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''Daring'' was a 17-metre (55'8") 
On 27 May 2017, the remains of the wreck were spotted by a local resident. The wreck had been uncovered by shifting sands having been abandoned and buried after wrecking on the beach.
After obtaining council permission, ''Daring'' was recovered on 12 December 2018 by the Daring Rescue Team, with assistance from the Classic Yacht Charitable Trust. Items abandoned with the wreck were also uncovered, including coins and a boot.
''Daring'' was relocated to Hobsonville, pending plans for its preservation and display. As of January 2019, ''Daring'' is supported by a scaffolding frame and covered with shrink wrap while stabilisation work is undertaken. Volunteers wet the timbers daily to ensure the wood does not split.
schooner
A schooner ( ) is a type of sailing ship, sailing vessel defined by its Rig (sailing), rig: fore-and-aft rigged on all of two or more Mast (sailing), masts and, in the case of a two-masted schooner, the foremast generally being shorter than t ...
, launched on 1 September 1863 in Mangawhai
Mangawhai is a township at the south-west extent of the Mangawhai Harbour, or Mangawhai Estuary, in Northland, New Zealand. The adjacent township of Mangawhai Heads is 5 km north-east, on the lower part of the harbour. Kaiwaka is 13 ...
, New Zealand. It was wrecked twice, once in 1864, and again in 1865. ''Daring''s wreck was excavated in December 2018 after being exposed by shifting sands.
Construction
''Daring'' was a two-mastedschooner
A schooner ( ) is a type of sailing ship, sailing vessel defined by its Rig (sailing), rig: fore-and-aft rigged on all of two or more Mast (sailing), masts and, in the case of a two-masted schooner, the foremast generally being shorter than t ...
, built as a cargo vessel
A cargo ship or freighter is a merchant ship that carries cargo, goods, and materials from one port to another. Thousands of cargo carriers ply the world's seas and oceans each year, handling the bulk of international trade. Cargo ships are usual ...
in Mangawhai ship yard, New Zealand. Its construction was kauri
''Agathis'', commonly known as kauri or dammara, is a genus of evergreen coniferous trees, native to Australasia and Southeast Asia. It is one of three extant genera in the family Araucariaceae, alongside '' Wollemia'' and ''Araucaria'' (being ...
carvel plank, with Muntz metal (60% Copper, 40% Zinc) on the hull. The ship was built by a Scottish boat builder, Donald McInnes. ''Daring'' was built for John Matheson and John Rattray, of Onehunga.
First wreck and repairs
On 1 June 1864, little over a year after launching, ''Daring'' stranded on the South side of the bar at the mouth of theWaikato River
The Waikato River is the longest river in New Zealand, running for through the North Island. It rises on the eastern slopes of Mount Ruapehu, joining the Tongariro River system and flowing through Lake TaupÅ, New Zealand's largest lake. It th ...
. The vessel was originally reported to be a total wreck, but was subsequently repaired and re-floated.
Second wreck and total loss
On 22 February 1865, ''Daring'' was sailing fromTaranaki
Taranaki is a regions of New Zealand, region in the west of New Zealand's North Island. It is named after its main geographical feature, the stratovolcano Mount Taranaki, Taranaki Maunga, formerly known as Mount Egmont.
The main centre is the ...
to the Manukau
Manukau (), or Manukau Central, is a suburb of South Auckland, New Zealand, centred on the Manukau City Centre business district. It is located 23 kilometres south of the Auckland Central Business District, west of the Southern Motorway, ...
with a cargo of grass seed. A severe gale arose when the vessel was offshore of the Kaipara Heads. It was blown on to the Rangahia Beach, near the South Head of Kaipara Harbour
Kaipara Harbour is a large enclosed harbour estuary complex on the north western side of the North Island of New Zealand. The northern part of the harbour is administered by the Kaipara District and the southern part is administered by the Auck ...
. The crew's attempts to keep the schooner off the beach were unsuccessful. She was left on the beach above the tide line. The crew rolled and jacked the vessel to the half tide mark, hoping to re-float her with the next full tide. A heavy gale began blowing on the morning of 23 February 1865, just before the full tide, and a heavy swell set in from the West. ''Daring'' was eventually driven back to her original position lower down the beach, and became a total loss. The ship and cargo of grass seed were uninsured.
Re-discovery and recovery
On 27 May 2017, the remains of the wreck were spotted by a local resident. The wreck had been uncovered by shifting sands having been abandoned and buried after wrecking on the beach.
After obtaining council permission, ''Daring'' was recovered on 12 December 2018 by the Daring Rescue Team, with assistance from the Classic Yacht Charitable Trust. Items abandoned with the wreck were also uncovered, including coins and a boot.
''Daring'' was relocated to Hobsonville, pending plans for its preservation and display. As of January 2019, ''Daring'' is supported by a scaffolding frame and covered with shrink wrap while stabilisation work is undertaken. Volunteers wet the timbers daily to ensure the wood does not split.
References