Sailing - Burgess Trophy Regatta (March):

Our team of Ruaridh Martynoga, Harrison McMullen, Max Wimmer, Matias Johnson, Campbell Rae, and Mateo Miller-Ble came to defend the trophy which they won in 2021. This year, we finished second in an event held in light, shifty winds at Hamilton Lake.

Our top sailor, Harrison McMullen, has had a busy year which included finishing in 11th place in the 29er in the Auckland Anniversary Regatta, second place in the 420 Teams Racing Nationals Championship and first Youth Team (third overall) in a Match Racing Cup in Nouméa, New Caledonia. Harrison is a member of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron Youth Training Programme.

Spirit of New Zealand: Five-Day Spirit Trophy Voyage by Conor McCormack

On the 23rd of February, Joseph Agar, Dillon Cable, Harry Carter, Jackson Cook, Michael Copland, Charlie Hawke, Oliver Jones, Conor McCormack, Finlay Owens, and Leo Partridge boarded the Spirit of New Zealand in Auckland, not knowing what to expect.

Before we knew it, we were waving parents goodbye and departing Auckland Harbour, excited for the journey that lay ahead. The first stop was a small bay next to Motuihe Island. After a swim and dinner, the first game in the journey's competition began. It was a game of Playdoh pictionary. HBHS got absolutely annihilated, coming dead last. After that humiliation we were given 15 minutes to chill out, before being asked to go below deck and get ready for bed, with the exception of ten students who met in the wheelhouse.

We listened intently as the first mate briefed us on the duties for the night. Every student had one turn on night watch during the voyage. This was my turn. For five two-hour shifts from sunset to sunrise, the responsibility of a multimillion dollar boat lay in the hands of two students at a time. For two hours we had to sit in a dimly lit room with someone we barely knew, anxiously monitoring radars, checking the ship and eating lemon cake. It was epic. Then we stumbled back to our bunk rooms and climbed into our sleeping bags. If we were lucky, we got a few hours of sleep before being woken up at six thirty for the morning swim. Once the lights turned on, we had five minutes to be in our togs and line up on the deck ready for the early morning swim. It wasn’t freezing, but it was still pretty cold.

Once we had changed out of our togs, done our morning chores, eaten breakfast and raised the flag, we prepared for the biggest competition yet, the raft race. HBHS was worried because Onewhero Area School were a full Year 11 team, while HBHS were Year 10s. However, from the start HBHS pulled ahead. Our strong team spirit and communication skills allowed us to speed off, winning the race by a boat and a half. After we had finished the race we practised flipping the rafts, before hoisting them back on the boat and storing them.

When we weren’t eating, sleeping or thrashing everyone at the raft race, we were sailing the ship. Each school was assigned one of four sail stations. It was their job to unfurl and hoist sails and swing yard arms from side to side whenever we needed to turn, all under the guidance of an instructor. We learned how to ‘sweat and tail’, ‘make fast’, 'flake sails', do ‘housework’ (tidy ropes), and tie some basic knots.

As we all gathered on the aft-deck on the final morning, we realised that the winner of the journey’s championship was about to be announced. We whispered our predictions nervously to each other before it was announced that HBHS had won!! We accepted the Spirit trophy, shook the captain’s hand and celebrated. This happiness was short lived however as we quickly realised that we had pulled into the harbour. With quick promises to stay in touch we left the boat, with memories we would cherish forever.

Ten-Day Spirit Voyages:

The following students have completed or will soon be sailing on a Ten-Day Voyage on the Spirit of New Zealand: Max Wimmer, Ruaridh Martynoga, Reuben Fraser, Dylan McDonald, Abdullah Kazankiran, Liam Cornforth, and Shea Woolston.

Over a thousand young Kiwis each year experience a trip of a lifetime on the Spirit of New Zealand. Ten-Day Voyages take place throughout the year for individual students aged between 16 and 18 years. They leave with new friends and connections, increased confidence, communication and leadership skills. While they do gain skills and experience in sailing a tall ship, the voyage is more about self empowerment and youth development. Full and partial scholarships are available depending on individual circumstances. 

See https://www.spiritofadventure.org.nz for more details.