One of my childhood sweethearts. She lay on the piles just off the Squadron Marina.

She was one of the four Shipbuilders SuperCraft boats built in the ’50s: Lady Eileen, Rosemary 2, Rakanoa (yep I know she started off as a Couldry design) and Mahara. They were designed by Thomas (Tim) Windsor who obviously had a very good eye and was American trained. He was still alive when I last heard and I hope someone has taken a history from him.

Hunters owned her way back then and she was always there when I rowed / sailed / motored past.

I took the pictures a few years back when she was up at Whangarei and available. A little down on her uppers, but still great. The old petrol engines had been replaced by the ubiquitous six cylinder Lees marinised fords and the interior scruffy.

I hope she hasn’t sprouted a dodger aft and a fly (hic) bridge. She was beautiful as she was.