Breeze (ship)

Breeze berthed at the New Zealand Maritime Museum
History
New Zealand
NameBreeze
Owner
Port of registryAuckland, New Zealand
BuilderRalph Sewell
General characteristics
TypeBrigantine
Displacement25.4 tonnes
Length60 ft (18.3 m)
Beam16.6 ft (5.1 m)
Draught6 ft (1.8 m)

Breeze is a replica 19th-century brigantine built by Ralph Sewell and his family in Coromandel. It is one of four seaworthy ships berthed at the New Zealand Maritime Museum Hui Te Ananui a Tangaroa. It launched in 1981.[1]

History

Construction

Breeze was built by Ralph Sewell in Tiki Landing in the Coromandel.[2] While originally training as a boat builder, Sewell had worked on pipe organ construction projects for years. Constructing Breeze was his first foray back into boat building, after constructing organs such as the St Marks's Church organ at Te Aroha, and the Wellington Town Hall organ.[3] He built it in the tradition of 19th-century coastal traders. Rodney Wilson described the project to be "[...] driven by a desire to produce something public, to contribute to the community's knowledge and feeling for its maritime past."[2] This was echoed by Sewell himself in a article he wrote for Sea Spray magazine in August 1981, describing Breeze as an 'adventure ship' for with the purpose of teaching sailing techniques and building communities of those with like-minded interests in sailing and the sea.[4]

Sewell wrote extensively about the construction of Breeze. Committed to sticking to traditional methods of construction, Sewell chose not to use any machinery to built the boat. Further, Tiki Landing was also windmill powered. He writes "We are building Breeze out of best Coromandel kauri in traditional manner, using adze, drawknife, slick, wooden German jack plane and caulking iron."[4] Breeze is constructed with kauri, totara and pōhutukawa.[2] It has 11 sails, and the bow below the waterline, allowing Breeze to travel more efficiently but still remain buoyant enough to support the weight of the sails.[4] There was no machinery on the boat either, bar a vintage six-cylinder Lister auxiliary engine.[4] Prior to building Breeze, Sewell built ketch Ripple in a similar fashion.[5] The lack of machinery on the boat "put the emphasis on good seamanship, physical effort and self-sufficiency," Sewell wrote.[4]

Early life

Sewell had trouble selling Breeze because it had not completed a marine survey test, and was unable to carry passengers. The marine survey was about the cost of the boat.[6] Bob Hawkins wrote that Breeze had "[...] not been completed to marine survey standards which limited her operation as a training vessel."[5] Sewell formed a sailing club of enthusiasts and volunteers to sail Breeze, called 'Breeze Sailing Club.'[5] In this club was Captain Jim Cottier, Peter Sewell (one of Sewell's sons), and Bob Hawkins.

Anti-nuclear protests

After the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior by French agents in 1985, Sewell let Captain Jim Cottier sail the Breeze to Moruroa as part of the peace flotilla to protest French nuclear testing in place of Rainbow Warrior.[7][5] Jim Cottier had been with the Breeze since Sewell's construction of the boat and part of the committee and was familiar in sailing it,[2] and had previously sailed to Moruroa in July 1972 on Tamure.[8] He had also sailed there in the Spirit of Peace in 1973.[9]

The crew included Rob Morton (first mate), Mike Stickland, Jody Lusk, Alice Heather, Tony Atkinson (the ship's doctor), Richard Rae, Turi Blake, Robyn McWilliams and Brian Latham (cameraman).[10] They left Admiralty Steps, Auckland following Vega and Alliance[11] on 7 September 1985 carrying "several hundred letters of protest to be delivered to Tahiti."[12] Also sailing with Breeze was Varangian and Greenpeace.[12][10] The flotilla engaged with the French navy and both Greenpeace and Breeze were barred from sailing into Tahiti's ports and docking at Pape'ete. Breeze was still able to deliver the letters to Oscar Temaru at sea.[12][10][11] They returned to New Zealand on 17 November 1985.[2]

Breeze also carried food, water and other provisions.[9] During their trip, they frequently exchanged and received supplies from other boats in the peace flotilla (Greenpeace), as well as Tahitians who rowed out to meet them.[10][12]

Jody Lusk, one of the crew who sailed to Moruroa, also took part in the Moruroa Peace Flotilla in 1995, sailing on the MV Greenpeace as a chef. She has also worked on Rainbow Warrior II.[8]

After it returned from French Polynesia, Breeze resided in the Kerikeri inlet until Sewell and the Maritime Museum brokered a sale. Roger Morris captained Breeze to Auckland on 3 September 1989.

New Zealand Maritime Museum

Breeze was acquired by the New Zealand Maritime Museum in 1989,[13] and is either docked at the museum wharf, or used by the maritime museum for voyages around the Waitematā Harbour.[3] There were major works and repairs completed before taking resident in Hobson Wharf as part of the Museum. Its acquisition and participation in events in the Auckland harbour representing the New Zealand Maritime Museum was documented in many articles in Bearings, a magazine published by the Auckland Maritime Museum. Breeze participated in events such as the Russell Tall Ships Regatta, opening ceremonies at Auckland Anniversary Day and the Auckland Anniversary Regatta.

Breeze came first and took handicap honours at the 1990 Tall Ships Race, captained by Jim Cottier. In the same year, Breeze also participated in Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta, captained by Robert Hawkins.[14] In the same year, Breeze's Duradon sails were replaced by Peter Sewell and Shore Sails with cotton-polyester sails.[15]

Breeze won the 1991 Tall Ships Race in Russell,[16] and competed in the friendly competition, the Hobson Wharf Heritage Vessel Race on 24 February 1991, where it did not take home any prizes. It competed against Ripple. The boats raced from Orakei Wharf to Princes Wharf.[17]

Breeze was unable to participate in the 1992 Russell Tall Ships Race, Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta, or Mahurangi Regatta as it was participating in a recreation of the arrival of Abel Tasman in February.[18] Money was raised to install a new engine.[15] Breeze participated in the handing over ceremony of Hobson Wharf in March 1992. The Breeze did not attend the 2019 Russell Tall Ships Race.[19]

In 1992, Breeze sailed down to Nelson to take part in sesquicentennial celebrations. She sailed around North Cape and Cape Reinga before heading down towards the West Coast and Marlborough Sounds to Nelson. Both Rob Morton and Roger Morris were onboard.[15] They left from the Viaduct Basin in January and arrived in Nelson at the end of the month. Morton described the trip for Bearings, writing "We cruised from one bay to the next, up to the shop at Totara North and back. We caught kahawai and climbed up hills, splashed around under waterfalls and generally took it easy."[20] At the time of Morton's article, there were plans in place to replace Breeze's engine.

On 18 December 2000, Breeze was finally granted a MNZ certificate which allowed it to carry passengers on paid trips.[15] Under this certificate, passengers can not be carried outside of Auckland harbour limits, so longer trips were opportunities for volunteers to gain experience.[21] Breeze undergoes annual maintenance at the Vos/Sanford slipway in Westhaven.[21] Until 2016, Breeze made regular trips to the Bay of Islands.[22][23]

Media appearances

The Breeze was involved in a 1997 book launch incident when offense was taken to Michael Morrissey (writer)'s 'Terra Incognita' novel.[24][25]

Breeze was used as a stand-in on television series Poenamo.[26] Breeze, captained by Ron Blackman, makes an appearance in the TVNZ reality series Colonial House. It was filmed in 2002 in Lyttelton, and returned to Auckland after. The show was released in 2003.[21] The show involved a family sailing to Lyttelton and carrying period possessions across the Bridle Path to Ferrymead in Christchurch, and then setting up a home and living in period role.[27][28][29]

See also

References

  1. ^ "BREEZE". New Zealand Maritime Museum. Retrieved 3 December 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d e Wilson, T. L. Rodney (1989). "Auckland's Brigantine Breeze". Bearings. 1 (1): 8–12 – via Bill Laxon Maritime Library.
  3. ^ a b Bridgeman-Sutton, David; Setchell, Jenny (November 2009). "New Zealand Town Hall Organs". Organists' Review. 95 (4): 8.
  4. ^ a b c d e Sewell, Ralph (August 1981). "The Building of Breeze". Sea Spray. 36 (8): 26–27 – via Bill Laxon Maritime Library.
  5. ^ a b c d "The history of brigantine Breeze: part one". New Zealand Maritime Museum. Retrieved 10 December 2025.
  6. ^ "Reporter's diary Rightdress". Press. 12 July 1982. p. 2 – via Papers Past.
  7. ^ "French jail demand 'pompous, farcical'". Press. 9 September 1985. p. 1 – via Papers Past.
  8. ^ a b Eyley, Claudia Pond (1997). Protest at Moruroa: first-hand accounts from the New Zealand-based flotilla. North Shore City: Tandem Press. ISBN 978-1-877178-03-0.
  9. ^ a b "Breeze to sail to Mururoa". The Press. Auckland. 6 August 1985. p. 23. Retrieved 3 December 2025 – via Papers Past.
  10. ^ a b c d Morton, Bob (1985). The Voyage of the Breeze to Moruroa, Tahiti, and Rarotonga 1985: The Log of 1st Mate Rob Morton. Records held by the New Zealand Maritime Museum Hui Te Ananui a Tangaroa 2005.171.
  11. ^ a b "Papeete docking sought". Press. 23 October 1985. p. 3 – via Papers Past.
  12. ^ a b c d Leadbeater, Maire (2013). Peace, power & politics: how New Zealand became nuclear free. Dunedin, New Zealand: Otago University Press. ISBN 978-1-877578-58-8.
  13. ^ Walsh, Frances; Ussher, Jane (2020). Endless sea: stories told through the taonga of the New Zealand Maritime Museum Hui te Ananui a Tangaroa. Auckland, New Zealand: Massey University Press. ISBN 978-0-9951318-7-3.
  14. ^ Wilson, T. L. Rodney (Autumn 1990). "Museum News". Bearings Auckland Maritime Museum. 2 (1): 5 – via Bill Laxon Maritime Library.
  15. ^ a b c d "The history of brigantine Breeze: part two". New Zealand Maritime Museum. Retrieved 4 December 2025.
  16. ^ Morton, Rob (Autumn 1991). "How the Breeze Won the Tall Ships Race in 1991". Bearings Auckland Maritime Museum. 3 (2): 34–35 – via Bill Laxon Maritime Library.
  17. ^ McCurdy, Peter (Winter 1991). "The Heritage Vessel Race". Bearings Auckland Maritime Museum. 3 (2): 33–36 – via Bill Laxon Maritime Library.
  18. ^ Wilson, Rodney (Summer 1991). "Friends of Breeze". Bearings Auckland Maritime Museum. 3 (4): 45 – via Bill Laxon Maritime Museum.
  19. ^ de Graaf, Peter (9 January 2019). "Tall ships, classics to race in Russell". Northern Advocate. p. A.10. ProQuest 2164545653.
  20. ^ Morton, Rob (1992). "Breeze Bound for Nelson". Bearings Auckland Maritime Museum. 4 (2): 58–59 – via Bill Laxon Maritime Museum.
  21. ^ a b c Hawkins, Bob (19 April 2022). "The history of brigantine Breeze: Part Three". New Zealand Maritime Museum.
  22. ^ Bob, Hawkins (19 April 2022). "The history of brigantine Breeze: Part Four". New Zealand Maritime Museum.
  23. ^ Sailing as it was: tough and wet 780 words 15 March 2014 The New Zealand Herald
  24. ^ SPANISH RECLAIM AOTEAROA. By RICHARD GORDON. 438 words 4 July 1997 National Business Review
  25. ^ Lay Graeme (2018) Is the book launch dead? New Zealand Books Vol 28 No. 4 Issue 124
  26. ^ "Museum News". Bearings. 2 (2): 48. 1990 – via Bill Laxon Maritime Library.
  27. ^ McCarroll, Jo (13 October 2002). "Time for a change". Sunday Star-Times. p. F.7. ProQuest 314004254.
  28. ^ King, David (24 August 2002). "Ferrymead location for colonial family TV series". The Press. p. A.5. ProQuest 314529306.
  29. ^ Lowe, Matthew (11 August 2002). "Family wanted for time travel". Sunday Star-Times. p. A.4. ProQuest 314011475.

Notes

  • The Tall Ships Race is also referred to as the Tall Ships Regatta.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.