Tangaroa Completes A full Circle
I’m thinking, is this an April fools prank from a mate or a genuine attempt to return a significant piece of New Zealand’s wooden boat building history to New Zealand?
April 1st 2019 and my phone is ringing and flashing up with a previously unknown (but now very familiar) number from California USA. On the end of the line is the very chipper voice of Eric Jonsson.
His message?
“I have been reading your website classicyachtcharitabletrust.org.nz and am most impressed with the work being done in New Zealand to restore and sail historically significant classic yachts and launches. My family has owned a New Zealand classic yacht TANGAROA since 1977. The yacht is based in Hawaii where our family lived. Dad has now moved to mainland USA and is no longer able to sail her. We believe now is the time for her to return to her routes. Would the Classic Yacht Charitable Trust be interested in taking her on?”
After further conversation it is obvious that Eric is very genuine and clear about his intentions to return TANGAROA to her homeland where she was built and he fills me in on the history of the vessel.
TANGAROA was designed by John Brooke of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research NZ. John based his design on a larger Scandinavian designed boat by K Aage Nielsen which was featured in Rudder magazine in 1933. Line drawings completed by John Brooke are dated September 1935 and define a 38ft cruising yacht to be built in triple diagonal plank kauri timber for Mr Jas. Inkster of Bayswater Auckland. She is a roomy sloop with masthead rig. TANGAROA was built by the Percy Vos yard in Hamer Street Auckland and launched on the 2nd December 1936. Pohutukawa was used for her stem, interior fitout in Mahogany and hatches and skylight in teak. A doghouse was added by owner M V Bates in 1953.
While built as a cruiser, boats were built in the 60’s for cruising and racing. TANGAROA was no exception and successfully competed regularly in the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron events including coastal races from Auckland to TANGAROA, Auckland to Kawau Island and Auckland to Bay of Islands. During coastal events enthusiasts were keen to hear of the progress of the yachts and TANGAROA was often provided with a supply of homing pigeons which were released at regular intervals with information on the positions and progress of the yachts.
In 1961 TANGAROA was purchased by a young American couple Stuart and Jo Byam from then owners Messrs M V Bates, Stretton and Green of Auckland. The Byams fitted her for offshore cruising and set off to explore Tahiti before eventually arriving in Hawaii in November 1962. TANGAROA was sold to William J Froome and Robert T Leary on the 16th Oct 1963 who after many enjoyable years cruising between the Hawaiin Islands sold her to the current owner Allan Rey Jonsson and his sailing buddy Lloyd Edward Printup on the 2nd Sept 1977. Interestingly the Byams had such fond memories of New Zealand that they immigrated to Waverley NZ in 1978. Peter passed away in 2015 but Jo still lives on their family farm. She is aiming to meet up with TANGAROA in May this year when she plans to return to the vessel an original wooden TANGAROA carving, souvenired when they sold the boat in Hawaii.
Rey Jonsson and his family enjoyed many years of racing around Oahu and across to Maui. Rey moved to California to be closer to family in his retired years and is no longer able to sail TANGAROA He has passed custodianship to his son Eric and Rey now enjoys TANGAROA vicariously through Eric’s adventures of returning TANGAROA to her home of origin where she joins a wonderful fleet of restored and well maintained classic wooden boats.
Back to that conversation with Eric Jonsson. “Eric we have quite a fleet of vessels in the Classic Yacht Charitable Trust and would be unable to take her on, but I would be happy to help you meet your father’s wishes in having her returned to New Zealand. The best way might be to identify an interim local skipper with like passion for classic wooden boats and have them assist in recommissioning her and sailing her in New Zealand until a long term custodian can be identified to care for her.” This Eric and his Dad were most agreeable to and the lengthy process of building a shipping cradle and organising shipping from Hawaii to Auckland was put in motion.
TANGAROA left Honolulu early on the morning of Nov 19th 2019 and arrived in Auckland on December 8th via Tonga. On arrival Boat Haulage Ltd trucked her to Horizon Boats in Stillwater where Wayne Olsen replaced the decks, tidied up the cockpit lockers, rebuilt and repaired hatches and skylight and added galley, head and holding tank. Corey Rademaeker as commissioning skipper carried out the paint work and has spent considerable time re-rigging, completing finishing work and fitting her out for cruising in New Zealand. TANGAROA was relaunched in September 2020 at Gulf Harbour Marina where she is currently berthed. Corey has built a small racing team to compete in Classic Yacht Association events and has managed some cruising time with his children over the summer of 2020/21.
Eric and his good friend Randy Schmitt had hoped to be in NZ for the relaunch celebration but with COVID19 interrupting their plans their chance to cruise the Hauraki Gulf is on hold.
An open day is planned for the 23rd of May between 1500hrs to 1700hrs at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron when TANGAROA will be open for viewing, Jo Byam will return the carving to TANGAROA and stories can be shared over some drinks and nibbles.
// By Larry Paul
TANGAROA in Bora Bora