Captain’s Log

After lunch yesterday afternoon both Spirit of NZ and Young Endeavour weighed anchor and departed the beautiful Whangaroa Harbour. Once clear of the harbour both ships sailed close together and the enevitable water battle ensued. Once again we were out gunned in Young Endeavour. Our...

Yesterday afternoon both Spirit of NZ and Young Endeavour motor sailed in light conditions to our anchorage at Whangaroa Harbour. The local coastline is very beautiful and the sighting of whales and porpoises along the way was a treat. At 1800 both ships entered through...

Yesterday afternoon continued on a thrilling sail north in fresh SW winds. Conducted tacking drills and a navigation lecture later in the afternoon. Spirit of NZ went to anchor in the evening but Young Endeavour continued to sail overnight. It was all hands on deck...

Youth crew joined ship berthed in Auckland on Sunday afternoon. Whilst alongside commenced training program and managed to get everybody aloft that evening. Next morning we sailed at 0930 and motored out of Auckland Harbour in strong westerly winds. It was Auckland...

Had a great Australia Day yesterday. BBQ and sports day were a lot of fun and youth crew also managed to get to the local shops. Later in the afternoon crew returned onboard and conducted harbour furls of all sails. Watched the America's Cup yacht...

Command Day went very well despite Mother Nature being against the team. When the ship needed to go north we had northerly winds, once able to bear away to the west we had the wind back to the west and finally on entering the Hauraki...

Conducted final set of sail handling drills yesterday afternoon. Ship then proceeded through tight passage appropriately named 'Hole in the Wall'. Anchored in a lovely bay of Great Mercury Island late in the afternoon. Cook named island after viewing the transit of the planet Mercury...

Completed tacking drills early yesterday afternoon and then proceeded to anchorage at Mayor Island. Mayor Island is very beautiful and we anchored in snug little cove in crystal clear water. Got everybody ashore and choice was beach or climb the crater. Most chose the beach...

Despite a lack of good sailing wind yesterday afternoon, we made the most out of the fine weather and conducted an inter-watch deck Olympics. Highly spirited and fun contest. As this was occurring the volcano was looming closer and looking very eerie with steam billowing...

Youth crew had an enjoyable time ashore at Tolaga Bay. Anchor was weighed at 1600 and the ship commenced passage North to East Cape. Typically wind was on the nose and we tacked at 2000, 0001, 0400 and finally at 0800. That's life in a...

ARE YOU SURE TO STOP AS AN AMBASSADOR?
Please wait a moment...