NZ Antique & Classic Boat Show - results

Lake Rotoiti, Nelson Lakes National Park, March 2 & 3 2019

The 1934 clinker Aurora that was used to carry explosives from the powder magazine on the Boulder Bank for the construction of Rocks Road took out the top prize at the NZ Antique & Classic Boat Show, held at Lake Rotoiti in the Nelson Lakes National Park over the weekend. (March 2 & 3)

RMSS Flirt owned by Bob & Sue Hamlett won the Ron Culley Steam Boat Trophy and took passengers for short trips on the lake during the Antique & Classic Boat Show.

There was perfect weather and an air of celebration for the 20th anniversary of the popular event, with over 130 clinkers, steam launches, classic motorboats and sailing dinghies attracting a record crowd of over three thousand boating fans over the weekend.

Event director Pete Rainey said the Aurora captured the essence of the boatshow as a boat with classic lines and a story to tell.

“Over the past 20 years the Jens Hansen trophy for best vessel overall has gone to all sorts of boats - from perfectly restored craft to real workhorses of the sea,” he said. “Aurora is a great winner for our 20th year and will be familiar to older Nelsonians – when her work as an explosives tender was done she became an excursion boat for trips to Haulashore Island and the Lighthouse and was then handed over to the sea scouts.”

Owner Dave Gallop says he was surprised to win, describing Aurora as a good honest workboat. The 20’10” 1934 clinker was built by Martin Monopoly, she’s taken me three years to restore and is now close to going on the water.

“When I found her she was in a sorry state in an old shed in Hope but I didn’t even have to get out of the car …this was exactly what I was looking for as a restoration project,” Dave Gollop says. “Everything was there – I just had to source a motor suited to the period and make a rudder to what I thought would be the original shape from old photos.”

Pete Rainey said both days over the weekend had seen bigger crowds than usual at the Lake.

“We’ve sailed on through some pretty poor weather in the past without ever cancelling so it was great for us to have two perfect days,” he said. “There’s no doubt we have a winning formula with displays on the land in the morning and the opportunity to chat to boat owners, then races on the lake in the afternoon.”

To celebrate the 20th anniversary a book of photos has been published, details at nzclassicboats.com

Other award winning boats were:
Best New Craft: Troy Deavoll, Christchurch, 19’ Chris Craft
Best Restoration Prize: Russell & Janet Cloake, Mossburn, 12’ inboard dinghy Little Honey
Port Nelson Rowed Craft Trophy: Zonder Gifford, Nelson; 13’ self built dinghy
CWF Hamilton Jet Propelled Craft Trophy: Ed Wicken & Paul Mullen, Christchurch wooden hulled 1957 jet boat
Johnson Family Sail Powered Craft Trophy: Stephen Jarvis, Christchurch, 1930s clinker ketch
Mathieson Jeffcott Motor Powered Craft Trophy: Shane Warland, Nelson, 21’ diesel launch
Outboard Motor Boat Prize: Steve Pellet, Blenheim, 18’ 1963 Beattie cabin top
Ron Culley Steam Boat Trophy: Bob & Sue Hamlett, from Wellington for their 1984 Royal Mail Steam Ship Flirt.

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