From the Drawing Board  

by John Welsford - Hamilton, New Zealand

It Was Worth the Wait

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I’m trying to remember how long ago it was that my friend Marcus bought a copy of my Golden Bay dinghy plans. From memory he was about halfway through an adult boatbuilding apprenticeship which would put it about 8 years ago, and at a time when his three girl children were all very small.

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I hear from Marcus every few months and for all that time our conversations were opened with “ I’m going to finish off that Golden Bay soon”. The remark sort of became just part of the conversational scenery and I didn’t take much notice of it, but the remark still kept coming up through several house moves and over a whole lot of years. To help out I sold the tardy and distracted (three daughters all within a year or so of each other could be termed a “ distraction”) a cheap second hand sail originally intended for a Bolger Teal and we talked over the size and shape of a mizzen so the partly finished boat could be rigged as a cat yawl.

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Time went by; the promises to complete the boat continued; the little flock of daughters grew in stature and personality (they’re going to be a real adventure for the boys in their lives later on!). Marcus completed his Trade Certificate in Boatbuilding and discussed with me the option of going further with his training and becoming a Marine Engineer specialising in engine installations, and meanwhile went to work for a company specialising in superyacht interiors.

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click to enlarge

Much to my surprise I had a note to say that the little dinghy was almost done and that Marcus was going to be sailing her at the Mahurangi Regatta last February. Sadly, I could not be there, but I extracted a promise of some photos and pretty much forgot about it, just more conversational scenery. But I should not have maligned my long time friend, as just the other day I received a great collection of pictures of “ Riha “ sailing on the waters of Northlands east coast, Father and three daughters on board, and the boat performing beautifully.

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click to enlarge

Marcus has made a wonderful job of her, now a professional boatbuilder in every way the detail work is exceptional, the boats two masted rig is both convenient and effective, and there is room for all four in this simple 12 ft 9in flat bottomed skiff.

It took a while, but it was worth the wait.

John Welsford,
Designer
Golden Bay dinghy.

Columns by John Welsford

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Designs by John Welsford: