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Sailing
& Boating |
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My interest in radio and
electronics was waning after Xmas 1964, and I was begining to
spend more and more of any leasure time I could get, in following
my newer interests in boating. I had struck a friendship with
several designers namely Carl Augustin and Richard Hartley. My
first successful design I completed and launched in less than
a year after leaving 'La Wood Television Ltd'. I studied boat
building, designing and surveying. Ultimately buying out the
Hartley business in 1975 (and as is good commercial business
practice retain the name Hartley for the company till this day).
I operated offices and boat yards in both the UK and New Zealand
as well as over 100 agents worldwide. Many thousands of my boats
have been built, I have built and overseen the building of several
hundred. My books on boatbuilding have sold for over 30 years.
I have successfully raced nationaly, ocean cruised, fished commercially,
and written and edited for several maritime journals and national
newspapers on matters nautical. My daughter is an ex UK, European,
and world womens sailing champion as well as in the womens Olympic
team. She was manager and secretary of the Tauranga Yacht Club,
and a qualified Olympic sailing coach. My Grandaughter was the
NZ Youth National Windsurfing Champion (two years in succession),
and the chosen representative for NZ at the Youth Olympics in
Beijing. My son Peter is one of New Zealands leading wooden boat
builders and restorer of of most of the 'A' Class famous racing
yachts. He has made regular television appearances on the subject. |
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Late 1940's and me with one of my first boats,
not rigged for sailing but just taking mum and sister for a trip
out to Osea Island under outboard power. |
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In the early 1960's I
used the Orakie Basin in Auckland New Zealand to test my small
hydroplanes and Swamp boats. These were all powered with motorcycle
engines. |
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On
a temporary trailer and first time out on a test run using a
Norton twin motorbike engine. |
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Below. After some improvements and then ready for
another test run on a better trailer. |
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Below. My first experimental
swamp boat using an AJS motorbike engine. |
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Converting
open powerboats to cabin cruisers. |
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In the late 1960's I owned
and also rebuilt many boats of varying types and sizes both in
NZ and the UK, from powerboats to sailing cruisers. Also making
numerous contracted delivery voyages between England and both
the Continent and the Mediteranean. It was during this period
that I also was contracted as skipper of the75ft ocean going
tug 'Ferret', I was registered as a 'Huffler Piloit' and controlled
and operated the movements of all the shipping within the port
of Maldon district, as well as a towing contract across the North
Sea. |
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One of my many delivery contracts was taking the
100ton sbEthel from Southampton to Liverpool on a publicity voyage
with the famous footballer George Best on board. The pic is of
us heading up the Mersea towards Liverpool docks. |
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In 1976 I bought the abandoned
oyster smack Priscilla, and raced her for several years after
rebuilding and re-rigging her. |
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Priscilla
as purchased |
Rebuilding
Priscilla on the beach against a concrete crane block |
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Above. Priscilla under sail after my rebuild. Below. Standing
on deck with my wife Nanette with the trophy's won during the
first two years of sailing. |
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After a long association
with Richard Hartley as a designer and an agent I purchased the
Hartley business, and with contracts to build two 35ft Ocean
cruisers I opened up new offices at Heybridge Basin. |
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Above.
My new company offices
and boat yard at Heybridge Basin. Below. Below.
My design office (finalising the drawings for 'Blackwater Lady'.
120ft steam yacht) |
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More than 100 of my 'Norsk 40',
have been built, most making ocean passages and several world
circumnavigations. The 'Searaker', fishing vessel (below) is one of a number used
in fleets working mainly in Europe and off the coast of Africa.
The example below is one built by myself and my son (standing
on the hard fitting the propeller). My son Peter still operates
his own yard north of Auckland building and repairing boats. |
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Some
examples of the many designs by Colin Brookes mSNAME. amRINA. |
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More than 100 of my 'Norsk 40',
have been built, most making ocean passages and several world
circumnavigations. The 'Searaker', fishing vessel (below) is one of a number used
in fleets working mainly in Europe and off the coast of Africa.
The example below is one built by myself and my son (standing
on the hard fitting the propeller). My son Peter still operates
his own yard north of Auckland building and repairing boats. |
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(above) a 'Norsk' class gaff ketch |
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(above) an 80ft traditional style barge for the 'Filton
Ohio Canal Trust'. Ohio USA. |
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(above) a 'Searaker' class fishing boat. |
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(above) an 'Eastcoaster'
class gaff cutter. |
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(above) a 'Fastworker'
class, work or fishing boat. |
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All rights reserved copyright Colin
Brookes January 2025 |
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