YTH 2108 – Toru Ra

Kia ora family and whanau of the R tucker Thompson

What an epic day sailing today.

The morning breakfast was under the sunshine after the classing morning swim and chores. Today the wind was blowing at the perfect direction and with the optimal speed at about 15 to 20knots. Anchor is pulled up by our starboard team that was led by Hayley and Robin.

The plan today is to sail through the bay and practice lots of tacks and gybe. Tupu and Phelyx are awesome on the team. They are very sweet to the rest of the group but also, they bring a lot of strength. Both mentally and physically. It is stunning to see all of them bonding so well and singing all together at many times on the day. They all take cares of each other’s at all the times. Zamara and Emily who were the most reserved ones at the start put themselves into the group and are enjoying very much everyone’s company, and vice versa.

We also did practice a few drills while underway today. So, our friend Gilbert, the Rugby ball, has been thrown overboard as volunteering the ‘’man overboard’’. The trainees responded very well to the exercise such as Awaroa and Kameta with their very quick reactivity and actions taken to save Gilbert the rugby ball.

An ‘’abandon ship’’ drill has taken place too and we demonstrated the use of survival equipment in our dinghy that we used as life raft.

Anchor is dropped at Awaawaroa Bay by Motorua Island, and it will be our night anchorage. Shore time for couples of beach games and a walk round the entire island whilst dinner is being brewed.

This journey is so epic and full of adventure. The rest upcoming is promising.

Po Marie

Bonne nuit.

Ness