Boating New Zealand – April 2018

120 Boating New Zealand

touches like the deck hatch and little table in

the cockpit really impressed us.”

He added that the overall standard at the

show was very high, representing a love of

boats “from the backyard builder to wealthy

enthusiasts with impeccable, imported boats.”

Elray III is a vintage racing hydroplane,

and restoring her, says co-owner Peter

Rainey, was a “mad but extremely interesting

labour of love.” Her rotten and engineless hull

was discovered in Hokitika.

“When Elray was built in 1967 she was

the fastest boat in New Zealand and featured

on the cover of Seaspray magazine that year.

What’s really special is that we had the original

driver, Jon Jarvie and his wife, the daughter

of the original owner, Jock Appleton, coming

down from Auckland to see Elray on the water.”

Rainey says the massive restoration was

a community efort helped by Peter Stillwell

and Richard and Donald Walker. Elray is now

resplendent in her original colours and is

powered by a big-block Chevy.

“Part of our motivation is the potential we

see in New Zealand to get a historic race circuit

going. Tis has become huge in the USA and

right now we know of six other racing boats

being restored, just in the South Island.” BNZ

Best New Craft: Phantom II, Malcolm

and Merridee Jefrey, Helensville

Best Restoration: Elray III, Pete Rainey

and Glenn Common, Nelson

Port Nelson House Parts Best Rowed

Craft: Toroa, Russell Maxwell, Stoke

CWF Hamilton Trophy for the Best

Jet-propelled Craft: (no name),

Nelson Lipinski, West Melton

Johnson Family Trophy for the

Best Sail-Powered Craft: Solitude,

Mike Hadfield, Nelson

Mathieson/Jefcott Trophy for the

Best Motor-Powered Craft: Jueena,

Mike McMillan, Nelson

Best Outboard Motor Boat: Luna,

Philip & Gwen Mladenov, Mapua

Eventiac Award for the Best Themed

Display, and the People’s Choice

Award: Solo, Keith Henson, Picton

Ron Culley Trophy for the Best

Steam Boat: India, Rick Osborne,

Renwick

OTHER AWARD

WINNERS WERE:

RIGHT Small but

deadly – a replica

PT boat.

BELOW Solitude –

the award-winning

sail-boat.

Want to

see more?

FOR MORE PHOTOS

OF THIS EVENT VISIT

nzclassicboats.comwww.