Rona (1892): Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Sailing yacht}}

[[Image:Rona2003.jpg|thumb|right | Rona at ICY Regatta, 2003]]

{{other uses|Rona (disambiguation)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{|{{Infobox ship begin |infobox caption=''Rona''}} <!-- age of sail --><!-- caption: yes, nodab, or <caption text> -->

{{Infobox ship image

| Ship image = Rona2003.jpg

| Ship caption = ''Rona'' at ICY Regatta, Auckland 2003

}}

{{Infobox ship career

| Hide header =

| Ship country =

| Ship flag =

| Ship name =

| Ship owner = *[[Alexander Horsburgh Turnbull]] (1892–)

*Harry Hardham and Huia Prince (1929–36)

*John W Roberts (Jack) (?-1942)

*Albert Ivan LeSueur 1942-1959 Purchased for 180 Pounds

*John Palmer (–2006)

*Rona Preservation Trust (2006–)

| Ship ordered =

| Ship builder = Robert Logan

| Ship original cost =

| Ship laid down =

| Ship launched = 1892

| Ship acquired =

| Ship commissioned =

| Ship decommissioned =

| Ship in service =

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| Ship struck =

| Ship reinstated =

| Ship honours =

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| Ship fate =

| Ship status =

| Ship notes =

}}

{{Infobox ship characteristics

| Hide header =

| Header caption =

| Ship type = [[Sailing yacht]]

| Ship tons burthen =

| Ship length =

| Ship beam =

| Ship draught =

| Ship draft =

| Ship hold depth =

| Ship propulsion =

| Ship sail plan = [[gaff rig]]ged cutter

| Ship complement =

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}}

|}

'''''Rona''''' was designeda in[[sailing Scotlandyacht]] designed by one[[George ofLennox theWatson]].<ref world’sname=":0">{{Cite greatestnews|last=Schouten|first=Hank|date=2 yachtMarch designers,2015|title=Grand Gold lady needs a makeover|work=[[The Dominion Post (Wellington)|The Dominion Post]]|url=https://www.Lstuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/66816634/grand-old-lady-needs-a-makeover|access-date=22 Watson,May and2021}}</ref> She was constructed in 1892 in [[Auckland]], [[New Zealand]], by master craftsman and designer, Robert Logan (Senior)Snr. for [[Wellington]] merchant and benefactor,[[book collecting|book collector]] [[Alexander Turnbull (bibliophile)|Alexander Turnbull]], and is the oldest continuously registered ship in New Zealand.<ref name=":0" />

The boat was sailed from Auckland to Wellington, leaving Auckland 14 February 1893 and Arrived Wellington Harbour on the 21 February 1893. An article in the ''Wellington Evening Post'' on the 22 February 1893 recounted its maiden voyage.

SheThe boat is one of the finest surviving examples of a six-beam gaffcutter (her beam fits into her length six times; i.e., she has very slim lines), she is a gaff-rigged racing cutter, and she is one of the oldest yachts still sailing in New Zealand.<ref name=":0" />

''Rona'' is an example of 19th-century racing yacht design and construction.<ref name=":0" /> The boat was originally painted black, the colour used on New Zealand's [[America's Cup]] yachts.

She is one of the finest surviving examples of a six-beam gaff rigged racing cutter, and one of the oldest yachts still sailing.

''Rona'' is an excellent example of nineteenth century racing yacht design and construction, and is representative of an industry in New Zealand that has continued to exemplify innovation, attention to quality, and refinement into the 21st century.

''Rona'' was restored to original condition by her last private owner, John Palmer, which took over nine years. That ''Rona'' was able to be maintained as a fully operational sailing vessel for over 110 years is due to her construction in kauri pine (''[[Agathis australis]]''), a fine-grained timber of excellent quality for boatbuilding.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|last=Doyle|first=Judith|date=May 2017|title=The Grand Old Ladies of Oriental Bay|work=Bay View Newsletter|issue=69|url=http://orientalbay.org.nz/stories/2017/05/1/the-grand-old-ladies-of-oriental-bay|access-date=22 May 2021}}</ref>

The Rona Preservation Trust was set up to purchase ''Rona''. This was accomplished in November 2006, with the assistance of grants from the Lotteries Foundation others, and the boat was made accessible to the community through sailing events, maintenance and training days and public open days.

[[Image:Rona_on_hard_ebRona on hard eb.jpg|thumb|left right| ''Rona'' on hard at [[Evans Bay]], Wellington, in 2004]]

In May 2023 the yacht was transported to Peter Brookes Yard near Waimauku, Auckland for the next chapter. [[Andrew Barnes (businessman)|Andrew Barnes]], Larry Paul and Peter were instrumental in making this happen.

She needs much remedial work. Garboards need to come off, deck beams, beam shelves, deck and gunnels need replacing.

A [https://givealittle.co.nz/org/rona-charitable-trust Give-a-little] page is available to help raise the funds necessary to restore her. The end goal is to get her racing in Auckland harbour alongside other contemporary gaff yachts like Gloriana and Rogue.

== References ==

{{Reflist}}

''Rona'' was beautifully restored to original condition by John Palmer, in a labour of love over nine years, and has been maintained as a fully operational sailing vessel.

The Rona Preservation Trust has been set up to purchase ''Rona'', and make her accessible to the community through sailing events, maintenance and training days and public open days. Moored on the Wellington waterfront, she is an important part of our heritage, and attracts New Zealanders and international visitors. ''Rona'' is a precious part of New Zealand’s maritime history and provides a unique opportunity to keep alive past sailing traditions and pass them on to future generations.

[[Image:Rona_on_hard_eb.jpg|thumb|left | Rona on hard at Evans Bay]]

{{Category: Yachts}}

== External links ==

{{commons category|Rona (ship, 1892)}}

* [http://www.rona.org.nz Contact details for Rona Preservation Trust]

* {{cite web |url=http://www.rona.org.nz |title=Rona 1892 |website=Rona Preservation Trust |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130505015149/http://www.rona.org.nz/ |archivedate=2013-05-05}}

[[User:Granthod|Granthod]] 18:35, 15 September 2006 (UTC)

* {{cite encyclopedia |url=http://www.teara.govt.nz/1966/T/TurnbullAlexanderHorsburgh/TurnbullAlexanderHorsburgh/en |title=Turnbull, Alexander Horsburgh |encyclopedia=[[An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand]] |date=1966}}

* {{cite web |url=http://www.maori.org.nz/korero/default.php?pid=sp67&parent=55 |title=Rona and the moon |website=Māori |department=Korero O Nehera}}

[[Category:Ships of New Zealand]]

[[Category:Individual sailing vessels]]

{{[[Category:1892 Yachts}}ships]]