Mystery Launch 08-09-2017

LEONE tbc

Mystery Launch 08-09-2017

Last year I was sent the above photo by Ken Ricketts, who obtained the photo of the bridge-decker from a Mrs Carol Stewart. The background around the photo is a little hazy so I’m asking the WW readers for their input.
Ken is confident the boat is Leone, as he says an old friend, Ray Bailey, owned a similar looking vessel in the 1970’s. Back then she did not have the coamings as seen in the photo fitted.
Ken tagged the photo ‘Leone – owned by Merv Cunningham c.1988’. Via a friend (Dennis Ross), I knew a Merv Cunningham around that time & I recall he owned a launch, but believe it or not I was a yachty back then & did not pay much attention to motorboats, so I do not recall what she looked like.

So woodys, anyone know the vessel & her past?. Also what became of her?

Mystery Lidgard Launch

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Mystery Lidgard Launch

The above launch is only a mystery because the broker has not revealed her name.

I can tell you that she was built by Lidgard’s in 1955, is 35’ in length, with a 10’5” beam. She has a kauri planked hull. The zoom zoom comes from a 120hp Ford diesel & home is the Marlborough Sounds.

Any southern woodys able to ID this launch?

 

Mystery Launch 13-07-2017

MYSTERY LAUNCH - WARKWORTH RIVER (2)

MYSTERY LAUNCH 13-07-2017

Today’s ww post shows an unknown launch anchored in the Warkworth River, date unknown also. Given the location I suspect it could be a Tudor Collins photo. Ken Ricketts who emailed me the photo thought it could possibly be a lost sheep from the Allan Coggan photo collection.
Anyone able to ID her & supply more details?

Mystery Launch 05-07-2017

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MYSTERY LAUNCH 05-07-2017

The above launch has just appeared on trademe & according to the listing the owner due to health reasons is unable to continue with the project. The owner states that he believes she may be called ‘Leigh on Sea’, can anyone ID / confirm a name / more details.
She is 39’4″ in length & powered by a 120hp diesel, it states the engine year is 1920 but I suspect that wrong, more likely the build year?

That is one impressive cradle, built for the Queen Mary 🙂 Thanks to Ian McDonald for the heads up on the listing.

Mystery Launch 25-06

Mystery Launch ex Gavin Bedggood

MYSTERY LAUNCH 25-06-2017

Today’s photo was sent to me last year by Gavin Bedggood. While she could be one many ‘HQ Holdens’ i.e. general transport for the gulf, her size might make ID’ing her possible.

The photo below ex Baden Pascoe puts a new twist on the term ‘from tree to sea’ – in this case the opposite 🙂

APOLOGIES for the missing photos on the right hand side of ww at the moment – Photobucket the host, have decided to charge people $400p.a. for ‘3rd Party Hosting’ of photos, I’ll work something out, hopefully later today 😉

Back to its roots

Mystery Launch 16-03-2017

te Papa Boat coming into dry dock, July 1958, New Zealand, by Eric Lee-Johnson

Mystery Launch 16-03-2013

Today’s launch in the above photo (by Eric Lee-Johnson) is ex Te Papa & shows a boat coming into a dry dock. Nathan Herbert sent it in to ww & all we know is the photo is dated July 1958.

So woodys – any one recognize the boat or any of the people? There some distinctive features on shown so hopefully we can put a name to the ‘face’ 🙂

Mystery Launches at Thames

Mystery Thames Boats

Mystery Launches at Thames

The above photo shows a group of ‘settler’ style launches berthed  at the Shortland Wharf in Thames.
Are we able to ID any of them & put a date on the photo? Are the bow numbers fishing registration numbers ? photo ex trademe via Peter Thorpy

Laughing Lady Update

James Dreyer has the foot to the floor on the final stages of the restoration of Laughing Lady & has master craftsman Paul Tingy roped in to help with the final details – the photos below show Paul’s reproduction of the original swim ladder & ‘new’ helm.

Mystery Launch 03-03-2017

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Mystery Launch 03-03-2017

Anyone able to help ID the above launch?, her trademe listing says she was built in the 1960”s by ‘Lange’.
36′, kauri planked & powered by a 130hp 6 cylinder Perkins that pushes her along at a comfortable 8 knots. She is Westhaven based, so someone must be able to shed some light.

And woody launch owners – remember the CYA classic launch parade & Riverhead Hotel lunch cruise this Sunday at 10.00am – details below, click to enlarge. All woody classic launches welcome  🙂

A Big Woody Weekend – A message for all classic woody owners.

mystery-launch-25-02-17

A Big Woody Weekend – A message for all classic woody owners.

Next weekend has the potential to be one of those moments when come Monday when you read ww, you go bugger – I should have made the effort to do that 🙂 So don’t make that mistake – go down to the boat this weekend – fuel up, run the hose over her, a little bit of TLC – then ring a few friends & invite them to have a woody experience next Sunday.
This coming Friday > Saturday > Sunday the Classic Yacht Association NZ is hosting its annual Classic Yacht Regatta & its a great opportunity for all woodys to rub shoulders & celebrate your shared passion.
If you have not experienced the regatta before or if you have been AWOL for a few years, things have kicked up a level – Regatta HQ is now the RNZYS so plenty of parking & opportunities to get up close to the race fleet – pre & post sailing.
In 2017 the Regatta Committee have included a launch event & introduced a parade for the  classic launches (you do not need to be a CYA member to take part) on Sunday morning & as a bonus the gods have smiled & given us an early afternoon high tide (1:42pm + a biggie @ 3.3m) – the significance of that is we can slide up to the Riverhead Hotel for lunch while the yachts race. Details are below in the event flyer. I will post a reminder on ww with the meet times etc later next week, but for now – there are just 2 things you need to do:-
1. Put a circle in the diary for Sunday 5th March.
2. Email CYA Launch Captain Angus Rogers (link below) with a quick heads re your attendance (include your boat name & approx. crew numbers)
RSVP EMAIL LINK
As a bonus for registering early & if you attend the Sunday prize giving (no charge for attendance) to will participate in the amazing spot prize draw – includes a Emirates Airline Holiday Package, Takacat Inflatable, Explore Group ‘Bay of Islands Package’, Steiner Binoculars, Yamaha Outboard, Kiwi Feather Props, Coast NZ product, Mt Gay Rum and more……but you need to be there. And the CYA Launch Trophy is being put up as a prize for the best presented Launch on the day – I’m the judge 😉 I’m a fan of Amisfield Pinot Noir 2014 😉

And woodys everyone is welcome at Race HQ at anytime over the weekend – grab a coffee in the morning & check out the boats or later in the day grab a beer/wine & catch up with old/new friends. Each day there are meals available. And let me kill off one of the oldest fallacies on the Kiwi boating scene – the RNZYS is one of the coolest, friendliest boating scenes in NZ – you can wear almost anything, maybe not a singlet & jandals 🙂 & prices are on par with most venues around town. Come down & have a look, you will not be disappointed 😉

Time to get back to today’s photo* – who can ID the launch that high & dry?

*ex Paperspasr via Nathan Herbert

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