New Zealand’s oldest racing boat will be back on the water at Lake Rotoiti for this year’s Antique and Classic Boat Show this weekend.
Boat show organiser Pete Rainey says he and his partner Glenn Common are thrilled to have acquired Pit-a-Pat and to have her on the lake for this year’s event.
“Pit-a-Pat is a real piece of New Zealand boating history,” Pete says.
The 13ft (3.9m) boat was built of spruce in 1927 and in 1929 won the Akaroa Regatta with a record time of 34.8mph, going on to win races right up until the 1960s.Like most of the entries, she has a long history.
Some boats have been in families for generations, some have been rescued from derelict sheds and others stand as examples of remarkable craftsmanship.
This year marks the twenty seventh classic boat show, but it is also a milestone for Pete and Glenn.
Pit-a-Pat is the latest addition to their own collection and forms part of the display in the Classic Boat Museum in St Arnaud. Given that all of this is done for love, the Nelson pair are well known for being boat-crazy.
Their inspiration came nearly three decades ago from American classic boat events and Pete’s childhood memories of boats on Lake Rotoiti.
“I could see an opportunity to create a similar event in New Zealand,” he recalls. “From the first show with 35 mainly home-built vessels we now have more than 100 entries from right around New Zealand, ranging from homebuilt veterans to immaculately restored runabouts and steamboats.”
The format remains familiar. Boats will be on display on land in the morning, followed by the popular sail-past at 2pm, then informal races for each category including rowing boats, sailing boats, jet boats and clinker dinghies.
A particular crowd-pleaser is the Seagull dinghy race, which features a Le Mans style beach start where boaties dash into the water to pull-start their famously temperamental two-stroke engines.
Recent contenders have included a surprisingly quick bathtub and a dining table, both fitted with trusty Seagulls.
On Saturday evening at the Alpine Lodge, the Jens Hansen Trophy will be presented alongside prizes for categories such as best new restoration, best steamboat and best retro boat.
Organisers also emphasise environmental responsibility, with measures in place to prevent the spread of aquatic weeds such as didymo. They also remind the public that kiwi have been released in the nearby national park, so no antique and classic dogs are allowed.
The New Zealand Antique and Classic Boat Show will be held at Kerr Bay, Lake Rotoiti. Gates open 8am both days. A two day pass is $30 and entry is free for school children. Details are at www.nzclassicboats.com
