Our people

Funding options

If you have secured your funding, please download the full application form

We work hard to get funding assistance to help young people to take part in our youth development voyages and encourage sponsorship for students. We recommend you contact your nearest Lions Club, Rotary Club or Freemasons in your local community. The Fletcher Building Employee Educational Fund also offers their employees’ dependants funding for voyages (please apply direct). Thanks to the generous support of donations received, business sponsors, community groups such as Lions, Zonta and funding organisations such as Lotteries and Gaming Trusts we also have grants available and are able to reduce the cost of the voyages from $995 per child to between $200-$500 and in some instances at no fee, although a koha is expected.

If you wish to apply for a grant or sponsorship from the R. Tucker Thompson, please download the Grant Application form.

Download Form

Register Interest youth

PDF form also available here

Register your interest

School Sailing Request

Pauline Moretti

Youth Coordinator

Pauline job shares the youth programmes role with Sophie, responsible for liaising with schools and community groups explaining how our youth development voyages help students to make positive changes in their lives. She’s had wide and varied career in a number of roles but is above all an educator. She has taught Outdoor Education, Tourism and been Project Island Song’s Educator on their Floating Classroom. She’s also worked with the Department of Conservation in a number of community liaison roles as well as run her own adventure kayaking business. Pauline is also a very experienced sailor having spent three years sailing from Borneo to the Caribbean via Cape of Good Hope on board the junk rigged yacht, Zebedee.

Zeran Mackie

Cadet

Zeran is a keen young sailor whose background in sailing started through his experiences of Waka Hourua (a traditional Polynesian sailing catamaran). Zeran has also been aboard the “Tucker” for two youth voyages and is currently undertaking the role of cadet where he will complete his training to acquire his STCW certificate.
Zeran is a driven young Māori tāne who is passionate about learning tikanga and kaupapa Māori as well as embracing the ways of his tūpuna ancestors.

Jane Hindle

Executive Trustee

Jane has been involved with the R. Tucker Thompson since 1998, initially as a business mentor to Russell Harris when he owned the ship. When she moved to Russell in 2000, she continued working with him assisting with administrative and business management functions. In 2006, she helped Russell transfer the ship into a Trust, and since then has been the Executive Trustee, a title which really means keeping the ship afloat financially and doing whatever needs doing at the time. She has sailed on board for a number of offshore voyages, in 2002 and 2005 down the West coast of Canada and USA and in 2006 from Rarotonga to Tonga. She’s also been cook on a number of adult sailings but these days considers it a treat if she ever manages to get on board for a sail. She and her husband Geoff got married on board and their son did a youth voyage, so the ship holds a special place in her heart.

Ben Willoughby

Bosun/Senior Master

Ben came to us from across the ditch (Australia). He arrived in New Zealand with his young family to buy a cruising yacht with the goal to experience the world with his wife and 2 daughters. Now with borders closed, he is happily living aboard here and spending time with his NZ family.

Ben has 25 years of tall ship experience, having sailed across 3 oceans and to many countries on square riggers. He sailed on 6 square riggers and was master on 2 and mate on the others. He also worked on 3 gaff tops’l schooners and sailed around the SW Pacific and coastal NZ and Australia on a gaff tops’l cutter that he and his wife owned. We welcome his experience that many thousands of sea miles on similar ships gains.

Suz Te Tai

Trustee

Suz is currently the Pakaiahi (Kaiwhakahaere Matua) of the new and innovative Nga Kaitiaki o te Ahi marae-based programme at Karetu Marae. Prior to this she has worked alongside Pou Herenga Tangata at He Iwi Kotahi Tatou Trust in Moerewa for seven years, initially as a Whanau Ora Navigator.
In 2014 she completed Te Tohu Huanga Maori (PGDipBus Māori Development) at the University of Auckland Business School. She has a wealth of life and work experience across Te Kohanga Reo, Kura Kaupapa Maori, Adult & Community Education, Out of School Care, Moerewa Senior School support and the New Zealand Education Institute.
As a keen outdoors advocate weaving experiences based in, and caring for, the Taiao Suz has been a huge driver in this area for whānau, hapū and community. Suz is a highly respected leader within her hapu, Ngati Manu and at Te Karetu Marae. She is the Chair of the Karetu Maori Committee and a Trustee of Te Mana Moana o Ngati Manu Trust, Te Mana Moana o Ngati Rongo ki Mahurangi Trust and the Ngati Manu Rangatira Trust. She is also the Hikuwai Harawene Tupuna Representative on Te Tāhuhu Nui o Ngāti Manu (PSGE).

Tim Yeates

Trustee

Tim has spent his entire working life within the marine industry. His first working experiences were on motor ships and and as a Deckhand on board the R. Tucker Thompson. From there, Tim was the Operations Manager of Marine Contractors Limited for eight years, based in the Bay of Islands. Tim then spent two years as Construction Manager for Northland Piling and Contracting (based in Opua). This company, which he now co-owns, now trades as Total Marine Services Limited. Tim can attest to his extensive experience in salvage work and construction knowledge.

Mike Simm

Trustee

Mike is an experienced company director/trustee. Chair of Northland Youth Development Trust and former Deputy Chair of Top Energy. Former Executive Director Fullers Bay of Islands, member NZ Tourism Board, member of NZ Conservation Authority, Chair of Enterprise Northland and Destination Northland. He is a Kerikeri resident.

Bronwyn Hunt

Trustee

Bronwyn is of Te Rarawa, Ngapuhi and Te Roroa descent. She is the Area Manager for Bay of Islands, Department of Conservation. Previously she was the Principal Advisor, Strategy & Policy with Te Runanga o Te Rarawa, primarily responsible for Treaty Settlement claims, environmental matters, Iwi and Hapu planning. Community positions include Director with CBEC, and previously on the board of Reconnecting Northland. An avid gardener and keen sailor, Bronwyn is also a proud nana to three grandchildren.

Russell Harris

Trustee

Russell has worn many hats over the years: farmer, crop sprayer, master storyteller, ship and aircraft builder, and along with Tod Thompson, Russell is the original builder, and former owner and Master of the R. Tucker Thompson before transferring the ship into the Trust in 2006. Russell sailed the R. Tucker Thompson around the world and throughout the Pacific. He also sailed the Good Ship to Mururoa with the peace flotilla in 1995.

Kim Borgstrom

Trustee

Kim has more than 70,000 miles of ocean watch keeping experience on sailing ships including Bounty, Soren Larsen and Rainbow Warrior. Involved with the R Tucker Thompson since 1985, he sailed aboard for the circumnavigation in 1987-1988. He skippered the ship to the Pacific Islands in 1993. He now operates his own sailing tourism business based in the Bay of Islands. Kim is a resident of Opua.

Mike Daniel

Chair

Former stockbroker and merchant banker, Mike has held Directorships with Force Corporation Ltd, Northland Health Ltd, Northpower Limited, SKYCITY Leisure Limited, Elders Norstock Limited (Chair), Northland Port Corporation Limited (Chair) and former Chairman of Airwork Holdings Limited. He is Chair of N3 Limited and FMCTV Limited He is a keen surfer and enjoys golf.

Magnus O’Grady

Relief Deckhand

Magnus has worked as a relief deckhand for the Tucker for the past couple years. He grew up onboard his father’s yacht Balaena, a 42ft Gaff Cutter and over the years he sailed her in Patagonia, the Antarctic, Canada, Europe, Africa and the Pacific. After studying in Christchurch for three years, he sailed her to the Antarctic, and a year later across the Pacific from Chile to NZ. After this first trip to the Antarctic he continued to return to South America and spent the next 8 summers working on two different yachts making many trips in the Antarctic, Patagonia and South Georgia. All Supporting Film Projects, Scientific work and expedition teams. He and his partner welcomed their first child this year.

Ethan King

Relief Deckhand

Ethan has been involved with the Trust since 2015. At the age of 15, he became a trainee on one of the youth development voyages. He discovered a passion for the ocean and sailing. Shortly after his voyage, he applied to volunteer aboard during the summer tourist season. He was a volunteer crew from 2015 to 2017. Ethan was then offered a cadetship and on-going training for 1 year to work towards his skipper’s ticket. This was fully funded by the Trust. In October 2018, he attended his final examinations and gained his Skippers Restricted Limits ticket. He is now working as a skipper for another company but remains as relief crew with the Tucker after spending a year as a member of the core Tucker crew.

Terry Dunn

Relief Master

Terry grew up in Wellington, learning to sail in extreme conditions and spending his formative years in the Sea Scouts rowing around on pitch black nights playing Smugglers and sinking the enemy. He has never lost his love of just “playing around in boats”. He moved to the Bay of Islands in his twenties and purchased the classic gaff cutter Aorere. It was also the start of many years cruising the Bay of Islands, the Northland coast and offshore voyages to the Pacific.
In 1990 he started Great Escape Yacht Charters and Sailing School teaching to provide affordable sailing options in the Bay. Over the years he operated a fleet of 14 yachts, passing on his enthusiasm and love of sailing to Kiwis and international visitors alike.
After he and his wife Cindy sold Great Escape, he joined R Tucker Thompson as a relief skipper and he is a welcome addition for our youth voyages and day sails alike.

Sarianna Crook

Relief Master

Sarianna is a Northland girl, born and bred in Whangarei. She joined the Trust at the end of March 2016, taking her command in June 2016. Sarianna has spent much of her life on the water, attending the Whangarei Young Mariners and then Sea Scouts at a young age. She headed to Tauranga for study but the lure of the sea was too strong, so she spent 2 years as a Cadet on the Spirit of New Zealand where she did her seatime training. She has spent 5 months sailing offshore on board the Robert C Seamans and prior to joining the Trust was working at Fullers in Auckland. She has done 18 months as master in training and is now working at Opua Marina, but is still involved, with the occasional voyage and support for our Cadets.

Michelle Simperingham

Cadet

Michelle is our latest Cadet to join the Trust. She was raised in Whangarei but also lived across the ditch for a few years in Brisbane. She was always outdoorsy as a child and is keen to try new things. She’s tried almost every sport she’s come across, her favourites being skiing, sea kayaking and rock climbing. Michelle started volunteering onboard at the start of 2020 after being a trainee in 2018 and joining the ship on a Tuia 250 leg in 2019. These experiences spurred her interest in the marine industry. Michelle is now building her sea time both on day sails and youth voyages while she is studying for her Skippers Restricted Limits ticket, which she will sit for at the end of her Cadetship.

Jessica Nadon

Deckhand

Jess hails from Canada, a French Canadian fluent in both French and English. She owns a sea kayak company in the Yukon Territory, Canada, and has guided groups on overnight wilderness experiences making sure that they were operated in a safe environment. In addition, she has formal qualifications in Special Education and has a background of working with young people including teenagers with behavioural disorders. Jessica has also spent time sailing in the Carribean. She brings her positive nature and cheerful enthusiasm to every voyage to ensure that all our trainees have an amazing experiences on board.

Wayne Karauria

Master

Wayne joined the Trust as a trainee in December 2012 and is our longest serving crew member. He completed his Skipper’s training three years ago and has been in the role of Master for 2 years. Of Ngāti Porou descent, he hails from Gisborne. He has previously worked on fishing boats but prefers living in the winterless north with his young family as going to sea is much warmer than in the southern ocean. He has earned the respect of many sail trainees who have benefited from his care; he is a mean cook with boil up corned beef and roast pork as his signature dishes.

Peter Deverell

Deckhand

Peter Deverell was born in Auckland and grew up on a Mid-Northland farm; where he was entirely home educated along with his three siblings. With a love of the ocean Peter was taught to sail from his earliest years and enjoyed Optimist, P-Class and Starling dinghy sailing, as well as sailing on his parents’ boats and his grandfather’s yacht. Passionate about wildlife and conservation Peter has a wonderful knowledge of New Zealand birds and other fauna. He has worked as a horseman for seven years and has his own Equine Hoof Trimming business. He spent three years in Germany working as a joiner; becoming fluent in the German language; dinghy sailing at every opportunity. On his first sailing yacht Peter sailed extensively around Northland and the Bay of Islands coast, honing his sailing skills. In 2015 Peter bought Waka Irie, a Mariner 32ft classic sailing ketch and has spent the past 5 years rebuilding and refurbishing her and has become a skilled joiner/boat builder. In 2018 Peter crewed for his cousin on Sea Wolf, a 42ft Beneteau sailboat, sailing around Australia, from Sydney to Perth via Darwin; a 5,000 mile voyage.

Kyra Crouzat

Sales & Operations Manager

Kyra hails originally from France but is a Canadian citizen who is now a New Zealand resident. She and her husband sailed away from Canada in 2011. After spending 16 months in Mexico, they crossed the Pacific on board their now 62 year old strip-planked yacht Nyon and arrived in New Zealand in November 2013. They continue to live aboard and spend as much time as possible sailing in the Bay and beyond. Like most of us, Kyra is capable of turning her hand to most tasks, she is a “Jill of all Trades”, an asset when working for small not-for-profit organisations back in Canada and now in New Zealand. She joined the Tucker in 2015 and is the Sales and Operations Manager for the Trust. She is a creative individual, artist and writer as well as an avid sailor. Her hashtag is #lifeonasmallboat.

Sophie Camplin

Youth Coordinator

Sophie job-shares our youth programmes with Pauline, and looks after the adminstrative side of the youth development voyages. A young mother of two girls, Sophie started her career with the R. Tucker Thompson as Deckhand. She then progressed to Master, where she was responsible for skippering tourism sailings as well as the youth development voyages. She therefore knows the ship and how the Trust operates extremely well. With two young daughters to look after, Sophie now works mostly from home, juggling a number of roles to ensure that berths are filled with the right students on any given voyage.

Chynna Haney

Deckhand

As a child, Chynna was very adventurous – she spent many days at the beach. She was very in tune with the ocean and grew up doing surf lifesaving club, adventure racing, and many other sports. She even had Moko the dolphin as a swimming companion for many years. He was a huge influence on her career path. In 2014, Chynna took an 8-week trip to Australia, volunteering at the dolphin centre in Bunbury Perth. In 2016 she completed a Marine and Eco-tourism course through Northtec, Kerikeri – this course taught her a lot, including how to sail.

In February 2017, she became one of the core crew aboard the R Tucker Thompson. With the knowledge she has accumulated and her training on the R Tucker Thompson, she and her fiancé have recently purchased a 33 foot yacht in the hopes of one day sailing it offshore.

Ships Schedule

<span data-mce-type="bookmark" style="display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;" class="mce_SELRES_start"></span>

Our team

Sophie Camplin

Kyra Crouzat

Peter Deverell

Chynna Haney

Jane Hindle

Wayne Karauria

Zeran Mackie

Pauline Moretti

Jessica Nadon

Michelle Simperingham

Ben Willoughby

Relief Crew

Sarianna Crook

Terry Dunn

Ethan King

Magnus O'Grady

Cadetship

Trustees

Mike Daniel

Kim Borgstrom

Russell Harris

Bronwyn Hunt

Mike Simm

Tim Yeates

Suz Te Tai

Working for us