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SPIRIT OF ADVENTURE TRUST INTERNATIONAL TALL SHIP FESTIVAL? THE SPECTACLE OF AN BY DEAN LAWRENCE, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Lord Nelson Sorlandet from Norway T he Spirit of Adventure Trust has been an active member of the International Sail Training community for many years, with current membership of both AUSTA (Australian Sail Training Association) and STI (Sail Training International www. sailtraininginternational.org). As previously reported, the Trust, its people and programs have been well recognised internationally having received awards in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011. New Zealand is in a rather unique position because although it does not currently have an active National Sail Training organisation one is in an embryonic state and the Spirit of Adventure Trust is recognised as one of the countries representative to STI, with Trust Chairman Stephen Fisher QSO on the International Council. Under the auspices of STI an annual round of large scale Tall Ship events are run from many ports in Europe, where young people will join a ship to sail a specific leg or legs, then participate in a festival of activities when they arrive in port. Ports and their cities actively pursue the right to host these ship's activities because of the huge interest and resulting revenue that is generated. Predominantly young people from all around the world will pay for a berth on these Tall Ships and participate in these wonderful experiences. Luke Galuszewski who is currently our second mate, is on leave and spending three months doing exactly that and from his many postcards has had an amazing experience. One of our former masters, Georgina Micet, is a mate on the Sorlandet. We will put together a story of Lukes' adventures once he returns (we hope he does!). The Trust has received an exciting invitation to attend the Royal Australian Navy International Fleet Review and Tall Ships event in Sydney in late 2013, www.sailtrainingaustralia. com/2013/FleetReview. 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. November/December 2012 Professional Skipper 65 The Trust and the Royal New Zealand Navy have discussed the invitation and the Spirit of New Zealand will be the official Tall Ship of New Zealand at the activities. With Navies from all around the world and with many Tall Ships, both military and civilian attending, Sydney Harbour will be full to capacity. During the formal fleet activities the harbour will be closed for most other boating activities: it will be a rather unique spectacle. New Zealand, and in particular Auckland, has a wonderful opportunity to "piggy back" on this event, as once many of the Tall Ships participating in the event leave Sydney, they will be heading eastwards to round Cape Horn on their return to their home ports. There is a potential for those ships to stop off in Auckland over Labour weekend 2013 for a few days and to possibly create a Festival of Tall Ships here in Auckland. Already Lord Nelson of the Jubilee Sailing Trust (www.jst.org.uk) has indicated that not only will she stop off, but she will stay in New Zealand waters until late December offering the chance for New Zealanders to sail on her, with her unique feature of being able to carry people in wheelchairs. While the Spirit of Adventure Trust has been promoting and encouraging interest in this opportunity whenever there has been the opportunity, we are not event managers nor do we have the resources to pull together such an event. What is needed is for an organisation to take on the mantle of pulling together this event and to invite the ships to stop in and be hosted in the "City of Sails". While there has been interest, and I am sure people would welcome the opportunity to view the ships when here, it has not been embraced and one now fears that the ships will simply sail home and an opportunity will be lost. We will continue to explore options and possibilities but due to the lead times needed the window is fast closing.