Barquentine "Kotahitanga"

[Isla Bonita]

Re: Barquentine "Kotahitanga"

Hi John, good to hear from you too! I sailed with you and Norman when we took the divers on the trip north and back to Durban, 3 weeks it took I think. We also took Cheryl's van to Transkei one weekend?. If you pm me your email I am sure I can dig out some photos to scan.
Cheers, Keith

 

[Gunilla]

Hi Keith, I'm the mother of one of Norm's grandchildren from another of John's brothers, Ron Kearns (sadly, also passed)... Ron sailed with Norm too and also took my son aboard, sailing from London I think, for around a year when he was about 7 in the late '80's... Timoti (my son - now 36), has recently acquired a 41' sloop which is moored here in sydney au... It's a bit of a 'fixer-upper' so I would love to have some photos of the Kotahitanga to inspire and motivate him... Did you ever manage to find some for John? I'd be very grateful if you could also email them to me...

 

[crewman]

This must be one of the most heartwarming yet odd threads ever. 15 years old yet still bringing people together. This forum can be wonderful at times.

 

[Steve Fair]

Hi John
I was on the Kotahitanga with you, your Dad and others from Bali to Singapore. Quite a trip with repair hold ups in Surabaja and Jakarta.
I have some photos of the boat and people on it at that time. Let me know if you want to see them.
Best wishes
Stephen

 

[jbweston]

If you are happy to post the photos on here I'm sure many of us would love to see them. History doesn't have to be 200 years old to be interesting.

 

[Kotahitanga]

Hi John
I was on the Kotahitanga with you, your Dad and others from Bali to Singapore. Quite a trip with repair hold ups in Surabaja and Jakarta.
I have some photos of the boat and people on it at that time. Let me know if you want to see them.
Best wishes
Stephen

Hi Steve,
Good to hear from you, I've only just seen your post, it would be great to see some photos of that trip from Bali to Singapore, must of been around 1978.
Where are you living now? I live in Auckland, New Zealand.
look forward to hearing back.
Best regards
John

 

[Blue Velvet]

Hi John,
Pics of Kotahitanga and you in Townsville, Feb 1977.
Doubt you'll remember me, but I remember you. Among other things, you came swimming at my hotel.
I well remember your Dad, my admiration for the work he put in building the boat, and the times in Townsville, especially the trip we did towards Magnetic Island and a fairly wild party on board.
Derek

 

[Kotahitanga]

Hi Derek,
Thanks for the photos, really appreciated, I must have been about 13 when those photos were taken. I vaguely remember going to the Travel Lodge along the beach front in Townsville, was that with you? I also remember we went for a sail to Magnetic Island, but had to turn around as some people were seasick and weren't enjoying the sail. Where are you living now?

 

[rotrax]

Purely coincidentaly I am reading "A History of New Zealand" by Keith Sinclair.

The word 'Kotahitanga' means 'Union' in the Marori language. It was used in the book in the context of a Maori separatist movement. They had asked to be self governing twice but were denied by the British Government and the NZ Government.

A Maori Parliament was set up around North Auckland, the East Coast and Hawkes Bay and was called Kotahitanga. It operated for ten years between 1892 and 1902.

I wonder if there is any connection with the vessels name with Maori history and this rebel breakaway movement?

 

[Blue Velvet]

Hi again John,
Yes, I was staying in the Travel Lodge. While you were in the pool I had a vigorous "discussion" with the manager of the hotel regarding non-guests using the pool and my inviting you to swim there. I won!
Your Dad building Kotahitanga inspired me to build a yacht myself. Along with my partner and her children we sailed from Melbourne to Bowen, then to New Caledonia, Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands before returning via Bundaberg to Melbourne where we have lived since. Age has caught up with me and we sold her about ten years ago.
Here's another pic of Kotahitanga at Townsville. In this pic she doesn't look as big and impressive as I remember her. She was by far the biggest and roomiest yacht I'd ever been aboard. The aft stateroom really was something else!
Derek

 

[Steve Fair]

Hi John
A couple of photos from Indonesia
Regards
Steve

 

[Kotahitanga]

Hi John
A couple of photos from Indonesia
Regards
Steve

Hi Steve,
I’ve just seen your post with the photos of Kotahitanga in Indonesia, I think it was alongside in Surabaya and towing her into Tanjong Priok. Do you have any other photos?
Are you living in NZ?
Cheers
John

 

[Steve Fair]

Hi John
I’m living in Australia. Here are some photos from the trip Bali to Singapore in 1978.
I have a few more of people on the trip and locals we meet. Let me know if you want me to add them.
Also included is an article I found in a 1981 newspaper.

 

[Steve Fair]

The article

 

[Kotahitanga]

Hi Steve, Thanks for the photos, really appreciated. I have only a few photos of our trip through Indonesia and Singapore,
so would really appreciate any photos that you can send through. I live in Auckland now with 3 grown daughters and 3 grand children.