www.classicyacht.org.nz ISSN 1175-804X Issue 126 – October 2019

a cherry cider, which is delightful. In their heyday Tamariki’s the apple orchards of Huon valley were the biggest in Tasmanian the southern hemisphere. During the 1950’s, around 2-million tonnes per year Cruise of Huon apples were sent to Europe and Britain. The Back in February, we industry collapsed when the brought you the first part of Common Market was formed Tamariki’s travels, having in 1960’s. Britain’s way of left New Zealand last winter saying, “Thanks for all your and journeyed to Vanuatu, help mate”. Chesterfield, and down the The 18 mile long navigable east coast of Australia. In portion of the Huon is very Part 2, Tamariki arrives in pretty with orchards and Tasmania in time for the cherry farms everywhere. Australian Wooden Boat Port Cygnet, about eight Festival and explores the miles up the Huon hosts a amazing cruising grounds folk music festival annually. around Hobart. Most of the Huon River has tide-dependent navigable Words and photos by depths, but immediately past Peter Mortimer Tamariki anchored in the Huon River, Tasmania. Port Huon a narrow windy section gets very shallow and Twelve miles south known as “The Duck Pond”, March a deep depression in I practiced rubbing barnacles of Hobart, the Derwent which is sheltered from the Southern Ocean lashed off the keel. River runs into Storm Bay. almost anything. After you Maatsuyker Island, six miles The small town of Franklin Immediately to the west have experienced the often south of Tasmania with 55 a further five miles in is home of this juncture you can rapidly changing weather in knot NW winds producing to the Wooden Boatbuilding enter the channel between Tasmania, you understand seas and swells with a Centre, where wooden Tasmania and the Bruny why it’s important to know of combined wave height of 16m. boatbuilding is taught. Islands. North and South these anchorages. It is very Don’t want to be there eh! At Huonville, situated at Bruny Islands are connected windy and a secure anchorage About 15 miles south of the river’s upper end, I spent together by a long narrow allows you to sleep at night. its northern entrance, The a week alongside a free public sandy spit, which all together Flat calms do occur as a Channel opens to 6.5 miles, wharf while exploring the form a 30 mile long barrier high pressure center passes, its widest part, close to the town and going to the “Taste from the southern ocean on but then it’s back to 20 to 30 entrance of the Huon River. of Huon”, an annual food and Tasmania’s lower east coast. knots from all quadrants very A major industry of the cider festival. FRANKS cider Oriented approximately often in the same 24 hour Huon valley is fruit growing. again perfectly complemented north-south, The Channel, as period as yet another front Peaches, nectarines, early the Tasmanian salmon taster this stretch of water is known, barrels through. apples and cherries were in plates. Music was pretty provides an unparalleled A sailing friend remarked season during February and loud, the Blues Brothers cruising ground, with many recently that while Tasmania March. even louder, but the whole large bays, some with well updates its coastal weather Fresh Huon cherries are atmosphere was great. protected anchorages. forecasts three times a day, delicious and complemented Stay tuned for Part 3 - The Barnes Bay is such a haven for their southern waters perfectly by FRANKS cider. d’Entrecasteau Channel to with a very safe anchorage it is done every hour. In In fact, FRANK also make Recherche Bay. Mightiest Mullet Boat of Them All

What are the chances of having two Tamariki’s in one edition of the Journal? Tamariki (L11) is mullet boat royalty, having won the Lipton Cup a staggering 13 times. She has been a fixture on the Waitemata for more than 85 years.

Words and photos by Martin Robertson Tamariki coming back to life ahead of the 100th Lipton Cup in 2021. Martin and the crew measures used back in those being advanced. Its purpose preparing the Trust Deed, at Robertson Marine & days and an overly zealous will be to own, restore, Grant Macduff, our esteemed Composites at Warkworth, person on the end of it! maintain and campaign her Commodore (and dare I say, have started on Tamariki’s It wouldn’t be the first time and with a principal goal of future Tamariki skipper), rebuild. The first steps were a boat was found to be over- ensuring the future of our Graham Andrew and myself. to push and pull her back into length – witness Taotane’s historic mullet boats as a We need an accountant to the ‘right’ shape, an exercise bow and the bows of her fibre viable racing class well into come on board (not necessarily that involved ropes, props glass progenies. So, part of the future and to create the as a Trustee) as there are and bracing to get her there the restoration work will be opportunity for aspiring statuary requirements that and hold her thus, while to correct that anomaly. young sailors to experience a Charitable Trust must temporary bulkhead/frames The final result will be a sailing on these great boats. meet and to properly handle were made up and fixed in restored hull which will be To that end, the Trust donations and grants and all place. better than new, good for the will have a strong connection matters financial. Then, after turning her the next 100 years! to the PCC and the Sailing The Trustees will wrong way up, all the ribs The establishment of the School. Trustees will include be most encouraged by were removed and a start Tamariki Charitable Trust is Richard Allen, who is your participation in this has been made in boring out endeavour. All donations and plugging the many, many will be tax deductible. If this nail holes. Some of those old project interests you and is ribs will get temporarily something that you wish to fixed back in place in order support, please contact Rob to hold the planks securely Warring. enough for the rest of the hull restoration to progress. • Those wishing to inspect Interestingly, she would progress are welcome to seem to have been a touch visit Robertson Marine & over-length and grew further Composites premises at as her gunnels were sucked Warkworth, by appointment in to where they needed to be. please. Martin’s dad, Chris, reckons Contact Martin Robertson on we can blame the cloth tape 027 205 0653.

CLASSIC YACHT ASSOCIATION CONTACTS – GENERAL ENQUIRIES: Joyce Talbot, [email protected] CLUB CAPTAIN YACHTS: Andy Ball, [email protected] CLUB CAPTAIN LAUNCHES: Simon Ventura, [email protected]