'Classic' - The Revival of Classic Boating in New Zealand

by Rob Tickner and Richard Gladwell on 29 Jan 2011
Classic boats are treasured the world over, but this recently launched book concentrates on the classic boats of New Zealand, and in particular rejuvenation of the one of the great classic racing yacht fleets in the world.

Classic: The Revival of Classic Boating in New Zealand has received outstanding reviews since its launch last month.

Waitangi, Rainbow and Ariki, Little Jim and Rona, are the names of but a few of the grand ladies of the Waitemata, and are a few of many ambitious reconstruction and restoration projects which have seen the yachts returned to racing trim. Several are owned by well known New Zealand sailors or are skippered by leading yachtsmen on behalf of various trusts formed to oversee their restorations.

Now renowned yachting writer and photographer Ivor Wilkins’ stunning coffee-table book celebrates their power and grace and the people who have restored them to their glory.

The first pure racing/pleasure yachts were built from the 1880s onwards by the famous houses of Logan and Bailey, and more than 100 years later many of these masterpieces are still going strong — largely due to New Zealand's very durable, beautiful kauri timber. Their remarkable life stories of success, neglect and restoration tell the story of New Zealand’s history.

Ivor Wilkins shares the stories of these beautiful boats from the Victorian and Edwardian periods and of the people behind them, showcasing the leading lights of the recent classic yacht revival movement.

Each boat is a tribute not only to the original builders but also to their current owners and restorers, who have gone to what might seem incomprehensible lengths to bring them back to their former glory and return them to home waters.

Lavishly illustrated with contemporary and historic photographs, this is a landmark book that anyone with an interest in yachts, launches and sailing dinghies, craftsmanship and design or New Zealand's heritage, coast and history, will cherish.

This is a limited print run, don't miss out.

To place your order, and receive a personally signed copy, please contact Ivor Wilkins directly by email ivorw@xtra.co.nz

Unsigned copies also available at selected bookstores

To view samples from the book, http://www.offshoreimages.com/image_popup.php?gallery_id=12&sub_gallery_id=73!click_here

About the author:www.offshoreimages.com!Ivor_Wilkins is one of those rare breed of sailing photo-journalists who can write to the same high standard as his photography.

After sailing to New Zealand from South Africa where he worked as a journalist and writer, he joined then New Zealand Yachting magazine taking over from Alan Sefton. He covered the 1992 America's Cup in San Diego, including a particularly incisive piece on the bowsprit controversy, and what happened behind the scenes. He stayed with the America's Cup through to 2003, writing and providing many of the illustrations for the Official Programmes for the 2000 and 2003 America's Cups in New Zealand.

Since going out on his own, Ivor has been the Editor of the RNZYS magazine Breeze, for many years, as well as publishing several other high quality books including a series of three hardcover books to chronicle the 2005 to 2007 BMW ORACLE Racing campaign led by Larry Ellison in pursuit of the Americas Cup.

His other major work has been in covering the building and commissioning of super yachts in New Zealand.

Ivor Wilkins has been published extensively used in leading magazines and publications around the world, including:

• Australian Sailing
• Boat International
• Boating New Zealand
• Boote Exclusiv
• Cruising World
• Meer & Yachten
• Mer & Bateaux
• Offshore
• Passagemaker
• Sailing World
• Sea Spray
• Seahorse
• ShowBoats International
• Voiles & Voiliers
• Wooden Boat
• Yachting
• Yachting World

For more on Ivor Wilkins and Classic: The Revival of Classic Boating in New Zealand see www.offshoreimages.com