Thursday June 4 was a significant day in Kate’s life. She has languished almost invisible in her mud mooring along the Causeway for the last ten years, with accessibility very constrained by the tides. There were often only 1-2 days a week when the tides were suitable for a day…
WWS Newsletter January 2026
Waitangi Day Thank you Sail: As a ‘Mate of the Kate’ you are cordially invited to our annual Thank You sail on Friday 6th February, in company with “Flying Carpet” and your own boat if you wish. Choose which boat to sail out on, Join at 09;30, for the “Kate” at the…
Newsletter November 2025
Launching the new dinghy: Over the winter I have designed and built a customised tender for the “Kate” – a 3m long dinghy that will carry all the crew at once, yet be light enough to carry on the cabin top for longer passages. Launching it is a good excuse…
Newsletter September 2025
Over the winter we’ve managed a bit of painting and varnishing on the few fine days. Also the details of the electrical system have been completed by Captain Roy Purvis, electrical engineer, with a schematic wiring diagram that connects the ship’s system with the engine. (Roy sailed with me on…
Planning the future for the Kate
Achievements to date. It’s been 10 years since the Waiheke Working Sail Charitable Trust took over custody of the Kate, as she lay derelict on the beach at the Causeway. Built in 1898, she is one of only four of the once-common trading cutters still in existence, strongly-built workboats that…