From rot pocket to pocket rocket

Well maybe not a rocket, but going well nonetheless. These are a few pics from races during the winter series of 2012. As you can see it's been lovely sunshine but a bit short on wind!

Little rot pocket

Made an accidental hole in the deck a couple of days ago between the transom and the mainsheet traveller, revealing some rot.

The deck is Douglas fir ply. Imported cars years ago used to come in big containers made of the stuff, and many decks in Wellington as well as ply-built boats are made from the stuff.

The transom is two inches thick and still in perfect condition.
Photos here show the hole, and where me and my mate Ben cut it back to clean wood.

From the RPNYC archive

Thought I'd just pop this one in. I found it yesterday in the club archive. No date, but would guess the 60s some time.

Click the photo to get a larger version.

Island Bay Race 2011

There's a few more little bits and pieces to do on the lovely Shemara: new sails, take out the old engine. Poke about a bit, but she done now. So here's some photos taken in the Cook St a few weeks ago.

More from the slow boats regatta

These were taken on board Shemara. Really must do something about that jib halyard tension!

The yellow and white kite is an asymmetrical spinnaker. It works OK but really needs a spar two or three feet longer (to work with the regular jib still up). We tried the other symmetrical kkite which is great, but didn't get any pics of it up. You can see it drying out a the bottom.

Also here is Sean in action with his funny way of rowing backwards.

Slow boat regatta

Organised by the crew of Tracer, about six yachts joined in a race for the slow boats, followed by a barbie. These photos were taken by one of their crew. We followed up with a barbie at Milan's shed.

Photos: Milan getting his new spinnaker pole sorted for Charlie ; Mike trying to thread a masthead jib halyard for Galatea ; milling around the start line are Charlie (giving Shemara a tow out) and Galatea ; Thelma in full flight ; Charlie ; Shemara and Thelma ; on board Tracer ; 3 pics of Shemara at Somes Island ; BBQ scenes (plus Mike and Craig looking like they're coming to trade for muskets).

I'll put my pics up when I find the cable for my camera!

Sister ship

Left is Shemara's sister ship Gazelle. She was built shortly after Shemara, though from what I've heard, she's been misdated to the 1970s. She is planked in cedar, and sold to Australia around ten years ago. This photo is from a for sale ad in Australia in 2002.

Where is she now? I see a lot of Norfolk Pine in the background - could it be Qld?