Early image of the first dinghy I ever owned.

Back in 1972 I bought my first sailing dinghy. This is a Q Class, an unrestricted 12 foot skiff, a class still active in New Zealand today. I sailed it single handed most of the time which involved a complex range of control skills to keep it upright, everything done from a trapeze wire. Even my brothers were too scared of it to help me out!

Waikiwi the day I launched her as my own at Waiake Beach Auckland 1972.

Typical Torbay Boating Club fleet of Paper Tiger catamarans. Waikiwi (foreground) was very competitive against these boats in light airs.

1973 I'm pictured here with my Father Roelof and my brother Marten in the driveway of our family home in Waiake, Auckland.
I had repainted Waikiwi over winter, replacing the yellow and white to a royal blue and white colour scheme.

I have no sailing images of Waikiwi. This is another 12 foot skiff from the same era, a Des Townson design.

Waikiwi at Waiake Beach Auckland. I'm adjusting the sail batten tension to create extra draught into the sail for light airs.

Waikiwi fresh out of the workshop after a new paint job.
Picture taken at our family home in Waiake, Auckland.