Voyage Blogs articles

Ben Willoughby

Master

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.

Tom Macfarlane

Crew

Tom is one of our crew members and our conservation warrior. He’s a multi-talented member of our team and has an impressive background in Outdoor Education, research and Science Communication. With an honours degree in physical education and an impressive knowledge of Tikanga Māori, he has a lot of experience under his belt. His aim is to “keep doing everything possible in the now towards being a good ancestor for those to come in the future”.

Kymbali Dender

Crew

Kymbali is one of our crew members. She moved to the bay recently after finishing a bachelors in Marine Biology. She completed an adult 10-day trainee trip on the Spirit of New Zealand and fell in love with tall ships, this sparked her volunteering time with the Spirit as a watch assistant. She’s also a Girl Guide Leader, and has worked with young kiwi girls aged 9-17 to develop them through outdoor and leadership activities.

Zhané Harvey

Crew

Zhané Harvey is one of our crew members. She loves the outdoors has a background in outdoor education. She moved to the bay for the job and is making the most of her new surroundings, often out kayaking and exploring. Having worked as a whitewater instructor and glacier guide, we know she’s a great addition to take our trainees on new adventures.

Sophie Adams

Youth Manager

Sophie is responsible for liaising with schools and community groups explaining how our youth development voyages help students to make positive changes in their lives. Sophie has a background in business, marketing, management and more recently she has held the role as the Internship Manager and Quality Assurance Coordinator for QRC here in Paihia. She is a member of the Senior Management Team there and we are incredibly lucky to have her bring these skills to our organisation.

Jo Lynch

Chief Executive

Jo Lynch is our Chief Executive. Her background is in the ski industry, youth development through travel, 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 Wai 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.

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Sasja Mazurkiewicz

Sales and Marketing Assistant

Sasja (pronounced Sasha) is the Sales and Marketing Assistant and she is our master of imagery, design and socials. She is head of communications and in charge of our newsletters, social media and advertising. Kerikeri born and bred, Sash comes with an eye for design and a wonderful way of dealing with our customers, young people and all of our team.  Sasja is also a keen sailor, has her very own tiny home, and speaks a handful of languages. Drop a line to our multitalented Sasja!

Sarianna Crook

Operations Assistant

Sarianna is the Operations Assistant and so much more. Sari worked on the Tucker as a Skipper, was a cadet with the Spirit of NZ and is now a mum to one lovely little boy. Sari handles the operational side of the business and connects our ship and people through smart organisation and well-executed logistics. She is organised, thorough and has it all under control! Sari is the heart of the operation, bringing hands-on maritime experience, a solid work ethic and infectious enthusiasm for our kaupapa to the table. We are lucky to have Sari onboard this waka.

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.

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.

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.

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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.

Jane Hindle

Executive Trustee 

Suz Te Tai

Trustee

Tim Yeates

Trustee

Mike Simm

Trustee

Bronwyn Hunt

Trustee

Russell Harris

Trustee

Kim Borgstrom

Trustee

Mike Daniel

Chair

Terry Dunn

Relief Master

Sophie Camplin

Youth Coordinator