;
# John Augustus Richards owned the following (starting with) LADY FAY > LADY ALLYSON > LADY ELLEN > AMYRILLIS (KOALA).
# His son, John Glanville Richards owned in the following order:
LADY SANDRA, (Ex Len Peckham) > the yacht CORMORAN (steel offshore c.50’, twin diesel) > the yacht CHIVAS REGAL (built for him) > 2 launches (built for him) both named JOANDRA. The second of the 2 being c.60′, designed by Bill Upfold & built by Vaudrey Millar, post 2000, & launched very shortly before he passed away.
Last Nights K Class Book Launch
The launch party at the RNZYS was a stunner, the audience reflecting the status that the K Class has always enjoyed on our Waitemata Harbour. The book is both a great read and a thing of beauty, I was lucky to get an advance copy and have been savouring it for the last week. It is the perfect Christmas gift for anyone with salt in their veins. Contact the author Jenni Mence via email to order a copy. jenni@kclass.co.nz
If you are of Scottish ancestry and consider yourself lucky – I have 2 copies to give away on WW, I just have to think of a suitable entry quiz 😉
Well woodys, I’m officially in the count down mode, only just over two weeks and Santa will be sliding down the chimney, or air duct 🙂
The trees up and the diary is looking manic eg next week I’m helping deliver Lady Crossley (pictured above) to her summer berth in Russell, Bay of Islands, feeling a bit chuffed with the invite, as you will see the skipper normally has smarter crew. Then I have a boat launch next weekend, so next Mondays WW story will be a stunner.
Plus trying to organise myself and the boat for the summer cruise.
So woodys today I’m giving you a heads up on a few dates and stuff – so the wheels do not fall off between now and the 25th.
WAITEMATAWOODYS GEAR – If you have not already, get you Xmas order in NOW – perfect xmas Santa sack present – details below
K CLASS BOOK LAUNCH – Monday 9th Dec -5.30pm for 6pm start – at the RNZYS – all welcome , just RSVP to jenni@kclass.co.nz
If you can’t make it to the launch – order a copy via Jenni Mence at the above email address.
DES TOWNSON – A SAILING LEGACY – Copies still available for pre Xmas delivery – order here. https://destownson.co.nz
LOTS TO WIN – Between now and the 24th I will be running some cool competitions – so stay alert 🙂
Its Christmas so a wee bit of cheer. The trees up and I thought last nights dinner was a stunner – marinated blue nose, on brown rice salad with cherry tomato salsa. Just finished dinner and ping the phone goes, a friend email messages me a photo of his BBQ tonight………can’t trump crayfish 🙂
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