Tumlaren Sailing New Zealand Style-An inspiring Update

by Pip Todd

ELISABETH with her cutter rig and distinctive cabin top

Following on from our post 4 weeks ago, we received this heart warming up date from Pip Todd in Mangonui, New Zealand.

Reading Bill Cole’s reminiscences of Tumlaren “ELISABETH” (SWS 40th edition Sept 16 2021) which Bill owned in Auckland during the early to mid-1960s ignited a dream that Kiwi shipwright Phil (Blue) Holmes had kindled for some time to do up another Tumlaren.

Now residing in Mangonui in the Far North of New Zealand Phil had completed the full restoration in Melbourne of ZEPHYR in 2000 when it was owned by Kevin Read. He also assisted in ETTRICK’s makeover with Doug Jenkin as owner.

ZEPHYR sailing on Port Phillip

After the SWS article appeared Mark Chew tracked down her hull which had been sitting outside at a boat builders yard NW of Auckland for the last 5 years. Not getting any younger and after a recent health scare it seemed things were lining up for ELISABETH to be his next Tumlaren project.

It’s the one on the right!

Phil contacted Bill Cole who had owned ELISABETH twice during the sixties between work projects overseas and updated Phil to her history.

Bill Cole, up the Mast in the 1960’s

She was originally built for an Auckland jeweller (year unknown) in kauri as a single skin on ribs and carvel planked. Bill purchased her around 1960 after seeing her on the hardstand at Auckland’s Devonport Yacht Club. In 1961 Bill sailed her in the summer White Island (or 500mile) Race which coincidentally ended in Mangonui. He owned her for 4 years, sold her when he had to go overseas to work but was able to purchase her back on his return 2 years later for a further couple of years. She then moved down to Wellington but somehow came back in Auckland before being “discovered” in 2011 - by then, in dire need of repair.

Some of her hull was resplined in 2012 by an Auckland North Shore shipwright but due to the owner’s financial difficulties ELISABETH’S restoration came to a halt. She has since passed through 2 boat builders’ yards but sadly nothing further has been done to her and her future was the demolition yard.

The current boatyard owner and shipwright contacts of Phil’s who knew ELISABETH have stated the hull is “rough but fixable”. Sadly, her rudder has been burnt, however, there may be a mast and a container of “bits and pieces” in a paddock somewhere on the North shore. So, nothing a keen restorer can’t fix!

With tough lockdown restrictions encompassing Auckland for the foreseeable future there was no way Phil was going to be able to view ELISABETH himself so decided to buy her sight unseen. A boat haulage company will be bringing her 300km north to her new home in Mangonui within the next few weeks.

Doubtless Bay was named by Lieutenant James Cook during his first Pacific voyage in 1769

At this stage a 2-year restoration is envisaged. With the beautiful Doubtless Bay on Mangonui’s doorstep, with it’s typical light to moderate breezes and flat water, it will make a perfect playground for the only known Tum in New Zealand.