| Hinemoa | |
|---|---|
| Country | Australia |
| Club | Middle Harbour Yacht Club |
| Owner (s) | Colin Grazules Leo Reilly |
Hinemoa
Colin Grazules
My name is Colin Grazules ..For some 15 years i have been searching for the builders designers of my yacht Hinemoa with little luck .. (yes i know a well known name in NZ)
The earliest history that i have found starts in Sydney Aust at Middle Harbour Yacht Club .Owner Mr Leo Reilly.(Dec)
The next piece of the puzzle is tha she underwent a major rebuild at Cabbage Tree Creek in Bribane Aust. 1972 She was later sold to a Mr P Bertino of Painsville Vic Aust .. I had the luck of purchasing her from him in 1989. The verbal history that came with the boat claims she is a Woolacott ..but unfortunatly the resemblence appears only to be above the water line.. The below water profile is unlike any Woolacott design i can find .
Well i shall let the Photographs do the talking and hopefully find some answers here. I have included some more photos on web for those interested .With some detailed history.http://colingraz.spaces.live.com/
I would like to thank all those in New Zealand that have helped in the Past .. Colin Grazules.
History by Colin Grazules
After 15 years here finally is Hinemoa's story.
Launched 1938
Built and designed by Ivor (Chips) Gronfors for Dr Clem Walsh at Marmong Point, Lake Maquarie, New South Wales, Aust.
Chips was a Finnish shipwright that jumped ship in Newcastle in 1909.
Chips was by all accounts a fine boat builder building many boats including large ferries.
The New Zealand connection is interesting and we may never know how this came about.
There are two books written on Boat Builders of Lake Macquarie. Hinemoa is featured on one of the covers with a segment devoted to Chips Gronfors.
In the first book it states that Hinemoa was a New Zealand type yacht known as a mullet.
In the second book it appears that after a second marrage in 1931 that Chips and his new wife spent some time in Fiji where Chips built boats.
One wonders if he visited New Zealand and was inspired by boats he saw there?
Apparently she was quiet the celebrity in her early days on Lake Macquarie and so there are some great photos that i have included.
I intend to write Hinemoa's history on my website for all those interested and attempt to hopefully find more of Chips's yachts.
Colin Grazules