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SPIRIT OF ADVENTURE TRUST WHAT IS A 10-DAY YOUTH DEVELOPMENT VOYAGE? BY DEAN LAWRENCE F irstly, let's dispel the mistaken belief of many that this is a programme to teach sailing skills and produce future sailors for New Zealand. The Spirit of New Zealand is a means to an end. We are not here to train future sailors, and while some skills are clearly learnt, they are a byproduct of the main programme. The leadership skills will serve those well who have a desire for sailing as a future. One of the fundamental bases on which this programme has been built and why it is so successful is that the 40 young people aged between 15 and 18 years old come from all walks of life and from throughout New Zealand. Both male and female, these 40 strangers are placed close together for 10 days and must live and function as a cohesive team to achieve the outcomes. By removing them from their comfort zone, including surrendering all cellphones, iPods and other electronic devices, they learn to interact with other people from varied backgrounds and to appreciate and understand the differences in people and tolerance of others. With a strict code of behaviour which includes no alcohol, smoking, abusive language or physical intimidation, the community of 40 tends to ensure everyone abides by the rules. For the first three days, the Spirit of New Zealand crew play an active part in briefing and structuring the voyage and the trainees, setting the boundaries, safety requirements (a major focus) and implementing the activities. However, as the days progress and leading up to day nine, the trainee's day, the crew Trainees working aloft slowly take a lesser direct role and allow the trainees to take greater individual ownership, which leads to personal growth, leadership and involvement in the activities. The ultimate is on day nine, when the trainees elect their own master and crew from within their ranks and set about planning and implementing the day's activities, which is primarily moving the ship from one location to another under sail, with the crew now the ever-watchful passengers. During the 10 days, a number of shore-based activities are undertaken to broaden and extend the trainees' experiences. Each day starts with some general fitness and warm-up exercises, followed by the mandatory morning swim, which seems to remain a major talking point for trainees long after the voyage is over. The day's activities are planned and while these tend to follow a predetermined programme, they are flexible enough to allow for variations in weather and location. There is little that prevents the ship and her activities from progressing and she was out there (with the appropriate levels of safety) undertaking a 10-day voyage even during New Zealand's recent bad weather. Interestingly, often the voyagers with greater adversity or diversity result in a far better programme and the trainees experience greater rewards for their time and effort. To reinforce the belief we had about the benefit of the Spirit of Adventure Trust's programme, formal university research was undertaken, with the following key results from their findings. Key Otago findings: A 10-day voyage on the Spirit of New Zealand leads to many positive outcomes, with benefits that can have long-lasting consequences for youth, particularly the trainees' increase in self-esteem. A further important outcome from the four questionnaires put to trainees over six months identifies increased resilience (the ability to react to adversity and challenge in an adaptive and productive way, considered crucial to healthy development in youth). 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 ten-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. 60 Professional Skipper November/December 2011 A shore party heads away to stretch their sea legs