by rtuckert | May 16, 2019 | Media, Trust
Sweet Success for 3rd time lucky Kaitaia College This year marks the 10th anniversary for the Taitokerau Tallship Challenge. It’s a special milestone for this leadership voyage which is jointly sponsored by Northpower and Top Energy. Weather played an important part...
by rtuckert | Dec 3, 2018 | Media, Trust, Youth
We are delighted to welcome Tiaho Morgan Edwards on board our good ship! Tiaho is our second cadet who joins us for a 12 month period to learn the ropes and end up at the end of his year with a qualification which will enable him to get a job in the Maritime Industry....
by rtuckert | Aug 3, 2018 | Media, Tucker Trainees
The R. Tucker Thompson has presented this year‘s Tucker Lewis award to Tiahorangi Morgan Edmonds, a 16 year old Bream Bay College student. The Tucker Lewis award is presented by the Trust to individuals who have demonstrated an ongoing commitment to the Trust in terms...
by rtuckert | May 23, 2018 | Media, Tai Tokerau Challenge, Youth
Taipa Area School has been crowned winner of the 2018 'Te Tai Tokerau Tall Ship Challenge'. Kristy Buchanan and Prairie Herk teamed up to take out the title and say the voyage has left them with memories that will live with them forever. It is a case of fourth time...
by rtuckert | Mar 21, 2017 | Media, Miscellaneous, Special Interest, Trust
It's not every year that a ship wins the sailor of the year, but then the R. Tucker Thompson is no ordinary ship! In March the Trust and Trustees were awarded the Northland Regional Council's Sailor of the Year award by Council Chair Bill Shepherd. Accepting it on...
by rtuckert | Mar 21, 2017 | Environment, Media, Miscellaneous
The R. Tucker Thompson has been assessed by Qualmark under the new, more stringent criteria and has been awarded Qualmark Gold for their organisation. Since being wholly owned by Tourism New Zealand, the Qualmark criteria have undergone a major overhaul. Previously...
by rtuckert | Feb 10, 2016 | Media, Special Interest
Two iconic Northland organisations offer one unique experience! At the end of April 2016, Northland's tall ship the R. Tucker Thompson partnered with Project Island Song to offer a two day, one night eco-sailing experience in the beautiful Bay of Islands. We will...
by rtuckert | Dec 2, 2014 | Media
Former New Zealander of the year and eminent scholar Dame Anne Salmond has been appointed as Patron of the R. Tucker Thompson Sail Training Trust. Dame Anne, whose research and teaching draw inspiration and insights from engagement between the differing ‘worlds’ of...
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Executive Trustee
PDF form also available here
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.
Trustee
Trustee
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Chair
Relief Master
Master
Sales & Operations Manager
Youth Coordinator
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.