On the 6th October 1905 Rawhiti was launched from
the Logan Bros. yard in Mechanics Bay for her owner, Mr. A T
Pittar. Several weeks later she left for Sydney, experiencing
westerly gales and rough weather for most of the crossing which
took 28 days. Shortly after her arrival she was bought by C.
T. Brockoff, a prominent yachtsman, who in the 1906-7 season
won the first race for the Basin Cup. Under new owners F. Albert
and E. Sayer, Rawhiti won this race no fewer than six times.
In 1928, under M.F. Albert her rig was changed from
gaff to Bermudan and her racing successes continued until she
was hauled out in 1939 and kept in a shed for the duration of
the War. In 33 years of racing she held her record of champion
yacht of Sydney Harbour.
In 1944 S. E. Marler bought Rawhiti with one of the
conditions that she would not be raced again on Sydney Harbour.
After an extensive refit which included refastening and a new
deck Rawhiti left Sydney for Auckland on the 18th December 1946,
arriving in Russell just 10.5 days later. Marler found her rig
too overpowering and shortened her mast by five feet, and a new
masthead rig, designed by Bob Stewart was fitted. Two career
highlights under Marler ownership were, to win the Squadron's
point's prize for 1st Division in the 1956-7 and 1967-8 seasons.
In 1969 Don Brooke bought Rawhiti and she was converted
to a comfortable cruiser racer, adding a cabin top and reducing
the rig. She was sailed for some years on the Manukau before
eventually returning to the Waitemata.
In 1990 Wayne Hurst of Gloss Yachts bought her and
restored her, relaunching in 1992.
Then followed a long ownership by the Balemi family,
who raced her consistently with the Classic Yacht Association.
In 2004 she was sold to the current owners, Greg Lee
and Sam Stubbs. In May 2005 Rawhiti was hauled out and transported
to Brookes Boatbuilders of Waimauku
for an extensive restoration and a return to her original gaff
rig.
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