WOODY CLASSIC WHALE BOATS 

Something a little different today – whale boats. The photos above come to us from Don MacLeod and were taken at the recent regattas – Kawhia on Jan 1st and Te Waiter on Jan 4th.

The photos show the 5 boats that took part, Kawhia Harbour is the only place in the world that holds rowing regattas for whaleboats.

Don commented that the competitors range from 10 years old to the aged, everyone is welcome. The crowd was fantastic and the beer cheap.

Two of the whale boats were built in Auckland in the 1880s and shipped to Kawhia in 1910. The other 3 were built in the 1990s.

The construction is Kauri plank with bent hardwood frames.

Photo #1      Kawhia whaleboat – built in Auckland in 1880s, shipped to Kawhia in 1910

Photo #2       Kawhia whaleboat – built in 1990s

Photo #3       Te Waitere whaleboat (brown)  built in the 1880s in Auckland

Photo #4      Te Waitere whaleboat (blue) – built in the 1990s  Kawhia waterfront on regatta day

Photo #5       Oparau whaleboat = built in the 1990s