Select photos from the early days: 2014 – 2016

  • Derelict Kate as purchased
    Derelict Kate upon her purchase.
  • One of the young apprentices assists in replanking.
  • Another apprentice aids in the much needed repairs.
  • Extensive rot was removed.
    Extensive rot was removed.
  • On 28 February 2015, the Kate was relaunched!
    On 28 February 2015, the Kate was relaunched!

Timeline of Events: 2013 – present day

2013

  • 15 May 2013 – Waiheke Working Sail becomes incorporated as a Charitable Trust.
  • June 2013 – Trust purchased the derelict Kate for $2,000. Took on 2 apprentices, Tom and Joe Foster-Christie.

2014

  • February 2014 – Charitable status finally gained, so we could start serious fundraising.
  • September 2014 – Donation of a trailer load of second-hand Kauri, Pohutukawa crooks for frames, Cypress Leylandia for spars. Plans and calculations done.
  • April 2015 – Apprentices started paid work – repairing topside planking. Frames.
  • 24 November 2014 – Hauled out at Waiheke Boating Club hardstand, given a privileged position in a tent. Serious work begins on 5 new frames, new keelson, forefoot, horn timber. Much planking replaced and re-fastened. The hull is sound, finances close to zero.

2015

  • 28 February 2015 – Re-launched with sea shanties by the Royal Fortune.
  • 25 August 2015 – Auckland Council Harbourmaster requires us to move off the beach. There is nowhere to go that is workable. Project in serious jeopardy. 
  • September 2015 – Two lead keels purchased off a derelict twin-keeler.
  • 29 September 2015 – after much negotiation moved to the proposed Houseboat Zone, where we can work on re-building the stern. 
  • October 2015 – We are offered a 10’ (3m) rowing and sailing dinghy with trailer and outboard, in Howick. 
  • 12 December 2015 – On our Christmas cruise on Flying Carpet we sailed up the Tamaki River to Howick, picked up the dinghy and trailer and brought them back to Waiheke.

2016

  • 20 February 2016 – sailed with supporters on Flying Carpet to Nugent’s Bay (east of Enclosure Bay) to collect logs for the spars. Skidded 9 logs down the steep bank, carried them across the beach, towed them out to FC, lifted the smaller ones aboard and towed the rest back to Putiki Bay.
  • March 2016 – work started on re-building the stern.
  • July 2016 – Re-built stern almost complete.

2017

  • March 2017 – mast and new rudder complete. 
  • April 2017 – Houseboat zone mooring no longer tenable due to complaining neighbour – moved beach to beach opposite the Boating Club. Mike Delamore donated trees for hardwood trim. Eucaliptus Selignae and Cyprus Lawsonia. Felled them. 
  • December 2017 – forced by Council to move to the middle of the inlet, where work is practically impossible.

2018

  • 7 March 2018 – hauled out at Boating Club. Fitted ballast keels, rudder, chainplates, cap rail and much other work.
  • May 2018 – Well-known artist David Barker made contact, and offered to do a painting of Kate as she will be, under sail. A limited edition of prints, numbered and signed by the artist will be sold at $225 for fundraising.
  • 24 May 2018 –  Kate re-launched, moored on the beach to ‘take up’, the dried-out planks gradually swelling till she no longer leaks. 
  • 30 September 2018 – Again forced to move to middle of the inlet. Progress slows to a crawl.
  • September 2018 – Sailmaker Dave Giddens offered to make a suit of sails from existing sails, at no cost! This magnificent gesture saved us about $12,000. 

2019

  • February 2019 – At last, after much negotiation with Auckland City, the Local Board and the Harbourmaster, we are allocated a mooring that is legal and workable. 
  • May 2019 –  steady progress on the internal structure and accommodation, till the money for apprentice’s wages ran out. 
  • August 2019 – Part of the apprentice’s training was to loft, set up frames and build a dinghy, usually done in a block course at technical college. No courses were available, so Joe built himself a 3.5 m rowing and sailing dinghy to Bernard Rhodes’ design, in Bernard’s workshop. Joe also built a half-model of the Kate, as part of his training.
  • 27 September 2019 – Kate Hauled out for maintenance and further work. 
  • 24 October 2019 – Mast Raising cocktail garden party at Three Seven Two restaurant, organised by Anne Simoni, raises $10,000 to get the Kate sailing.
  • 24 November 2019 – re-launched.
  • 30 November 2019 – mast stepped. 

2020

  • 8 February 2020 – first sail, under headsails only, to Classic Yacht Association meet in Kennedy’s Bay.
  • 12 March 2020- First outing under full sail. Reefed mainsail, boisterous wind tested the gear.
  • 3 July 2020 – Day sail, tested the oars for manoeuvring, photo shoot for Alex and Lesley Stone, for an article in Boating New Zealand. 
  • August 2020   Apprentice Joe graduated. Congratulations, Joe!
  • September – October 2020 – Mike Delamore made an epic single-handed voyage around New Zealand to raise funds for the Kate. A successful venture backed by generous donors, more than $7200 was raised.