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ePaper created 2014-06-11, 13:05:34 | version 1.30.01
115 permitted to race, and sailed reasonably well considering her handicap of a shorter waterline length. This may have something to do with her name Pania, which in Maori means orphan, smear or paint. Pania was launched along with Pim, Princess, and Patiko from Princes Wharf on 5 November 1960. Along with many of the other early Stewarts,Pania experienced rudder problems. Kendall noted that there was;“no inner tube, spade shape, no skeg, and no bottom bearing, they weren’t strong enough nor long enough. They experimented with steel tube rudder posts but they fell off, as did Snow’s, on Pleiades.” Kendall also commented on the keel: “They all had the new steel keel but there were problems with the galvanising rusting through so some were replaced with the original wooden keel.” Pania was then owned by H. M. McElroy of Auckland, followed by Stewart Taylor who purchased her in 1972. Taylor had a stroke in 1976, and although he still sailed Pania, his son Wayne became the skipper and in September of 1985 he requested permission from the Association to lengthen the stern of Pania by 18 inches in order to improve the cockpit,and build in a walk through transom so that his father could have easy access to and from the dinghy. The boat was taken home in order that the work could be carried out but this was never started due to the death of Stewart. Pania was put up for sale in 1986 when Wayne Taylor and his brother Mark purchased Pahi. Pania was sold in July of the following year to Peter Brady, her present owner. Brady and his wife refurbished the interior, installed a hatch over the head for more room, opened up the transom and altered the locker and coaming arrangement for more storage and comfort. Panui Sail No. K814 Builder: John Lidgard Launched: 1962 Construction: Cold moulded triple diagonal kauri, sheathed in epoxy resin Panui’soriginalownerwasClaryIrvine,aformerCommodoreof theRoyalAkarana Yacht Club. He sold her shortly after she was launched. In a letter to Bill Miller, her second owner, Ross George wrote: “I believe it was early in 1962 when I was introduced to Clary Irvine who had his near new Patiki for sale. If my memory serves me correctly I think it cost me approx £4500. With a relatively inexperienced crew we did initially find Panui more than challenging. Specially down wind in heavier conditions. To eliminate some of our problems we replaced the original rudder with a larger spade rudder, we added more weight to the keel & stiffened the mast by putting an extra sheath of timber on either side of it. This was all supervised by the builder John Lidgard. I raced most of the Squadron events for 4 years with limited success. Jim Davern & Ron Neil had their fair share of line honours & there were probably 8 to 10 other Stewarts who filled the minor positions. Our best effort I believe was a 2nd in the Bay of Islands Xmas race. All my crew were unmarried and we soon became known as the party boat. There was tremendous fellowship amongst Squadron members in those days & we all had a great deal of fun. I believe racing has become a little too serious these days. During the winter most of the yachts would be on the hard at Okahu Bay & we used to put a coat of Samson House Paint on every year as well as doing normal maintenance. This was also good fun & the girl friends used to bring us morning tea & lunch which was normally washed down with a few beers. Family & business commitments took over in I believe 1966 when I sold the yacht to Wilf Beckett who campaigned her with considerable success. It also flew the Commodore’s pennant. Panui enjoys an easy day of sailing Ian Anderson Collection