Kia Ora friends and Whanau of the R Tucker Thompson.
What an exciting first day out.
After a welcome and games on the wharf, we cast of the lines and went to sea. Marama was at the wheel as we left the dock and did awesome.
We jumped straight into it, setting the fore sail and playing a name game. After settling into our bunks for the week, we had a yummy Mac and Cheese lunch.
We debated staying around Russell for the night in the shelter, but we have some very keen young sailors onboard who were up for a mission. So we set some more sail, with 2 reefs in the main and out to sea we went. We rounded Tapeka and sailed up toward Urupukapuka Island. There was a pretty solid breeze which moved us along nicely, but this was not enough excitement for this lot. They grabbed some harnesses and went out onto the bow spirit, where they got a wee bit dunked.
Archie B, in some pretty windy conditions did a great stint on the helm. As we neared the islands, the wind picked up. We did a few tacks, before striking the sail and motoring into Omakiwi, our anchorage for the night.
We launched the tender and went ashore for a nice walk. As the lovely smells of dinner waft through the ship, the spirits are high as we look forward to the week ahead. We have a delightful and adventurous bunch of trainees onboard, bring on the adventure.
Ma Te Wa
