“The people are gone but their boats live on”
This year’s classic launch race at Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta is shaping up to be a blinder, with eight classic launches already entered – the most in any division so far.
These beautiful old vessels carry a wealth of colourful history and the stories of whalers, fishermen and farmers from years gone by. Among them is the 110+ year old launch Primadonna, now owned by Aucklander James Hutchinson.
Primadonna began her life as a whale-chaser, built for the Baldick family who were Tory Channel whalers and farmers. She passed through a succession of owners – many of them descendants of the original owner – and underwent a number of modifications, before finally leaving the Sounds to come to Auckland.
The history of the Primadonna is documented in the stories told by the descendants of the Baldick family and her other owners over the years, on the fantastic Waitemata Woodys website – a treasure trove of nautical history.
Among the stories recounted is a discussion with Grace, the niece of the original owner, who reportedly said: “The old people are dead and gone but their boats live on. Their lives revolved around their boats, they were their daily transport, their farm boats, their fishing boats, they built many of them themselves and repaired and modified them.”
Primadonna is no stranger to racing either, despite starting her life as a whaling, farming and fishing boat. Apparently the four Baldick brothers, who all owned boats, would gather once a year at Maraetai Bay and line their boats up for a family regatta! So she will be right at home on the start line of the 185th Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta on Monday 27 January, 2025.
You can read more of the fascinating oral history of Primadonna (and many, many other classic launches) on the Waitemata Woodys website.
An Epic Tale of Whalers, Fishermen, Farmers & Commercial Launch Masters
Our sponsors
