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SPIRIT OF NEW ZEALAND


Vessel stats

Class A
Nationality New Zealand
Year Built 1986

Specification


  • Name: SPIRIT OF NEW ZEALAND
  • Class: A
  • Nationality: New Zealand
  • Year built: 1986
  • Home port: Auckland
  • Height: 31.30 m
  • Length of hull: 37.50 m
  • Entered by: Spirit of Adventure Trust

About


  • Number of trainees: 39
  • Number of permanent crew: 17

Biography


The Spirit of New Zealand is the Spirit of Adventure Trusts second ship, built in 1986 by Thackwray Yachts Limited and Spirit of Adventure Trust, Auckland.  The Spirit of Adventure was the Trusts first ship, and the reason for the Trusts name.   

The Spirit of New Zealand sails approx 340 days of each year on voyages, meaning since the Trust’s inception in 1973, almost 75,000 young people from throughout New Zealand have benefited from participating in one or other of our youth development voyages.  

Subject to stringent, on-going maintenance surveys, refits and audits, Spirit of New Zealand is expected to be able to continue operating youth voyages until around 2030.

Her programme has been conducted mostly out of her home port of Auckland into the Hauraki Gulf, but from 2011 she will make voyages to the Bay of Islands, the Bay of Plenty and beyond, around the East Cape to Wellington and the Marlborough Sounds area. Voyages southwards to Lyttelton, Port Chalmers, Bluff and Stewart Island are also scheduled from 2012.

The programmes run aboard Spirit of New Zealand are open to all young New Zealanders, and include: 10-Day Youth Development Voyages; Spirit Trophy Voyages; Special Sailings.
 
Our 10-Day Voyages lie at the heart of the Trusts programme, with 40 trainees aged 15-18, coming from all over New Zealand to share the challenge of ten days on the sea.  While sailing skills are acquired, greater emphasis is on each trainee’s personal development through the teamwork, discipline and adventure that only the sea can provide.  Trainees typically arrive with little or no nautical experience, knowing no-one. Ten days later they’ve completed a life changing programme.

The majority of participants on the Spirit of New Zealand youth voyages are selected from secondary schools. In order to ensure that students from all socio-economic backgrounds and academic ability are offered an opportunity to participate, the Trust places emphasis on school partnerships. Students who are deemed to benefit most from programmes offered by the Trust are supported through fees subsidies and scholarships.