Lightly Skimming over the Surface
Photograph by Henry Winkelmann. Auckland War Memorial Museum. Tamaki Paenga Hira
While humans have been sailing for centuries, it wasn't until the Edwardian era that leisure-yachting became popular.
This weekend is your last chance to visit an exhibition at the New Zealand Maritime Museum called “Lightly Skimming over the Surface”
It combines two of my greatest passions, sailing and photography, and I’m sad that being stuck in Melbourne at the moment I won’t be able to visit. However, if you’re in Auckland this weekend, do yourself a favour and head down to the viaduct.
The pop up exhibition marks the 150th anniversary of The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron spanning from the early days of Auckland membership to dominating the international stage with the America’s Cup. The people, the boats, the history.
These three Instagram posts below give a flavour of what you can expect
Photograph by Henry Winkelmann. On loan from Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron
“While humans have been sailing for centuries, it wasn't until the Edwardian era that leisure-yachting became popular. Easter and Christmas were traditional cruising seasons and while some yachts were male dominated, others welcomed women and children for picnic excursions to nearby islands such as Waiheke and Motutapu.
After the Second World War, more women came on board and interior boat design evolved to be family friendly. Better galleys and dining areas suitable for both class racing and family cruising were included in improved yacht designs.
The Squadron wanted to encourage more returned servicemen to get out on the Hauraki Gulf with their families and the development of the marina berth aided this. Instead of loading up from a dinghy, yachting parties could step on board and disembark easily, making departures a breeze.”
The four crew are sitting in the saloon of the Logan yacht AORERE (not to be confused with the Australian centenarian yacht of the same name.) She was launched on 24 November 1892. An article at the time reads…
AORERE Being rigged at Robert Logan’s yard November 1892.
”She has 4 tons of lead on her keel, being built after the usual deep-sinker type. The yacht has very sightly lines, beautifully modelled, with a handsome schooner bow and a fine run aft. She has a very long counter and overhanging stern. She is prettily panelled in the cabin, and has African redwood in her deck fittings. The smart appearance of the AORERE is heightened by white paint and a gilt streak round her, and also by a handsomely carved bow. Her fine American pine spars give the Aorere a most capacious spread of canvas. The yacht is very carefully and handsomely finished, and does as much credit to Mr Logan’s wide reputation as an excellent yacht-builder, as any of his previous launches.”
Lou working on a new mast for RANGER. Sea Spray February 1968. New Zealand Maritime Museum Hui Te Ananui a Tangaroa.
RANGER sailing in 1949 with Rangitoto in the background.
New Zealand Herald Glass Plate Collection, Auckland Libraries
“A-class yachting was largely the preserve of the wealthy in New Zealand, that is until the arrival of boat designer and racer, Lou Tercel, and his magnificent yacht RANGER
Tercel designed the 60ft keel yacht in his spare time, while working as a crane operator on the wharves as his day job. Together with his brothers Cyril and Leo, Tercel built Ranger in what was then working-class Ponsonby, with modern racing in mind.
The yacht was launched in 1938, and it wasn't long before RANGER was cleaning up in the local racing scene. Until the late 1960s RANGER and Tercel were the boat and skipper to beat for line honours.
Lou Tercel was made a life member of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron in 1975 and his domination of big boat racing on the Waitematā Harbour inspired a generation of sailors.”
Photograph courtesy of Piri Neary.
“Sailing has long been a male dominated pursuit but that hasn't stopped plenty of Kiwi women from taking the helm over the years.
Anne Wiseman (far right) was one of those yachtswomen, seen here with two friends aboard the K-Class yacht JENANNE in the 1950s. The yacht was commissioned by Anne's father Murray and was named for the two Wiseman sisters Jennifer and Anne.
As fate would have it, sailing is also how Anne met her husband, now 96-year-old RNYS member Piri Neary who crewed on JENANNE. He remembers his late wife, who passed away in 2017, as a very good yachtswoman.“
Perhaps the involvement of adventurous yachtswomen like these was the spark that now sees women racing alongside men in every offshore event around the globe.
And with twenty all female crews lining up to compete in the Australian Women’s Keelboat Regatta in a fortnight’s time, genuine equality of opportunity based on gender is at least being addressed in some quarters.