Medina was a Wellington boat whilst owned by the legendary Snow Oliver for many years. In the early 1970s he raced her to Noumea, three days out they hit a whale on the way, limped in and made repairs I can still see today. I spoke to Snow a few years ago and heard the whole story. They were enjoying some fast downwind sailing and all four crew were in the cockpit watching two whales surfing waves behind them. Then the helmsman yelled a warning as a third whale had come to join the other two and Medina struck it head on. They began taking water and were ripping up floorboards up forward till eventually they found that the planking had sprung from the stern. They wrapped a sail around the stern and continued to Noumea.
1936-40s – Owned by the Mackey who bought her off Bert Woollacott.
50’s/60’s – Based out of Nelson
1965-1975 – Based out of Wellington
1975-1995 – Based out of Christchurch and owned by ALan and Ngareta Inglis.
2006-… Owned by Mike Joy
“There are references to her in many New Zealand boat books such as ‘Little Ships’ by Titchener, or the first editions of ‘Little ships of New Zealand’ by Ronald Carter”.
