SANTA MARIA – A Peek Down Below  

Todays woody the 42’6” –  Santa Maria ticks a lot of my boxes – built in 1955 by Curnow & Wilton for what’s loosely referred toad ’the Italians’ (Wellington based) for Hapuna and crayfish fishing in the Cook Strait. Post this she worked various roles around much of the rest of the country, and then professionally converted to pleasure use around 20 years ago.

I was aboard her a few years ago and she is a very comfortable woody.The icing on the cake is a 127hp Gardner diesel that has her cruising at a very stately 8 knots.

Keen to learn more about her past. Current home is Kerikeri.

UPDATE ex Brian Kidson – WOW, stunning photo below – 

George Curnow, his partner Maurie Wilton  and their foreman Keith Carnahan all came from Lanes in Picton. Business started in Nelson about 1933 and finished in 1966 after their last fire. They were then absorbed into Nalder and Biddle.

Brian was told that the Santa Maria was involved in a rescue off the east coast of the North Island at some stage. Brian doesn’t know dates and details. Does anybody?