A pic for those of you that are 'enjoying' winter

[snow(Alan H)]

The gulf is just perfect - best xmas weather in years - enjoy, I am....:)

http://i408.photobucket.com/albums/pp165/Alanh22/514T0293.jpg

[snow(Alan H)]

OOPPSSS that was the wrong photo - try this

http://i408.photobucket.com/albums/pp165/Alanh22/514T0293.jpg

[elf]

What's that sailboat behind the powerboat?

[Lew Barrett]

What's that power boat in front of the sailboat? :D :D ( Raindance is looking good!)

You are smiling now, but our turn comes in JUST 6 months! Oi!

[BrianW]

What's that sailboat behind the powerboat?

navigation hazard?

:D

[C. Ross]

What's not to enjoy about this? (Taken five minutes ago.)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2711/4217228613_87cc8b8b82.jpg

As always, Raindance looks beautiful. Thanks for sharing...any view of liquid water is welcome for the next 4 months.

[S/V Laura Ellen]

It's been raining here for the last couple of days.

[C. Ross]

Another deep snow picture.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2164/2189799045_d6d682d15a.jpg


See why we need more pictures of Raindance, Alan?

[snow(Alan H)]

Sorry guys I had image posting problems out on the water - this was the pix I wanted to post. fyi the yacht is called Rainbow & went back in the water last year after a $1 millionish restoration. Co- owned by Brad Butterworth the Americas Cup skipper. I was anchored on Saturday night in the bay (Oneroa, where this pix was taken from) where he has a house on Waiheke Island.

http://i408.photobucket.com/albums/pp165/Alanh22/P1140220.jpg

[Hwyl]

What's that sailboat behind the powerboat?

Isn't it John B's Waione?

[Lew Barrett]

What is it with you guys and "Rain names?" :)

[Hwyl]

The Country is called "Long White Cloud"

[dhic001]

It does rain rather a lot here, hence the place being very green. That said, things are starting to go a little brown right now, it hasn't rained for a bit.
Daniel

[snow(Alan H)]

Some more.
This is Brad Butterworth's beach house - rather nice, he is a great bloke & deserves a better deal than he gets back in NZ. I witnessed yesterday a yobbo (read trailer trash) boatie yell out some abuse to Brad as he rowed past, so wrong, the low life has no idea the actual situation around Butterworh & Russell Coutts leaving Team NZ. Plus the guy could live anywhere in the world & he chooses to sink a fair % of his swiss $$ into employing Kiwi tradesman to build this house + restore one on NZ's iconic yachts. As my wife would say "time to bury the dead & move on". As I departed the bay not long after I could not help myself & I told the yobbo what I thought of him - some would say that I sank to his level but it felt good.

http://i408.photobucket.com/albums/pp165/Alanh22/P1140228.jpg;

http://i408.photobucket.com/albums/pp165/Alanh22/P1140230.jpg;

The view that BB would get.

http://i408.photobucket.com/albums/pp165/Alanh22/P1140222.jpg

[snow(Alan H)]

A couple of other classics in the bayhttp://i408.photobucket.com/albums/pp165/Alanh22/P1140240.jpg;
http://i408.photobucket.com/albums/pp165/Alanh22/P1140234.jpg;
http://i408.photobucket.com/albums/pp165/Alanh22/P1140247_2.jpg

[snow(Alan H)]

What is it with you guys and "Rain names?" :)

Lew

Never thought about the 'rain' link b4 but the pix below is the centre spread in the Jan 2010 issue of 'Boating NZ', our best & biggest boating mag. It shows both my Raindance & Brad Butterworths Rainbow off Browns Island not long after the start of the Rudder Cup race (hence the race #99). Rainbow was competing in the yacht division race. Both yachties & launch owners all overnighted at the bottom end of Waiheke Island (Patio Bay) - see separate thread

http://www.woodenboat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=106602


http://i408.photobucket.com/albums/pp165/Alanh22/IMG_2010.jpg

[C. Ross]

Nice pictures, Alan. Wow, congrats on the beautiful picture in Boating NZ!

What can you tell us about Marie-J? Unusual looking boat.

[snow(Alan H)]

Isn't it John B's Waione?

Waione is tucked up in storage.

[snow(Alan H)]

Nice pictures, Alan. Wow, congrats on the beautiful picture in Boating NZ!

What can you tell us about Marie-J? Unusual looking boat.

Embrassed to say - nothing....... She is new to me, even though she is flying a CYA burgee. I will dig out some info.
I wondered if its the orginal name or something that someone thought up in the 1970's ;);););)

[snow(Alan H)]

What's that sailboat behind the powerboat?

Here you go - click for details on Rainbow.
http://www.classicyacht.org.nz/infusions/vessel_register/vessel_register.php?detail_id=130

[snow(Alan H)]

Here you go - click for details on Rainbow.
http://www.classicyacht.org.nz/infusions/vessel_register/vessel_register.php?detail_id=130

And more on her restoration
www.rainbow1898.co.nz

[elf]

I must say Rainbow is a deal!

[Lew Barrett]

Alan,

It's interesting how different the classic NZ designs are from US launches of the same era. Especially the house designs.

If I had to guess, I'd say Marie J was a late fifties, early sixties boat, but that's because she looks like a small version of what McQueen (BC builder) were turning out at the same time. If I ignored the gentleman on the forepeak setting the hook, I'd think she was 40 feet or more. Seeing him up there for scale, and I realize she's under 30 feet. Her scale is excellent...she looks to be right at 28 or 42 feet...you couln't tell if the human reference wasn't in the photo.

Congratulations on the placement, Alan! Isn't it a thrill to see your boat in print?

[snow(Alan H)]

It sure is Lew, everyone in the extended Houghton family got a copy in their Santa sack & are sick of hearing me say " have you seen this?".
Marie-J is very beamy & appeals a lot to me.
Did not take a lot of photos on this trip but are back out again on the 2nd for 10 days so will go snap crazy then.
Cheers Alan

[snow(Alan H)]

Embrassed to say - nothing....... She is new to me, even though she is flying a CYA burgee. I will dig out some info.
I wondered if its the orginal name or something that someone thought up in the 1970's ;);););)

I have found out that she was built by Mike Ryan in Whangarei (upper North Island) in 1956. She was originally used for gamefishing in the Bay of Islands & was last seen in Motueka (top ish of the South Island) in 2002, we are surprised to see her in Auckland & not sure where the CYA flag came from as we have no membership record of her. Still thats a lot of the fun of this gig, when 'lost' boats reappear.
Cheers Alan

[floatingkiwi]

The Country is called "Long White Cloud"
Land of the

[snow(Alan H)]

I have found out that she was built by Mike Ryan in Whangarei (upper North Island) in 1956. She was originally used for gamefishing in the Bay of Islands & was last seen in Motueka (top ish of the South Island) in 2002, we are surprised to see her in Auckland & not sure where the CYA flag came from as we have no membership record of her. Still thats a lot of the fun of this gig, when 'lost' boats reappear.
Cheers Alan

Just been told Marie -J is 30' x 10'

[snow(Alan H)]

Just back from 3 more days around Waiheke Island - some more summer boat pix below

http://i408.photobucket.com/albums/pp165/Alanh22/P1140283_2.jpg;

http://i408.photobucket.com/albums/pp165/Alanh22/P1140288.jpg;

http://i408.photobucket.com/albums/pp165/Alanh22/P1140300.jpg;

[Thad]

Jolly lot! Pictures and people! Thanks for keeping your end up.

[snow(Alan H)]

Jolly lot! Pictures and people! Thanks for keeping your end up.

This very un-classic launch was keeping us jolly - sun shining, nice bay, good company, fine rums & views like this - life is tough down here......:D

http://i408.photobucket.com/albums/pp165/Alanh22/P1140276.jpg

[purri]

^ aka "detachable deck fitting".

[The Bigfella]

got any shots of the other side?

[banjoman]

My Sunday:
http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z98/brewmastermsu/sailing018Medium.jpg

[snow(Alan H)]

got any shots of the other side?

Of course - very similar to the other side - sorry could not help myself - if I post the other 'side' I would be sent to the slammer.

http://i408.photobucket.com/albums/pp165/Alanh22/FotoFlexer_Photo.jpg

[snow(Alan H)]

Heading out again in the morning for 3 nights - hopefully not so much of this....

http://i408.photobucket.com/albums/pp165/Alanh22/IMG_2024.jpg

And lots of this......

http://i408.photobucket.com/albums/pp165/Alanh22/P1040841.jpg

I'll post some pix from the bay.

Cheers Alan

[snow(Alan H)]

Now , how did that mug make it all the way down to NZ ???

[Russ Manheimer]

Some of us are actually enjoying Winter in our particular neighborhood.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4054/4263221737_fa7e481350_b.jpg

About twenty on deck, sixty below. Well, at least a foot or so from the stove.

[snow(Alan H)]

Some more pix from the last few days - off Waiheke Island in the Hauraki Gulf. Enjoy.

http://i408.photobucket.com/albums/pp165/Alanh22/P1140329.jpg;
http://i408.photobucket.com/albums/pp165/Alanh22/P1140327_2.jpg;
http://i408.photobucket.com/albums/pp165/Alanh22/P1140364.jpg;
http://i408.photobucket.com/albums/pp165/Alanh22/P1140390_3.jpg;
http://i408.photobucket.com/albums/pp165/Alanh22/P1140339.jpg;
http://i408.photobucket.com/albums/pp165/Alanh22/P1140362.jpg

[snow(Alan H)]

And now a contestant for the boat that most resembles a block of flats (apartment building)......

http://i408.photobucket.com/albums/pp165/Alanh22/P1140350.jpg