Tag Archives: Riwaka Channel

VERY SALTY WOODEN YACHT – BEACONLIGHT

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VERY SALTY WOODEN YACHT – BEACONLIGHT

During a review of classic wooden craft stories from the Riwaka Inlet in Nelson I realised that I had overlooked the above photos of the yacht – BEACONLIGHT.

I took the photos back in March 2018 so there is a possibility that BEACONLIGHT may have been relocated.

Can anyone tell us about the yacht.

24-08-2025 INPUT ex ROBBIE WILLIAMS (aged 91) I certainly can comment on beacon light I watched VAL POLLARD build her in 1955 and was lucky enough to be part owner of her in 2005 with TOM ROWLING ( present owner ) and KEVIN BANTON in the photo top left hand corner is shed roof where she was built I hand sewed a new suit of sails for her and still have the headsail VAL POLLARD sewed for her when new I’ve enjoyed many great voyages aboard her.

INPUT ex TOM ROWLING – Beacon Light under sail

25-08-2025 INPUT ex PETER – The photo below, maybe late 1960’s, is of BEACONLIGHT leaving Torrent Bay with Noel and Dorothy Pawson, who owned her at the time. The Pawson’s went on to own the Mariner, the family boat built by Val Pollard for Dorothy’s father. I believe it was the largest vessel that Val built, and is still owned by the Pawson family and still kept at Riwaka.

My beautiful picture

Matahorua

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MATAHORUA

Friends Pauline and Tim Evill managed to get a day away from the grape harvest at the Lawson Dry Hills vineyard and were mooching around their old home town of Mapua, Nelson.Tim never likes to be far from the sea so its not surprising he ended up down at the Riwaka river/estuary where there is always an impressive fleet of woodys berthed.

Today’s woody is an open cutter named Matahorua, which my suspicion of being an ex Outward Bound boat was confirmed with a quick google search – she is stretching the WW ethos a bit as she is made from ply and fiber-glassed but her salty looks get the tick. Would have to be a contender for the boat with the highest number of individuals that have sailed / rowed her 🙂

Riwaka Channel – Marina

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RIWAKA CHANNEL – MARINA
Now I used to think the channel up the creek to Auckland’s Riverhead Hotel was narrow and shallow. Well the photos above of the Riwaka Channel take things to another level (low). To quote John Burland who took the photos – “the channel is narrow, winding and mobile”. That is an understatement.
John has pulled together a collection of photos showcasing some of the woody craft at Riwaka Marina, for those not familiar with the area, Riwaka is located between Motueka and Kaiteriteri , in NZ’s upper South Island.
John’s is very talented with a phone/camera and they will make woody Cameron Pollard’s day i.e. a lot of very practical vessels and very little varnish on display 🙂