WELL, THAT’S SORTED – TWO CLASSIC LAUNCHES NAMED MA CHERIE NOW IN AUCKLAND

WELL, THAT’S SORTED – TWO CLASSIC LAUNCHES NAMED MA CHERIE NOW IN AUCKLAND

Yesterdays WW story (scroll down to view) certainly delivered the goods in terms of clarifying the questions around two launches named MA CHERIE.

Firstly Murray Deeble advised that yesterdays launch is berth in the Milford marina, Auckland.


Then Dave Forrest contact WW re the other Ma CHERIE , as seen above, mentioned in yesterdays story – I’ll hand over to Dave – “My name is DaveForrest and I am the new owner of the vessel called MA-CHERIE and I have owned her since May this year.   She is currently moored at Te Atatu , West Auckland. My MA CHERIE was built by Garth Lane in 1960/61  in Panmure , Aukland .  Her name when first built was ma- Cherie  then in 1999 her name was changed to ADI KUILA and went to Fiji as a charter boat. Then came back to NZ in  2001. Murray Sole from Whangamatā had her then. In 2002  a new owner was recored as S.C.R. Holdings Ltd in Te Atatu”

Dave also commented that he has an extensive documented history on the vessel. The WW link below from July 2014 has a great collection of older day photos , including her Fiji days. https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/08/22/adi-kuila/

COULD THE REAL MA CHERIE STAND UP PLEASE

COULD THE REAL MA CHERIE STAND UP PLEASE

Earlier in the week John Dawson sent in the above launch day photo of the classic wooden launch – MA CHERIE, a WW search threw up numerous stories linked to that name but none that match the above launch size and design.

There was a brief mention of a MaCherie being built in the early 1960’s at the Visa Ship Yard in Tauranga for a Don Shattock. The Visa name may be a typo as I recall a Tauranga boatbuilder named Bill Visser, who possibly worked at Kingfisher Boats – sorry for any confusion – hopefully we can clarify todays launch heritage.

WW also ran a story in June 2025, link below, re a launch named MA CHERIE , that had been once named ADI KUILA  that had been recently relocated to Auckland  – in my eyes not the same boat, this ones much bigger and different design. https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/06/14/classic-wooden-launch-ma-cherie-adi-kuila-lives-on/

So woodys – what do me know about todays boat.

CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT RIVER CRUISE – TRIP REPORT

MATRIA
KIWA
MANAPOURI
KIWA
NGAIO + MANAPOURI + TUHUA
KALUA
WAIKARO
MA CHERIE
KIWA + MA CHERIE
TUHUA
KIWA + KALUA
MARISTELLA
WAIKARO+ MY GIRL
RAINDANCE
MANAPOURI

CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT RIVER CRUISE – TRIP REPORT
Fridays Classic woodys cruise to the waterfront Riverhead Tavern for lunch was a grand day afloat, 13 classic wooden craft made the journey up the upper reaches of the Waitemata Harbour to the historic tavern. It was extra special with several first-timers making the trip.
We were blessed with the weather and also having just one of the tourist ferries making the trip on the day, which allowed us to berth a lot of the boat on the jetty.

Special mention to the 7 classic launch skippers and partners that came by water taxi (MY GIRL) – Cam Malcolm (Connie V), Rodger Moore (ex Te Hauraki), Jason Davies (Lucinda), and those via car – Ian Gavin (Florance Dawn), Matt Cooper (Korawai) and John Chambers (Ngarunui), Murray Deeble ( Waikiore) combined with the 13 boats on the water we had crews from 20 classic craft present on the day. Very happy with that turn out.

True to form, the tavern and its staff extended their usual warm hospitality.
Enjoy the photo gallery

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH MA CHERIE (ADI KUILA) LIVES ON

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH MA CHERIE (ADI KUILA) LIVES ON

The 53’ Lane built (1965) classic wooden launch – ADI KUILA first appeared on WW back in 2014. We didn’t learn a lot about her then but were told she spent time in Fiji in the 1980’s > 1990’s.

Then she popped up again in October 2016 named MA CHERIE and looking very smart – link here to that story https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/10/21/ma-cherie/

Then again in Jan 2023 we got a flash back to how she looked in her youth – link here  https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/10/21/ma-cherie/

Fast forward to early May 2025 and I’m contacted by the saviour of so many classic woodys – John Wright, to say they had stepped in and acquired the vessel, patched her hull up and were relocating her to the Te Atatu Boating Club to do what John does so well e.g. save and refurbish the vessel. 

We look for to following this project.
Photo below from 2016, I understand she has gone backwards since then.

RSVP TODAY FOR WOODYS RIVERHEAD LAUNCH CRUISE waitematawoodys@gmail.com

Adi Kutla  / Ma Cherie Flashback

Adi Kutla  / Ma Cherie Flashback

The 50’ Lane Motorboat Co. 1962 built launch – Adi Kutla  / Ma Cherie has appeared several times on WW, links below. Lots of photos and details there. Today thanks to Eric Sanderson we get a peek back in time – location is Auckland but no dates.

WW August 2014 https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/08/22/adi-kuila/

WW October 2016 https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/10/21/ma-cherie/

Southern Star

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SOUTHERN STAR

Southern Star has made the odd cameo appearance on WW in the past but now  thanks to Dean Wright’s camera, we get to see her ‘in-the-flesh’.
SS is owned by Craig Pippen and for a long period she lived at the Milford Marina, Auckland but these days home is Opua in the Bay of Islands.
SS would slide into WW via the Spirit of Tradition category, but unfortunately I can not tell you much about her – hopefully today will be a quiet day at Cater Marine in Opua where Craig works and he will jump on-line and share some details with us 🙂
If you are in the city later today (5pm >), drop down to the RNZYS Dinghy Locker bar for a post race drink with the CYA yacht fleet. Its day 1 of the CYA 3 day Classic Yacht Regatta and most of the fleet will be rafted up at the rear of the Squadron, so it’s a great opportunity to see some of the classics up close, with a beer or glass of Lawson’s Dry Hills wine in-hand.
Input from Murray Deeble – Southern Star ex Ma Cherie from Smelting house bay Kawau , Dave Jackson design and build

Input from Craig Pippen (owner)“Looking to transition from sailing to motoring after the big OE we found southernstar for sale at Kawau (in an unfinished condition). Having previously commissioned Dave Jackson to build a smaller version, the 32ft Telstar, it was an easy decision to purchase her.

As Kathy’s father, sailmaker Sandy Harold had owned a yacht named Southern Star(and to keep the “star” theme going we renamed her. The name change was done in the correct time honoured manner.

Powered by Gardner 6LXB, the dimensions are35ft x 11ft x 3ft10”. She is a capable comfortable vessel.

Thanks to Dave Jackson for building such a good boat and to Dean Wright for the great photos.
Cheers Craig. PS- it is always busy at Cater Marine”

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Ma Cherie

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Ma Cherie (Adi Cherie)

Ma Cherie was built by the Lane Motor Boat Co in 1962 for L.G. Foster of 4 Awatere Road, Hamilton. She measured 50’/14’6″/4′ and was powered with twin Ford 6 cylinder diesels. Her name was changed to Adi Kuila but owner Markham Thomson has done the right thing & gone back to the original.
You can find more details & photos on her past here   https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/08/22/adi-kuila/

Ma Cherie has just seen a major re-fit that included fiberglassed topsides, rot removed / rebuilt, rewired, starting/charging system upgraded, new interior, engines head jobs & new water tanks. She is looking very smart, in fact she even gets away with the hothouse up top, just the right height.
Details ex Harold Kidd.