spirit of adventure trust
A wet winter won't cause
Spirit to lose heart
BY DEAN LAURENCE
ar…
of the ye
the time
rdless of
Rega
S
o, the feet are up, sitting in front of
f
d
the fire, rain lashing the windows and
the trees are bending to the force of
number of voyages.
f
nu
the wind. In the morning, as heads
The Gisborne to
Th
poke above bed covers, the temperature is
Wellington voyage
W
wi
hovering close to zero and it is an effort to
will be a three-day
get motivated.
adult trip. That stretch
adu
Regardless of the time of year and
of c
coast can have some
…Spirit o
f New Ze
weather, Spirit of New Zealand will be
demanding conditions,
dem
aland wil
l be out th
out there doing it – consider joining us for
so i could take some
it
ere
one of our 10-Day Youth Development Voyages. Whether
ages.
of th
those adults out of
it is transiting around the Hauraki Gulf or safely tucked up in
afely
their comfort zone.
Whil
a bay, the 40 young people on board will be undertaking the
While operating out of
programme in spite of the conditions.
Wellington, we will be delivering our 10-Day Youth Development
Yes, the weather does provide additional challenges, but
Voyages, with most of the time spent exploring the Sounds.
that is exactly how both the crew and trainees take it – just
Spirit will then leave Wellington on September 21 for Sydney
another challenge to be met and conquered. After all, we will
and the International Fleet Review, arriving back home in
not dissolve in a little water. We have noticed that these more
Auckland on October 25 for the Tall Ships Festival in Auckland.
challenging voyages often have far greater engagement from the
While the New Zealand Navy have filled the ship for the leg
trainees. The adversity of the situation helps build the teamwork
over, we have had a good response for (17 to 25 year-old
and resilience of the young people and they gain a greater reward
trainees) to bring the ship home. At the time of writing, we only
from the experience.
have seven of the 40 spaces left.
With space at a premium, the ability to carry large amounts of
Once home, Spirit will have her annual survey and maintenance
clothing is just not practical. Although, looking at some of the
undertaken. This is a small, three week period (unlike last year's
suitcases brought on board, one does wonder if they read the
three months) and then back into her sailing programme. One
gear list. To help address the wet clothing pile, space was found
major project we will have on the go over the next few months
at last year's refit to install a large commercial clothes dryer, so
will be the funding and construction for the new foremast.
clothing can be dried quickly – making it that much easier to
During the refit in 2012, both the main and mizzen masts were
handle continuous wet weather.
replaced, leaving only the foremast yet to be done. The cost
By the time this article goes to press, Spirit will have departed
to build the mast has been quoted at $67,100 – therein is the
her home berth of Princes Wharf, Auckland and turned south
challenge for the team here at the Trust.
for Gisborne and Wellington, where she will undertake a
Catch you all again when we are home in October.
SKIPPER SCHOLARSHIP
In association with the Spirit of Adventure Trust, Professional Skipper magazine offers readers the
opportunity to nominate young men and women for two introductory 10-day youth development
voyage, that may lead to a Spirit cadetship for inshore masters qualifications.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT KEITH.
Email: keith@skipper.co.nz Phone 09 5334336 or write to the editor c/- of this magazine.
www.skipper.co.nz
September/October 2013 Professional Skipper 69
