Nine To Noon Supergroove's Nick Atkinson on wooden boats
Mar 12, 2026
Nick Atkinson, saxophonist from Supergroove turned boat-restorer, shares lively stories from classic yacht voyages and seasons in South Georgia. He talks about performing from a boat, restoring his 1935 mullet boat Melita, and the communal skills and culture behind wooden-boat revival. He also highlights racing roots and inclusive restoration efforts.
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Auckland Harbour Shapes Lifelong Boat Passion
- Growing up in a boating family and living in Auckland makes the harbour an ever-present call to go afloat, shaping lifelong attachment to boats.
- Nick traces his passion to his father's York Bay upbringing, constant dinghies in the driveway and family adventures at sea.
How A Cake Box Won Him A Place On A Classic Yacht
- Nick Atkinson joined classic yachts after offering baked goods and got a spot on Moonbeam 4, leading to voyages on Shenandoah through the Mediterranean and to South Georgia.
- He spent three seasons working in South Georgia, describing glaciers, penguin colonies, abandoned whaling stations and museum work that followed the voyage.
Voyage Routes That Led To Wild South Georgia Encounters
- The Shenandoah voyage routed via Cape Verde, Brazil, Falklands and on to South Georgia, exposing Nick to remote wildlife and derelict whaling relics.
- He recounts blue whale ribs in scree, collapsing churches and bronze propellers on beaches as vivid scenes from the island.