The Kate has made numerous day-sails over 2023, and we now have several volunteers who are competent crew. Sailors with some experience are welcome to come and ‘learn the ropes’ with a view to eventually mentoring youth on day trips.
Once again we entered the Mahurangi Regatta. We made a good start and completed the course, and attended the prize-giving and get-together on the beach. On the way back we were completely enveloped in fog – no land in sight! Out came the chart and parallel rulers for a real-life lesson in navigation.
The first Auckland Wooden Boat Festival, March 1 – 3 2024:
A free event with over 160 boats on display, afloat and ashore, demonstrations of boatbuilding, sailmaking, sea shanties, films and more. See www.aucklandwoodenboatfestival.co.nz.
This is a great opportunity for us to show off as one of very few sailing workboats left. We have been given a prime berth, and we plan to invite the public aboard and talk about what we do. We have printed a brochure specially for the event, so do stop by and take one.
Painting by David Barker:
Back in 2018 as we were raising funds, well-known artist David Barker offered to create a painting of the dream – the Kate under full sail, outward bound with a bunch of youngsters aboard. The plan was to make 100 high quality prints, numbered and signed by the artist, and sell them for $225 each. The numbers are to go into a draw, the prize being the original painting. With a sustained effort we sold 60 prints, by which time the local market was saturated. We lacked the skills to organise a major event for the draw, and the deadline passed.
We have printed, numbered and signed 73 prints, so 13 are still available. The Festival is the ideal occasion to make a final push to sell these, so we will display the original oil painting and the artist’s proof on board.
The draw will be held at the Waiheke Boating Club on Thursday 14th March at 6 pm, witnessed by a Justice of the Peace. RSVP if you would like to attend, so we can organise some light refreshments.