Basket | R. Tucker Thompson Sail Training Trust

Michelle Simperingham

Deckhand

Michelle made her way from Trainee to Volunteer to Cadet and now works with the team at Tucker a Crew. 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. In 2021 Michelle completed her cadetship, gained her Skippers Restricted Limits qualification and has joined our merry team of sailors. Michelle is a relaxed Northlander who brings good skills and good vibes to the team.

Josh Fitzgerald

Deckhand

Josh is Irish on the outside but he may just be Kiwi on the inside. This inspiring young man brings a spirit of positivity, adventure and fun to our team. His work with youth is underpinned by his work as a sailing instructor and with young people in the outdoors. He has a sensitive nature and is a perfect role model for our rangatahi. At the weekends you will catch Josh surfing, windsurfing or sailing in and around the Bay. Josh makes the most of life and inspires others do to the same.

Steve MacKay

Skipper and Repair Man

Steve MacKay is a real-life pirate. He works with the Tucker as a Skipper, pastry chef and Master-Fixer of most things. This multitalented young man is a huge asset to our organisation because he brings an engineering mind and a pirate’s sense of humour to the table. He is both quiet and loud at the same time. He has a wealth of maritime experience, the ability to design and make things, and a true passion for dinghies. You sometimes will find Steve cleaning the hulls of recreational boats in the harbour, creating a cheesecake, or making something out of wood. Although he is a master carpenter, rope work is his bag; his diddy bag that is. Silver Swords Steve and his sidekick Lily are the real treasures of our organisation.

Rangi Ferris

Bosun

Rangi is a shipwright and rigger and he works with us as our Bosun. He is passionate about square-rig sailing, woodwork, carpentry and steam engines, but mostly about working on traditional vessels. He came to us after spending 6 years at the Maritime Museum in Auckland, where he worked maintaining their fleet of vessels. Rangi’s Mum is from the USA and his Dad is from NZ; he grew up in Port Townsend, home of the Wooden Boat Festival. He is a sailing instructor and has his maritime qualifications. Rangi has his own boat and spends time working on both his boat and ours. We are very lucky to have Rangi in our team taking care of The Good Ship.

Enes Fraj

Deckhand

Enes is his name but we call him Ness. Ness is a Frenchman and a pilot, with an affinity for tall ships. Ness spent time on the Spirit of New Zealand before joining us on the R. Tucker Thompson. He brings energy, enthusiasm and epic cooking skills to the team. Ness has a Flight Operation and Dispatch Diploma from ESMA Aviation Academy in Montpellier France and he is working his way towards his Skipper Restricted Limits qualification. Ness enjoys living in the North, flying with the local Aviation Club, hiking, sailing and free diving. He is a good person to have around; he works hard and is always keen to help.

Guy Cunningham

Relief Crew

Guy Cunningham tags in to sail on our Youth Voyages from time to time. He has had a career in the Police force and he is a master of working closely with our youth. Guy sails in a local sailing race each Sunday, with a competitive bunch who often podium. Guy has a keen intuition for helping the kids on board our Youth Voyages: he has insight, wisdom and a wealth of experience working in tough situations. He is a straight shooter, a man of few words, but is always on-point. And it’s always handy having a Policeman on board! We are stoked to have Guy sail with us.

Abbey Franklin

First Mate

Abbey originates from the top of the South Island. She comes to us with a degree in Physical Education from Otago University, mentoring and leadership skills, and a wealth of tall ship experience on the Spirit of New Zealand. Working with youth is a common theme woven through Abbey’s travels, work and volunteering roles. She spent 3 months in Nepal, including a month on a mountain conservation project, another month trekking, and the third month in a hospital placement. She also spent 6 weeks on a teaching project in the Sacred Valley in Peru. She loves learning and teaching in equal measure but her special skill is working to develop our rangatahi. Abbey is a gem and she works her magic with our kids.

Eloise Goodison

First Mate

El is Goodison by name, good by nature. This young lady is a sharp operator. She not only knows her way our round our ship; she has spent a bunch of time on superyachts travelling the world. She is deeply connected with the ocean; both in it and on it. A keen surfer, you will find Eloise chasing waves up and down the coast in her backyard of Northland. Eloise is one of our more senior crew and she helps to develop our programme and strengthen our team like a boss. She is working towards her skipper’s ticket and growing her skills as a mariner. El is a sailor and surfer, in equal measure.

Jo Lynch

General Manager

Jo Lynch is our General Manager. Her background is in the ski industry, youth experiential learning through travel, and business strategy and marketing. She has held many leadership roles in the outdoors and marketing and she combines a wide range of skills to lead our programme. Jo is of Ngati Whatua and Pakeha descent and grew up in Northland. She spent 25 years chasing snow and has returned to Te Tai Tokerau to work with youth and the good people on The Good Ship.

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 are able to offer a payment plan with weekly or fortnightly payments of as little as $20. We also 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’ dependents 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 $1,450 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 your interest

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.

Register Interest youth

PDF form also available here

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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