Late last winter Pat and I took the camper to Auckland to have a few repair jobs done on it. While we were there we stayed with our daughter and her family.

I made contact with Tony Stevenson the chairman of the Tina Rawa Trust , this is the organisation that is now looking after Otira, the Logan oil launch I restored in 2007. The Trust had two yachts in its keeping that started life in Canterbury in 1950’s. Intrigue, (the 18 footer that won the World Championship twice, once in Fiji and then again in Auckland) and Frith (the last of the Rona Jellicoe X Class Sanders Cup 14 footers). Tony gave me these two wrecks to bring south for restoration as the Trust had neither the time, nor the inclination, to do the work themselves, besides which, they are both Canterbury boats!

While viewing the Intrigue and Frith at Yachting Development’s yard I was also shown Darling a 1860’s 48ft trading vessel that ran aground on the Northland west coast in the 1880s and remained there, hidden under sand, for over 100 years until she was found and retrieved two years ago. Now under a large marquee, she will probably stay as she is as there is no plan to restore her. I think it’s fine to view her just as she was found.

After leaving Auckland we travelled home via Hamilton and visited a boat yard there where the 1880’s Lyttelton yacht Pastime is being restored by Craig Wild. She will be ready for the Classic Yacht Regatta being run in conjunction with the America’s Cup early next year.

There is something special about lake sailing whether you are in a powerboat, sailing, rowing or paddling. Lake Hood, Ashburton is no exception. Again, hosted by the Ashburton Sailing Club, this man-made lake was the venue for the 2020 rally of Canterbury Classic Boats. The Sailing Club generously provided marks, pick up boat and a sausage sizzle. Many thanks must go to them for their continued support.

​Conditions were cool and cloudy, but an ideal sailing breeze made for a great afternoon on the water. The day started with a lament from piper Chris Thompson who did the same last year after the Christchurch Mosque attacks as this was the anniversary of that terrible event. This year is another extraordinary one with so much uncertainty over the world-wide pandemic

It is always a pleasant surprise to see new boats appearing at the lake. This year there were several – a steam launch, Stephen Jarvis with a Dudley Dix, Cape Cutter19, a massive steel pilot boat from Oxford, Ian & Alison Milne, fresh from winning best sailboat at Lake Rotoiti with their Ian Oughtred. “Kotik” and greatly admired by all, Roger and Diane France's picnic boat “Vive la France”. This boat was created by Roger, drawn out on the garage floor, moulds made and fared then planked with recycled cedar from a neighbour’s earthquake-repaired house!  It is immaculate, with attention to detail as you would expect from a retired aircraft engineer. The boat was on display only, as Roger has a period of convalescence to complete.

New this year was a rowing challenge for the Armstrong Trophy. There were four contestants, two Shellback dinghies, a Pelham dinghy and a dory. After a Le Mans start the race was around two buoys. As expected, the slippery dory of Brett de Thier was an easy winner!  The next item was the Parade/Race for all boats on the lake. This was around a box course set out by the Ashburton Sailing Club. Conditions were ideal with a moderate NE breeze and the bigger boats were able to stretch out once we all cleared the usual chaotic massed start. It's a credit to all taking part that there were no incidents and skippers were free to sail as many times they wanted around the course. The sailing conditions were enjoyed by all. If you wondered why sailing became progressively slower, you only had to look at rudder and centre plate to see why – weed!

The usual after match function at the Lake House Restaurant gave everyone a chance to chew over the day’s events, the general consensus was a great day and maybe the need to have two regattas at this popular venue.

Postscript
I started writing this before the worldwide emergency we are now in. How things change so quickly. We can be thankful for a wonderful day; who knows what the future will bring?

Hugh Hobden

This never-ending summer has provided opportunities to grab brilliant sunny days for a little cruise or so. Three trailer yachts took to the waters of Lyttelton Harbour on a hot sunny Tuesday this February.

There was a beautifully restored Hartley 16 owned by Wes Purves and crewed by Ian Scott, aptly named Staying Alive, a Welsford Houdini of Ian Kington, crew Hugh Hobden and a younger Farr 5000 with solo sailor Mike Inns. Ian Scott was the senior member of the crew who had not been out in a trailer yacht for many years, he thoroughly enjoyed the day, a very accomplished sailor.
 
We launched from the Naval Point slipway mid-morning, dodging the freedom camper vans (mostly pairs of young women!), the aim was to sail around Quail Island on the high tide. It was a slow start with fitful puffs of wind from the East, but pleasant enough. Eventually we made our way to the SW end of the island, motors used occasionally. Mike had the best of it, the Farr gliding along ahead of the other two boats. We made it through the gap between King Billy Island and Quail Island. By midday the temperature had shot up to 30 degrees and the crews were sweating it out – relief would be the shade under the trees by the barracks on the island and a dip in the sea.
 
The three craft were nosed into the beach and after a short swim we settled for lunch at a picnic table, the usual sailing talk to accompany lunch. Lunch done, Ian and Hugh in Wally decided to head out into the harbour. A quick look up wind saw little white caps on the horizon, a taste of what was to come! A long board to Charteris Bay was achieved in the building NE. Tacking onto starboard with full sail and the chop of the out going tide made life interesting. Getting further up the harbour it became too much for Wally so the jib was dropped, the crew having a precarious time on the bowsprit,
a hand for yourself and a hand for the ship was applied! Wally sailed much easier as wind and sea built even more – back to the slip to haul out, dodging old mooring piles and a work barge. The other two boats made a great sight heaving over the chop and storming into the launching ramp.
 
Over coffee, we reflected on a great day's sailing that had a little bit of everything, all a little bit weary with the effort, but was worth it.