5th-9th November 2021 - Check out the awesome photos!

On Friday 5th November, ten Year 10 girls from Tauhara College left Taupo to sail on the Spirit of NZ for four nights and five awesome days. I was chosen as the lucky teacher to be a member of the team. I have waited 43 years to join this journey as I was unable to raise the money for a voyage way back in 1980! The incredible Spirit of Adventure Trust sponsored the girls for 90 percent of the cost ($1,295 per student) of the voyage, making it unbelievably attainable for our whanau. We travelled to Tauranga early on Friday morning to meet the bus at the Tauranga Airport for a shuttle to the ship. Leaving the harbour and sailing up to Slipper Island caused some seasickness amongst the trainees and staff as it was windy and loads of swells. Once arriving at Slipper, we dropped anchor and set up for the night. A brisk swim in the cold ocean came next and a wet and rocky sleep that night.

The next day (Saturday) we pulled up the anchor and sailed further north up the Coromandel to Great Mercury Island where we anchored for two nights. The bay here was spectacular, with whales feeding on schools of fish and fantastic weather…no more rocking and rolling! We inflated rafts and paddled into the beach for hours of games and competitions. Dotterels were nesting in the dunes and the whales kept playing in the bay. A long paddle back to the ship, then a raft race around the ship ensued. We were rammed by another school and managed third place in this event. Learning knots, creating a flag poster and a school chant, plus cleaning jobs and duties took up most of our time.

Monday morning, we set sail for Slipper Island again, this time heading south towards Mt Maunganui and Tauranga Port. We stopped for lunch in Slipper Bay and swung from the deck into the blue cold ocean in the early afternoon. We set sail again and continued south past the Mount and into our mooring at the Port. We spent Monday night here before our final presentations of our flag and chant, which we won. TVNZ breakfast show came on board with the CEO of the Spirit of NZ for an interview, and Nola Strauss from our group was selected to be interviewed and did a great job…well done Nola – a budding news reporter in the making! (See TVNZ on Demand Breakfast Show for the footage)

The girls all had a fantastic time during our five-day adventure. They were challenged mentally and physically, learned many new skills around sailing, and living and working with 40 other trainees and 16 adults from the sailing crew (full-time and volunteers) and four teachers from Tauranga Girls, Otumoutai, Paeroa and Tauhara College. If you ever get the opportunity for yourself or your whanau to participate in this incredible experience, GO FOR IT!