Boatworks

Fleetwing and Aurora

2011-08-08T20:12:00.002+12:00

Here's another Scott family shot of Fleetwing in the sounds, probably the '60's. In the foreground is probably Rex and Audrey Tosswill's launch Aurora.

BOATSPRAY, AUCKLAND NZ

2010-11-29T14:58:00.001+13:00

Platu Season underway 2010

2010-01-30T21:08:00.000+13:00

Fleet addition - Platu 25

2009-02-27T15:45:00.010+13:00

The new boats arrived in late 2008 and are now competing regularly at RAYC and elsewhere around Auckland. After a few sails it's apparent they're a tweaky machine with plenty for the crew to think about.

Ours is the 06, BoatSpray

Our new venture - BoatSpray Ltd

2008-10-05T16:10:00.014+13:00

Boat Painting and Maintenance.
22m (72ft) Extraction Spray Booth at Half Moon Bay Marina, Auckland

Business: + 64 9 535 4802 Fax: + 64 9 534 3275
Skype: BoatSpray. Email: boatspray@clear.net.nz

BoatSpray Limited
Unit C1 - 50 Argo Drive, Half Moon Bay Marina
PO Box 54198, Bucklands Beach,
Manukau, Auckland 2144, New Zealand

www.boatspray.co.nz

22m (72 ft) Extraction Spray Booth
Project management (All services on-site)
Full re-paints & touch-ups (colour matching specialists)
Anti-fouls
Licensed Prop Speed applicators
Insurance work
Signage & graphics
Polishing and boat wash service

We proudly service the Auckland region with our near-new and purpose-built 22m Extraction Spray Booth and painting facilities at Half Moon Bay Marina, Auckland. We utilise a 35 ton Travel Lift and also have road access from Argo Drive.

Our experienced painting team are experts in all aspects of boat painting including colour matching. We apply all major brands and paint systems.

We welcome your visit to view our operation and see some of our brilliant results afloat at the nearby marina. Contact our Manager, Craig Miller, at BoatSpray any time to discuss your vessel and your needs.

[A Member of The Boatworks Group Limited]

Mistral 119 launched!

2008-06-23T11:15:00.008+12:00

Named memento mori which translated means "remember you are mortal" - or you only live once!

It's a glass hull built by Peter Johnson of Bonito Boats and will race at Tamaki Yacht Club, with the growing Mistral fleet.

See http://www.mistral.org.nz/.

I'll put up a photo of the internal set-up soon.

Next project - Mistral 119

2008-06-10T20:58:00.000+12:00

It's starting......

2007-11-15T21:16:00.000+13:00

Got sent this today....

=======================

New Zealand Paper Tigers Owners Association Inc.

President Secretary
Glenn Syman Lynley Manning
30 Duchess Place
Maupuia
Wellington
15 November, 2007

To the YNZ Chief Executive and
YNZ Olympic Committee

ISAF Selection of Olympic Classes for 2012

Dear Des

Can you please distribute this letter to the YNZ Olympic Committee and YNZ Board members as appropriate.

It was with considerable disappointment that we have learnt that the multihull class has been not been selected to sail at the 2012 Olympics. We cannot understand how ISAF can claim that the selection is a “showcase of the wide range and diversity of sailing” while the multihull class has been excluded.

We are aware that Yachting New Zealand voted to exclude the multihull class. This vote was significant to the overall result. Can you, or the YNZ Olympic Committee please advise on the basis that this vote was cast.

The Tornado class has been very successful in past contests for New Zealand. Multihull classes are well supported across New Zealand, and in turn deserve the support of YNZ.

Regards

Glenn Syman
President
NZPTOA

Rant

2007-11-14T21:37:00.000+13:00

As I've said I am totally in disbelief at the recent ISAF move to discard the multihull from the Olympic Games.

Here's my recent rant on the subject from crew.org.nz:

In answer to criticism of the age of the Tornado design:

First find a better boat. The Multihull Trials couldn't. The other designs were all newer but in terms of sheer refinement and reliability, not to mention speed, all fell short. No surprise there given the investment over many years on improving the Tornado while staying true to the basic form .

Look also at international fleet spread and the durability of the universally accepted manufacturers product - Marstrom - where the quality is so good now that some boats last more than one Olympic cycle.

So you could not find a better boat that ticks all those boxes. Why on earth would you start from scratch anyway? I am sure that you could design and build a much faster boat within the same or more economical parameters. But could you get the same sort of performance gain the 49er achieved over the FD? And is it even necessary? So I believe the Tornado could remain as a great representative in the Multihull slot.

But I'm gutted about the loss of the Multihull berth for several other reasons:

(next rant starts here.....).

One is that like the Americas Cup, the TP52's and the VO70's constant investment leads to refinement and an eventual trickle down of technology that benefits us all. Such as Tornado refinements and techniques like wild thing, mild thing, batten technology, some of the Marstrom construction and fitting innovations, sail design - more recently gennaker design and handling advances etc etc. It's great for our sport.

Next, the Olympic circuit naturally builds a quality of sailors that exceeds the standards in most if not all other classes. Just look at the results of the A Cat worlds after 2 races and count the number of current or past T sailors who have jumped in - some just for this regatta - and are immediately in the top 15 or so). So in order to succeed you have to beat, and be, the best. That's fairly worthy.

Not all developments work out well. I personally believe the carbon mast was unnecessary in the context of maintaining class strength and a mistake for the class in terms of the decision and/or its implementation. Of course there are performance gains for the boat but I question whether they were needed. Regardless the single manufacturer concept and the resulting 4,500 Euro plus freight/tax etc cost (which can't really be short-cut) created a division and killed the depth of the class overnight in NZ and no doubt in other countries. And I think that gives a pretty good pointer to what might happen if a brand new cat class was introduced.

I do care about TV coverage and it pisses me off that the last couple of Olympic Regattas have been totally awful in that regard.

But my main point is that we as multihull sailors and aspiring athletes - and I use that term in the very broadest sense of the word (maybe I should say sportspeople instead!) - who aim to compete and succeed at the very top level were privileged to have the Olympic Gold as that goal. Even in these dark days of drug taking in many sports, for sailors it doesn't come any better than that. How on earth can anyone feel good about that opportunity being taken away from such a major arm of our sport - even if they themselves didn't aspire to pursue it!

Rant over!

ISAF Vote - thanks a lot YNZ.....Not!

2007-11-12T22:06:00.000+13:00

Outrageous

2007-11-10T08:17:00.000+13:00

I am in a state of shock today - the multihull has been dropped from the 2012 Olympic Games.

Outrageous decision.

New (old) development in A Class cats

2007-10-01T21:28:00.000+13:00

I remember a wing mast on an A Cat (Slithy Tove) in the early '80's. Here we go again. I would say the overall weight would be around half the boat I remember!

Tarepo - an update

2007-10-01T21:24:00.001+13:00

Here she is recently in the Marlborough Sounds, looking grand with some new bits and pieces.

Is it just me or...

2007-09-17T19:24:00.000+12:00

...are these things the coolest on the planet?

C Class cat

Elliott 5.9 racing in Auckland - some photos

2007-06-12T19:48:00.000+12:00

RAYC Autumn Series 2007.

Slam Dunk and Voodoo - 1st and 2nd in last two National contests - and still locked together!

Voodoo

Go boys!

2007-05-26T21:28:00.000+12:00

Well we're not getting too carried away but things are getting to the really crunchy part!

There's a lot being said about the merits of ETNZ and LR before the LV Finals. Guess we'll wait and see...

This shot, when viewed full size, shows the layout of the ETNZ boat pretty well - including the angled wheels.

See the original at http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_U6Cp5x-Sbr8/RlS4ct...-h/DSC_3948.JPG

Photo credit: Valencia Sailing

Now that's a photo!

2007-04-28T21:54:00.000+12:00

Valencia Real Time Weather

2007-04-28T21:39:00.000+12:00

http://www.valenciasailing.com/specials/Real-Time_Meteo.htm

Complete waste of money...NOT!

2007-04-19T21:09:00.000+12:00

Had some comments today from a couple of (very) high profile NZers about the waste of money the A Cup is. And how boring it is.

Sorry don't agree. Strongly disagree in fact.

Set aside for a moment its the oldest sporting trophy in the world.

Set aside the obsessions that a lot of people have developed over the years.

Even set aside the fact that some NZ tax payer money is being used to fund one campaign. Instead consider this....

The ACup campaigns are 99% funded by private and commercial dollars. And any of those NZ tax payer dollars are recovered as PAYE, GST, duty and other taxes.

Very selfishly I only get to watch live yachting on TV thanks to the ACup. And I certainly don't find it boring.

And finally and most importantly for me ACup is one of the handful of really significant leading-edge development zones of our sport.

Sure there's also the SMOD manufacturers and sailmakers always improving and trying things. There's fantastic stuff being done with VO70's, TP52's, boards, foils and carbon fibre. And sailors like me all over the world fiddle with their boats and experiment on a small scale.

But ACup is where the really big stuff happens - much of it live on TV, the new techniques get tried and discarded or perfected, the gear breaks, the crazy stuff gets a run - you get the picture.

It gets people talking all over the world.

The stakes are huge.

Failures are laid bare for all to see and that old cliche "there's no second place" is so true.

The boats are spectacular.

The personalities even more so.

It's the main-game in-your-face long-term iterative R&D programme for our sport of yachting, like F1 is for motor racing.

Quite simply it's fantastic!

Still waiting...start of Day 4

2007-04-19T21:01:00.000+12:00

Must be a drag for the guys sitting waiting. Especially those who won;t make the cut.

I got up at 5am yesterday to run the HDD Recorder only to watch replays of last years Act 12 finals - but it was quite good actually.

Maybe tonight? (sigh)

Go well guys!

2007-04-16T21:28:00.000+12:00

Racing starts tonight...we hope!

07/03/2007 (Valencia) - NZL 92 (© Pierre Orphanidis/Valencia Sailing)

Naiad RIB

2007-04-09T21:14:00.000+12:00

Arriving soon - a 1995 centre console Naiad 5.3XL, it's going to get a birthday and a new console over the winter.

I've been looking for a suitable Naiad for 2 years - they're really hard to find.

Naiad are unique in that the tubes and covers are easily replacable - rather than having to be glued in place. Also the alloy hulls are deep vee and much better for beaching than GRP. All in all they're a more versatile and hard working boat than many of today's GRP models - the '4WD of the Sea'.

Some of the modifications planned; The rear rack is coming off, replaced by a towing post. The two seats are coming out. I picked up a custom Naiad-built console (see 2 photos below) that had been removed from a 5.8 a while back and will modify it a little before swapping it in.

This boat is going to be a family runaround, coach boat, yachting spectator boat and support boat all rolled into one.

Fleetwing - new photos

2006-12-28T21:27:00.001+13:00

I located some early shots of Fleetwing:

These shots will most likely have have been taken at Wharehunga on Arawapa Island, perhapos in the late 1940's or early 1950's.

Rogue 1892

2006-11-15T21:08:00.000+13:00

Beauty!!

http://rogue1894-a.blogspot.com/

...and yes it is 1892!

Avanti - late '60's, Curious Cove

2006-11-15T20:43:00.000+13:00

2007 NZ A Class Nationals

2006-11-15T10:11:00.000+13:00

Coming up, January, 2007, Howick

To be sailed in conjunction with the NZ Paper Tiger Nationals.

http://www.a-class.org.nz/07_nationals.htm

Fleetwing - a bit more floating history

2006-10-17T20:14:00.002+13:00

My family owned Fleetwing for a time. She was initally brought down to the Sounds by my great uncle Charlie Scott, then passed to my Grandfather - Seymour Scott - who used her as a commuter boat between Picton and my grandparents farm at Wharehunga on Arapawa Island for many years (approx 1950's - 1960's) . She is quite possibly the launch in the following advert for Collings and Bell on page four of the fine book "Vintage New Zealand Launches".

Later she passed to my great uncle, Rex Tosswill, who, I believe, had the dodger added by Poppa Jorgensen at Jorgensens Boatyard in Waikawa Bay.

I have never seen a photo of her in her original state but I believe she is the boat that was a NZ water speed record holder for a time. I also believe she held the Masport Cup.

Also: "Fleetwing was Collings' pet name and he used it on many boats from outboard racers to cruising launches. This one was built in September 1920 and had a 45hp (rating) Van Blerck, which had a Packard block I think. When Collings sold her in June 1925 to H Empson of Point Chevalier he obviously kept the hot Van Blerck because Empson replaced it with a 6 cylinder Studebaker car engine. Collings seems to have put the Van Blerck into his next Fleetwing" (with thanks to Harold Kidd for this information).

Later (1980's onwards) she was used as a support boat in the Marlborough Sounds Aquaculture industry. There is a photo of her in Carol Dawber's fine book "Lines in the Water".

Now she looks like she's waiting patiently for a new custodian, or at least some TLC.

I am looking for some original photos which are hard to find...

Hot: AQ Bags

2006-08-25T17:37:00.000+12:00

Not just for the corporate yachtie, my new NZ-made briefcase is attracting a lot of attention, here's the link: www.aqbags.co.nz

Fast Sunburst - not an oxymoron!

2006-08-12T14:22:00.000+12:00

This was a windy day at WBBC in Wellington in 2004. Andrew Patterson took the shots. This is 1781 Envy.

Elliott 5.9 Rudder by Ron Bull Boats (Akl)

2006-08-09T20:32:00.000+12:00

Ron just finished a new rudder for my E5.9. A great job, down to weight and to a NACA shape designed by by Brett Bakewell White. The old one was cracking into two pieces down the leading edge so it'll be nice to go sailing and not worry about it splitting into two.

Due to the E5.9 rules, there's no carbon but usually Rob would put some around the stress areas. He builds blades, foils and dinghies for many NZ classes.

Ron has made a really nice job - there's not too many people around prepared to hand make timber or composite blades at a very reasonable price.

Robb White - RIP

2006-07-11T20:34:00.000+12:00

I was sorry to read of Robb White's passing in the USA recently - May 2006.

I only knew of him through articles in WB magazine but I enjoyed his common sense approach and pragmatism.

He shared freely some unique ideas and approaches to building small wooden skiffs and dinghies.

The latest (last?) article on a modified Rescue Minor (below) was a beauty.

Zane Grey - 35' Collings & Bell

2006-07-11T20:12:00.001+12:00

A lot of history here! Collings and Bell, built in approx 1926 for Zane Grey's fishing party.

Regardless of whether you are a fan of keeping these fine ships in their original state or not, the new wheelhouse, higher foredeck and altered sheer (they aren't original) make for sympathetic and classy additions.

It might have been a Captain Williams who drafted the changes. He was then harbourmaster at Whangarei and he owned the boat for a short while.

In my opinion the side profile is perfect.

The builder who did the modifications is unknown.

Lovely... Last seen in Opua January 2011

Clever Bits - Elliott 7 mainsheet

2006-06-08T21:02:00.000+12:00

Saw this on Sailing Anarchy - interesting way to get aft sheeting without the weight of a traveller:

Not sure whether the advantages are there but different all the same...

And from the other side....

A Class Catamaran

2006-05-02T20:25:00.000+12:00

The A Class is the most beautiful boat to sail and will beat a Tornado and F18 to windward in light to moderate breeze. At 75kg on the water, they often weigh less than their skipper.

Above - Steve Brewin AUS, Egner Flyer

Below - 2004 Worlds, Drummond (NZL234), Manning (NZL230), both AHPC Flyers

Elliott 5.9 North Island Travellers Series - 2006

2006-04-26T22:00:00.000+12:00

The next regatta on the E5.9 Travellers Circuit is the 2006 Icebreaker in Rotorua in September 2006.

There will be details on the www.e59.org.nz website and www.crew.org.nz.

We always hope for 15+ boats and there's a lot of interest around in the class.

Ventora

2006-04-24T21:49:00.000+12:00

Another family boat, Dad built Ventora (a Vindex 30 stretched to 32') in the early '70's at Curious Cove in the Marlborough Sounds.

Here she is (above) in early 2006, in Northland. Right.....me!

Tornado

2006-04-22T10:08:00.000+12:00

The T cat is the hottest cat of them all. Even before the big rig came in post 2000 they were a fabulous boat to sail, sheer power coupled with responsiveness and a very highly refined package.

The top photo is of the very successful crew of Rex Sellers and the late and quite unique Chris Timms.

The bottom shot is taken at the Bermuda Worlds in 1997.

Tarepo - 36' Stillwell Bridgedecker

2006-04-20T14:59:00.001+12:00

I'm a big fan of old classic boats and what better place to start than one that's in the family. My father owns this lovely old launch, Tarepo, based on the Marlborough Sounds.

At 36 feet long, she's perfect for cruising around and weekending.

A bit bedraggled when he bought her early in 2006 (top photo), she's having a spruce up and is already being well used.

One day I'll finsh playing with sailboats and get myself a launch instead...or as well.

Mystery Boat 1 - Cosmic?

2006-04-19T21:10:00.000+12:00

Saw this on Trade-Me recently - reputedly a 'Cosmic'. Anyone have any details? Looks like a Phase II, scaled up and with a crafty deck trench for a small crewperson or kite chute. Intriguing.

Clever bits - Maverick E45 again

2006-04-19T20:51:00.000+12:00

I really liked the transom and cockpit treatment (above) and the rotating mast base (below).

A lot of thought went into each area and they are beautifully executed.

The Mast base has some nice guards to prevent stray sheets.

News - Rythymandswing takes 2006 Sunburst Nationals

2006-04-18T21:04:00.000+12:00

Congratulations to Brett and Alice Linton (Worser Bay, Wellington) who won the 2006 Sunburst Nationals at Mercury Bay at Easter.

At 8 years old, Alice must be one of the youngest ever national title holders in any class.

This is Brett's third title and is also the third national title for Rythymandswing (1530) which was built by Tim Willets.

Results at http://www.wakatere.org.nz/Results/sunburst%20nats%202006.gif

Willets also built other successful hulls like defending champion Greg "Bubble" Wright's Embers (1322) ), Nigel Lloyd's Vagrant (1424) and Catch 22.

Brett runs his own sailmaking business www.lintonsails.co.nz in Wellington and made many of the sails in the fleet.

The class association runs a website http://www.sunburst.org.nz/.

A Class repair

2006-04-18T20:28:00.000+12:00

Well, not so clever - a brand new AHPC Flyer (A Class cat) damaged in a trailer rollover in gale force winds. The whole side panel has been pushed in - you can see the crease just below (above!) the gunwhale.

Here's the challenge; Fix the boat to race condition - i.e. under weight and strong ... The hulls weigh about 17 kg each.

Cutting away the damaged hull left a much larger hole. I used a router carefully set to leave a approx 20-30mm lip on the inner skin to glue the patch to.

The blue tape marks the shape of the patch required. This tape was carefully repeated on the undamaged hull.

I took a mould off the undamaged hull and then laid up the patch using a vaccuum pump. Here's the finished patch (approx 2.5m long):

More to come...

Elliott 45 Companionway blister hatch

2006-04-18T19:16:00.000+12:00

Saw this on Maverick (Elliott 45) in the nRound North Island Race a few years back - nice!

I want one for my E5.9.

Clever bits - Catamaran Kite Sheet lead

2006-04-18T19:10:00.000+12:00

Saw this one a few years back in some shots of the Worrall 1000 - the additional sheaves add to the gripping power of the Harken ratchet block......nice

Class Summary - International One Meter

2006-04-18T15:22:00.000+12:00

These yachts have strict limitations on the rig design but have very few restrictions on hull shape other than the minimum weight (4.0kg) and the maximum hull length of one metre. In the 1 Metre class you will see many different hull shapes. These yachts are sailed to the same rule all over the world with world championships held annually.

One such World Championship was held in Wellington in 1997, with a fleet of 60 yachts Competitive second hand 1 Metre yachts typically change hands for between $NZ500 and $NZ3000 for the leading edge international versions.

Building your own yacht from scratch is encouraged within the rules and some boats have been built for quite minimal cost by those with the skill and patience to do so.

Class Summary - AC15

2006-04-18T15:15:00.000+12:00

Designed by Wellingtonian Alan Bryant, these are large and fast yachts and provide spectacular racing and amazing downwind speed in stronger winds. Members of the Wellington Club (WRYC) have developed these boats from scratch primarily with match racing in mind and many of the early yachts followed the colour schemes of one of the 1995 America's Cup yachts.

They are now built exclusively club members and now have a rigid one-design set of rules, which are administered by the club.

Quite a few were built as display models, and many more for the various AC syndicates.

The boats are match raced and fleet raced in Wellington

Class Summary - Sunburst

2006-04-18T14:52:00.000+12:00

The fleet was created by the Brooke family back in the 50's with the aim of providing a versatile sailing vessel for the average sailor.

The Sunburst is actively raced all over the Country, with representation at most clubs.

The class website is www.sunburst.org.nz.

Class Summary - Elliott 5.9

2006-04-18T13:58:00.000+12:00

The Elliott 5.9 was designed by Greg Elliott in 1980 and was first released in 1983. Conceived as a a out and out trailer yacht racer, the Elliott 5.9 boasts an efficient single spreader fractional rig, well balanced sail plan, practical deck layout and a performance hull that offers responsiveness and maneuverability.

From the start the E5.9 destroyed the more traditional boats and starred at the 1983 NZ Trailer Yacht Nationals.

More than 100 boats have been built, and there are fleets in NZ, Australia, Vanuatu and at least one boat in the UK.

The class has always provided good fleet racing and has attracted some top sailors over the years. In recent times a strong class association has revitalised the racing with a well attended and cut throat North island Traveller Circuit.

The class association now owns the moulds for the Elliott 5.9 and the availability of new boats will further invigorate the already thriving class along with the Appleton Estate Rum Traveler’s Trophy Series.

In 2006 there are regattas in Tauranga, Auckland, Whangarei, Rotorua and Turangi to supplement the 2007 Nationals (which will be held early in the new year to be hosted by Evans Bay Y&MBC, Wellington).

Fleets get up to 20+ with the close racing expected of a restricted design.

The E5.9 continues to be an excellent syndicate boat with competitive second-hand boats available for $10,000 to $15,000. [Pictured is Voodoo, 2nd in 2006 NZ Nationals and one of the first hulls built - launched 1984]

More details www.e59.org.nz.