MuzzaB

Outside of Motukaraka Island (or Flat Island as I always knew it) at Beachlands. I believe it is Dennis Rock (2 "n"s) on the chart.

Yes. I think they would be on my list of exceptions too, especially Ceramco; always thought she was good looking. It was more the late IOR boats I was referring to. He had some really successful designs in that era and they won a lot of races, it just happened they were not pretty to my eye. Exador was a true champion but I don't think she wins a beauty contest. But then looks were not the objective of the design. Getting the best from the IOR rule was. But that is just my eye and we digress.

I can't comment on the maintenance issues because the boats my family owned and my subsequent boats were a lot younger than these boats are now. But I can comment on the sailing and cruising qualities of the Raven, Tracker and the Reactor. My family had a Raven around the late '70s/early 80s. I had two Reactors at different times (and raced couple of others), and did a lot of racing (and cruising in company) on/with a friend's Tracker. I would echo what has been said about the Raven. If you can get past the looks, they offer significant space below for their length, are a very dry boa

I have never sailed a Shiraz though I always thought they looked like a reasonable cruising boat. I have sailed a Lotus 10.6 offshore including an extended period on the wind in breezes up to force 7 (as is quite common on a return from the Pacific Islands). It was not a happy experience though in large part this was due to the owner's incomplete preparation of the boat rather than a fundamental problem with the design. The cockpit was not conducive to comfort and easy working when sailing to windward for an extended period with a decent sea running. None of this was insurmountable

Bandwidth was in part what I meant when I mentioned inefficiency. The other aspect was the antenna required for efficient transmission; typically a backstay antenna with insulators. The short whip antenna for the VHF 2m band was/is simpler and an easy option for powerboats and launches. On my last boat in N.Z. I didn't bother with a masthead VHF antenna, and just used a whip antenna at the stern mounted a little over 2 meters high. That was enough to give full coverage across my cruising range between the BoI and Mercury Bay thanks to the repeaters on high points of land. HAM operato

It may interest the younger folk and amuse the older folk that we have just passed the 45th anniversary of the introduction of Marine VHF radio in New Zealand. The New Zealand Post Office - which is those days administered all things radio, including licences and examinations, introduced the service in April 1976. Initially coverage was provided for Auckland and the Hauraki Gulf via Auckland Radio ZLD (with transmitters at Musick Point, Motutapu and on the Coromandel), Wellington and Mana/Cook Strait via Wellington Radio ZLW, and in Tauranga via the Tauranga Harbour Board. Services

There is an article in one of the newspapers (can't remember which) published in '37 or '38 when she (New Golden Hind) was under construction and which described the intended rig as a schooner. I speculate that this may have been the intention, but that the rig plan was changed before completion.

BTW, I suspect the schooner in the other photo - identified on Waitemata Woodies based on how it is recorded in the Auckland Library, is also Morewa. I have found that as online sources of photographic history increase, and time passes by, the misidentification of a photo, as to subject or date, is common. Over the years I have provided suggested amendments to NatLib, Auckland Library, Alexander Turnbill etc together, with evidence where I have it. Sometimes they make the change - sometimes they don't. There was one online library source - which shall remain nameless but is in the cent

The photo of the Centaurus and the Samoan Clipper together was taken on December 28 or 29, 1937. The New Golden Hind was not launched until 1939 (I think). I believe she was always ketch rigged. I'd suggest the most likely candidate is Morewa, which was owned at the time by Sir Ernest Davis, who was mayor of Auckland at the time the photo of the flying boats was taken. Here she is (from this source... https://rnzncomms.org/ngapona-newsletter-3/ )

That rings bells. Andrew Taylor. Could be. I seem to remember a young Rohan Lord sailing an FA at Howick too, by which time I was in a Starling or maybe a Europe - but that would have been a couple of years later.

Just for fun. In my ongoing quest to scan and archive hundreds of old photos I came across a snapshot of Auckland I took from Musick Point in 1977. In the bottom of the photo there happened to be a Flying Ant, sail number 289. Attached is an extracted enlargement - but still fuzzy and small. I may have known who it was at the time, but have no clue now. I know some others here on Crew used to sail FAs as a kid (as did I). Anyone recognize the sail number? My guess is that it was part of the Glendowie fleet which was reasonably strong at the time.

Here is Jipcho at the start of the White Island Race in 1981. Ants and Epiglass NZ also in the picture.

Part of it is realizing that many of us are now also a little "antique". Sometimes it comes as a shock. Because I started keelboat racing as a young nipper on the foredeck from both ends of the harbour, I raced against Namu and some other EnZed Thirty-Sevens (I'm not totally American) when they were still relatively young (excuse the pun). Nemesis and Notre Dame were active at the city end, and Amber at Bucklands Beach. Several others here on Crew did the same (as already noted). Many of the boats of that era which were competive at Richmond, Squadron, Akarana, Bucklands Beach an othe

Scot Tempesta has posted his video of the NZ 37.

There was a Harmonic 33. The only thing it had in common with the 24 was that it was built for and marketed by Compass Yachts. I don't think many were built. I remember Saint Stefan but like Wiakiore I thought she was a C&C although I seem to recall the coachroof was a little different from the standard C&C 33. Fading memories.