Tag Archives: Mystery Launch

Mystery Launch

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Mystery Launch

The above photo popped up on fb recently with the comment ‘1982 Fishermans Wharf, Whitianga’. Sorry about the poor quality of the photo, but hopefully its good enough for someone to ID the launch for us.

FYI – sorry about the early post on WW re Athena, has been transferred to a previous Athena story…….. for some reason the WW search function didn’t work for me.

Woodys Waiheke BBQ & Pizza

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Avalon – Sam Ford Launch

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Avalon – Sam Ford Launch

A friend of mine was working last week and spotted the above woody on a North Shore property. Being a friendly chap he introduced himself to the property owner, who god bless her is well into her 80’s and lives alone. The boat has been in the family since the 1970’s and she and her late husband used to cruise the gulf in her. She even went solo after he passed away 🙂
What we know is that the owner is fairly certain the launch is a Sam Ford, 24’ in length but the husband added a few feet to the stern.
Prior to being hauled out she was kept on a swing mooring in the Beachhaven Wharf area. She may have been named Avalon.
Note the ‘eyebrow’ over both sets of forward facing windows – its an often over looked feature that really adds a salty look to the right vessel.
I’m interested in ID’ing the launch and also agreeing on the design / builder – I’ll be shot down in flames, but to my eye, she has a hint of Couldrey to her. Nathan H………….. help me 🙂
Now the interesting thing is, to the right buyer, she could possibly be acquired. Price tba but you wouldn’t need to see the bank manager for a loan 😉
I have kept names and boat location out of the story – the last thing the owner wants is a stampede of people knocking on her door.
Input from Cameron Pollard – She is a Sam Ford and named Avalon. 1954 launch day photo below.
Avalon Launching Day
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MYSTERY WHITIANGA LAUNCH

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MYSTERY WHITIANGA LAUNCH

Have not had a mystery / ID the boat story in a while. Photo taken Whitianga – late 1940’s > early 1950’s.
First woody to correctly name the boat – wins a waitematawoodys cap. Entries via email only to waitematawoodys@gmail.com
As you read this I’ll be at the Lake Rotoiti Classic & Wooden Boat Parade – lots of cool photos on Monday.
WW Caps copy
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MOTUIHE WOODYS 1987 + WIN A WW T-SHIRT

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MOTUIHE WOODYS 1987 + WIN A WW T-SHIRT
Good morning Woodys – The above photo was recently sent to me by John Newsham and is tagged ‘Wendella at Motuihe Island wharf xmas 1987’. I suspect that the yacht in the foreground is Wendella*.
Todays challenge is can we put names to the 2 launches in the photo? The first woody to correctly name them, wins a WW T-shirt. Normal t’s&c’s – entry via email only to waitematawoodys@gmail.com
* more on Wendella below from John Newsham

Yacht on the left in the pic I sent earlier is Stewart 38 Wendella, built by Claude Spooner in f/glassed ferro for his own use c1960. She had been drawn out to 39’ and made centre cockpit. Extra toilet in aft cabin. For’d head had other loo and a small mosaic tiled bath. Had pressurised hot water from the Lees/Ford 6 cylinder diesel with the exhaust up the mast heating the water (to warm in 15 minutes). Bath had to be baled out – no drain. Was used once for a child and then for stowage ‘English’ fashion. Held 2 cartons of ale and the bagged spinnaker. I crewed on her 1968/70.

Wendella was a virtual sister-ship to Bernie Skinner’s ‘Swanhilde’ which circumnavigated the globe. Pic of Swanhikde is attached here. She was wooden. Taken late 1980s/early 1990s at Coro or TeKouma.

Wendella Jan 06 built c 1962

Its not a boat but I love the VW Kombi I spotted parked up at Enclosure Bay, Waiheke Island yesterday, I was just about to snap an interior photo when I realise there was a couple ‘having a cuddle’ inside – exit stage right very quickly 🙂
Nice Land Rover as well.
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Waitangi Wharf Mystery Event

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WAITANGI WHARF MYSTERY EVENT

Todays photo ex Ross Griffin and from the Jim Shaw’s collection show several woody launches rafted up alongside the Waitangi Wharf.
In terms of the date of the photo, Maurice Sharp has commented that the bridge opened in 1933 and in the photo it appears to not be finished, so the likelihood is that its pre 1933. The assembled crowed are very well dressed so the photo must have marked some occasion of note.
Can anyone help us with the event and with ID’ing the launches?

Whangaroa Big Game Fishing Launch

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Whangaroa Big Game Fishing Launch

I have been sent a great collection of photos from the Whangaroa area, I need to digest them and pull the best together for a WW story – in the meantime I thought I would share one of the boats with you.
For once I know its identity – but can anyone give us a name and some history?
Des Townson – A Sailing Legacy Book Winner
The winner of yesterdays quiz to name the boat designer whose name has appeared the most on WW is Warren Jack. The correct answer was Colin Wild, lots of entries for Logan and Lane but the answer needed to be the designers name – not the ‘brand’ of boat. Warren was the only one with Colin Wild. There has always been a lot of discussion around the man and his yard, not just his boats on WW.
The consolation prize – a WW hat, was won by Simon Adams. Prizes in the post 🙂
Check out Fridays WW story for another great woody prize to be won.

Labour Weekend 1945 at Westhaven – Mystery Launch + Prizes To Be Won

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Labour Weekend 1945 – Westhaven – Mystery Launch + Prizes To Be Won
Check out the bottom right photo – anyone able to name the launch? I can’t but it should be easier for the WW train-spotters.

BOOK PRIZE DRAW – WIN A COPY OF ‘DES TOWNSON – A SAILING LEGACY’

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Correctly name the boat designer who’s name has appeared on the waitematawoodys site the most often and you go in the draw to win a copy of the Brian Peet book – DES TOWNSON – A SAILING LEGACY. If you don’t want to risk not winning a copy – order here today   https://destownson.co.nz
+ a bobby prize – a waitematawoodys t-shirt drawn from all email entries received – correct or not.
ENTRY VIA EMAIL TO waitematawoodys@gmail.com If you enter via the WW comments section, you will be disqualified (take note Ken Ricketts). Entries close 8pm 17-12-2019.
Todays woody model is Graeme Finch (MV Te Arahi) in front of the Cologne Cathedral. Us woodys get around 😉

Aries

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Launch With No Name .  Aries
 
Todays 45’ launch was built in 1957 by Owen Woolley. She is built from twin planked kauri and powered by 120hp Ford diesel engines that push her along at 8>10 knots.
She is big old girl – with a 14’ beam.
The photos probably do not do the boat justice, on face value – she appears to be very well appointed.
Thanks to Ian MacDonald for the tme heads up.
 
Can anyone put a name to the boat – she calls Gulf Harbour name.

MORE DETAILS AT THIS WW LINK https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/10/22/aries-4/

Woody Project – Wai Lani

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WOODY PROJECT

I can not tell you much about the above launch other than she is 29’6”, her TME listing states she is a Lane, but to quote HDK – Lane = the default name for most wooden boats. The motor and box are out, but ‘complete’ (what ever that means).
At a guess her name appears to be Wai Lani, but the photos are too low res to blow up to read.
Bids are sitting at around $650 for even if you don’t want the boat, there are some good fittings to be had 🙂
Harold Kidd Input – WAI LANI was built in the winter of 1916 by Dick Lang for H T D Lloyd of 19 Ring Terrace, St Mary’s Bay.
WW T-SHIRTS & CAPS
If you are thinking about ordering some WW branded gear – might be best to get a wriggle on, getting tight on some sizes 🙂
AND REMEMBER WOODYS – ITS PATIO BAY THIS WEEKEND
Its a Mark-Foy start for the CYA yachts so we should be seeing another tight finish. Launches are encouraged to get there early to secure a good viewing anchorage – and less rowing when returning from the legendary party / BBQ ashore.
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1967 Whangarei to Noumea Yacht Race Mystery Launch + Woody On The Rocks

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1967 Whangarei to Noumea Yacht Race Mystery Launch

Today’s photo comes to us from Lew Redwood’s fb and shows the spectator fleet that gathered to farewell the yachts heading off in the 1967 Whangarei to Noumea yacht race. We have a classic woody mid photo – my first thoughts were – Romance II but on closer inspection its not her.  So woodys – who do you think it is?
 
Southern Woodys – A question
Does anyone do or know of anyone that does, ‘private’ bare-boat charters in the Havelock / Pelorus / Kenepuru Sound / Picton / Queen Charlotte region? A very experienced woody is looking to come to a gentleman’s arrangement re the use of a launch in the Marlborough Sounds this coming February (2020). For more details email me on waitematawoodys@gmail.com
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SAD NIGHT ON AUCKLANDS WATERFRONT
Woody Angus Rogers sent in at around 10pm the photos below of the launch Rio Rita on the rocks outside the OBC breakwater. Coastguard were in attendance. It was high water so unless she was towed off, she will be high & dry. Very sad.