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.

Sailing Salty

15 - 20 knots of breeze and little Salty woke up to who she really was!

A good day for me too. A brisk Northeasterly is not uncommon on our harbour. When it encounters the incoming tide it sets up a nasty short chop in mid channel, Salty has relatively high freeboard but not enough to keep her dry. I was forced to make landfall on the far shore and bail her out befor reaching back to the boat haul out ramp.

Note to self: remember to peel of those irrelevant sail numbers.

Photos by Julie Holton

Salty. The launch of an exceptionally big little boat.

Man I'm impressed with this little boat. Salty rows exceptionally well. There was not much breeze today  

however we still made way, well under control and surprisingly slippery.

When is a canoe not a canoe?

My latest project has been the restoration of a little 10 foot replica of a New Zealand made 19th. Century dinghy known locally as an Okura Gig. This GRP hull was made during the 1980's by Dinghy Development in Auckland. It was hand laid in a two piece mould.

I found it in dilapidated condition with a bad crack in the hull and rotting timber work.

Okura Gig hull when I first found it, ready for a water blast

Okura Gig.

Okura Gig, all rotten timber removed.

Okura Gig showing hull damage.

Okura Gig showing wine glass stern.

Okura Gig, damage to hull.

Okura Gig

                                         The poor condition of this dinghy is clear to see.

Okura Gig. After some time this is the result of my efforts.

Okura Gig

Okura Gig.

Okura Gig

Preliminary rigging on the front lawn with my son Robert.