RAWHITI


“For Greg and Peter another great outcome is a personal friendship based on mutual respect”


Far left: Before – Rawhiti on her way to Peter Brookes, still with her skeg-hung rudder Left: During – nearly finished Below: After - launch day


The sail plan used closely follows David Payne’s reconstruction of some 2,000sqft (186m2


Rawhiti was looking resplendent. The great job that ) with a few


Above: Peter at work on the bow scroll for Rawhiti’s bulwarks


minor adjustments by Peter to suit Greg’s family’s needs – ie winches, runners etc. All sails except the light air headsails and reachers have been cut very flat to ensure that Rawhiti is not overpowered in Auckland’s breezes. Only after sailing this coming season will the decision be vindicated. However, her strength of bilge combined with the flat-cut sails should set her up well for the light to moderate conditions. Her performance in fresher conditions is a big ‘wait and see’. No doubt she will acquit herself well with suitable reefing in place. All of the sails have been made by David Parr and his team at Calibre Sails in Whangarei, north of Auckland.


LAUNCH DAY The day of Rawhiti’s launch was a cracker. It took place in downtown Auckland’s redeveloped Wynyard Quarter with over 300 friends, family and admirers in attendance. After such an extended restoration – over six years – there was a great deal of emotion, passion and anticipation now that the project was almost over.


38 CLASSIC BOAT FEBRUARY 2012


Greg’s wife Rachael had done in creating a display of her history set the tone. Bruce Marler, her skipper after his father’s death in the early 1950s through until 1969, now in his eighties, was also there. The significance of the occasion brought out the very best in Bruce, a great speaker in his day, in his supporting role for Greg. Greg paid tribute to his wife’s part in enabling it all to happen, his early partnership with Sam Stubbs, and finally Peter Brookes. Restoration projects can often come under strain in the latter stages, especially when duration and cost always seem to exceed original indications. For Greg and Peter another great outcome has been the growth of their personal friendship through mutual admiration, respect for attention to detail, thoroughness, and open dialogue when times were tough. These two can now look forward to a lifelong friendship as an added bonus from the project. The focus now turns to ‘on the water’ and the build-up to the serious business of maximising Rawhiti’s potential as the New Zealand racing season gets under way. Will she still be unbeatable?


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