Mystery Opua Big Game Launch – Its Noelani

MYSTERY OPUA BIG GAME LAUNCH Noelani

The above photo recently popped up on Maurice Sharp’s fb and generated some speculation as to the identity of the launch. The photo is dated 1976.

Several suggested Lady Doreen but the LD that I’m aware of didn’t have any forward portholes and the ones on this boat are very distinctive being a combination of oblong and circular. 

Brian Worthington suggested Noelani (Oliver & Gilpin) but nothing like the 2015 photo of Noelani that has appeared before on WW (refer below) unless there has been some major work done to her or maybe there were more than one sharing the name?

Can anyone correctly ID the launch?

UPDATE – Quite a bit of chat in the comments section, it would appear that the launch above is the Oliver & Gilpin designed and built – Noelani (not the one below). Thanks to Greg Philpott for sending in this link that tells the back story of the Oliver & Gilpin boat building dynasty https://sunlive.co.nz/news/10869-days-when-boats-were-wood.html

(The launch above was launched as Lady Rosaland designed by Owen Woolley and built by Oliver and Gilpin – input ex Brian Worthington)

Woodys in the Bay Of Plenty

Woodys in the Bay Of Plenty

Over the weekend two of waitematawoodys cub reporters 🙂 were snooping around Sulphur Point Marina in Tauranga & put their iPhones to good use. Thanks to Jason Prew & Nathan Herbert for this peek at some of the classics in the Bay.
Enjoy