Barquentine "Kotahitanga"

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
 
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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...
 
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
 
Steve Fair said:
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
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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
 
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
 

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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?
 
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?
 
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
 

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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.
 

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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.
 
mflapan said:
Re: Barquentine "Kotahitanga"

Hi John. I am compiling a webpage listing New Zealand ship and boat builders similar to this web page on NSW ship and boat builders at NSW Ship & Boat Builders . Can you please tell me where Kotahitanga was built and when she was launched? The record that I have so far compiled for Kotahitanga is given below. Any other additions or corrections that you might suggest would be much appreciated.

Best regards
Mori

Name: Kotahitanga
Later names {also Sail or Rego or Fishing No}: <unknown>
Material: Ferrocement
Rig: Brigantine Rig changes & identification codes: <unknown>
Type: Yacht Propulsion: Aux screw
Designer: Donovan?
Year built: 1970s? Yard or Job No: <unknown>
Builder: Kearns, Norman
Where built: NZ
Engines: Motor
Boilers/Gearing: <unknown or N/A>
Official Number: <unknown or N/A> IMO Number: 0
Dimensions (ft)— Est.Length: 50 Breadth: <unknown> Depth: <unknown>
Volumetric ‘tonnage’ measurements (1 ton = 100 cubic ft):
Gross: <unknown> Underdeck: <unknown> Net: <unknown>
Decks: <unknown> Deck Erections: <unknown>
Number of funnels &location: <unknown or N/A> Number of bulkheads: <unknown>
Tanks, etc: <unknown> Freeboard: <unknown>
Stem: <unknown> Figurehead: <unknown> Stern: <unknown>
PORTS and owners: AUCKLAND@b70sb92b94 Norman Kearns
Fate/Status— Year: 2002 Type: B/U Details: <unknown or N/A>
History and details: Built by owner. Name Maori battle cry meaning 'united we stand', also used to describe the 'confederation of tribes'. Ferrocement deck replaced by wood after launch to reduce weight, bulbous bow fitted to reduce trim by bow. 1970s at Bali, sailed to Singapore. Lying at anchor near Greenhithe, Auckland Harbour after 1970s, plans to sail to Europe to start a charter business in the Mediterranean. c1977 sailed from Phuket to Penang then Sri Lanka. Sailed to SE Asia, Africa, South America, Carribean and in 1984 was in Florida, owner continued on to the UK then back through Panama, Tahiti and finally New Zealand getting back about 1992. 1994 owner passed away.
References (see http://www.boatregister.net/RANZS_References.htm): Int:RobertAshbrook
Weblink: , , , http://www.ybw.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-57300.html
Research notes:
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Hi mate. I'm Norms Grandson Timoti, I'm pretty sure it was built on "Span farm" in Auckland, not exactly sure where in Auckland but hope that helps.
 
Hi. I sailed on Kotahitanga (1982/3) from Durban to Cape Town stopping at East London, Port Elizabeth and Mossel Bay. Left Cape Town for St Helena Island and then onto Salvador in Brazil where we got shipwrecked in the harbour.

Where were you when your boat got shipwrecked? In the supermercado (super market) shopping! How phuquing embarrassing! True story. Johnny will remember it well because we spent the next few days diving on the boat to recover stuff and finally got it craned out and onto the hard by the Brazilian harbour authorities.

I should have the newspaper cutting about the shipwreck (they managed to get the name of the boat wrong) and, many years later, was able to get a photograph of Kotahitanga in Cape Town harbour berthed right outside the Royal Cape Yacht Club. The photograph was taken by a professional photographer that I bumped into many years later and was able to get a print from him.

From St Helena Island to Salvador, mid Atlantic ocean, we managed to lose a guy overboard and got him back about 35 minutes later. Lots more to tell. Sadly, I don't recall his name. Johnny might remember.
 
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