Who is the Lady Shirley?

Lady Shirley stole the show at the media launch of the Moana Ocean Festival and we told you we’d give you some more information about this beautiful, majestic craft.

A 36’ bridge-decker, she was built by C. Bailey & Son in 1936 with an additional 6ft added in 1939.

She was purchased by the Royal New Zealand Navy in 1940 for coastal patrol and for 16 years she was used as the police boat on the Waitemata.

She was restored by Yachting Developments in 2002, and has recently received new topside paint and coats of varnish - so will look impeccable when she is on display at the Auckland Wooden Boat Show in March. 

In later years, the maritime police in Auckland developed purpose-built launches designed for maritime police duties, all named Deodar.