Trainee Day was a huge success - goals achieved and fun times were abundant.

Now, as we say our farewells and “see you laters,” there is a tear in the eye but also the knowledge that we have made friends for life through this shared experience at sea.

Safe travels everyone. Ka kite anō.

We had an intensive training session on sailing, tacking, and ship handling as we readied the trainees for their opportunity to take over the ship for 24 hours.

They rose to the challenge and elected their own trainee crew. The navigators are planning the route to a set anchorage and time, while the rest of the crew are running the ship, activities, cooking, and engineering responsibilities.

There is definite excitement in the air and a strong desire to make the most of the time they have in control. As a crew, we love seeing this part - watching how much everyone has learnt and giving the teenagers the opportunity to show how capable they are.

A full day of sailing across the Hauraki Gulf, from Aotea (Great Barrier Island) to Kawau Island.

The trainees put up all 14 sails briefly when wind conditions allowed. There was time to chill out and enjoy the surroundings and the sound of the water as the ship cut through the waves.

They are using their new skills to lead more activities as we head towards Trainee Day. Spirits are high, laughter is widespread, and resilience is building as they push themselves to keep growing and achieving new skills.

After a lovely morning swim to wake us up, fun and achievement was the aim of the day.

Climbing right up to the top of the foremast and out onto the Royal yard gave stunning views and a real sense of accomplishment. We then got into a lugger (small sailing boat) and took command of our own vessel - a great test of teamwork.

We rounded off the day of achievements with dinner ashore, a campfire, and a singalong. The paddle back to the ship in the dark, under a full moon, is always a serene moment.

After multiple days onboard the ship, it was time to get ashore and explore a piece of Great Barrier Island.

The trainees paddled ashore to Kaikōura Island and hiked out to a lookout overlooking the Hauraki Gulf, Little Barrier Island, and up towards Whangārei. The view was stunning, and it was a great opportunity to stretch the legs and chat with lots of people as they walked through the bush, including a beautiful pūriri grove.

Once they returned to the ship, tired and dirty, it was the perfect opportunity to break out the yard swing and enjoy a fun swim before a hearty dinner and a well-earned sleep.

It was another busy and fun day, as the trainees learned more detailed information about their sails and how to set them effectively, followed by a session on navigation.

The afternoon was spent paddling into a cave to explore it, then having a go at rock jumping!

There is always plenty of work involved in launching the rafts and getting ashore, and then retrieving them and stowing the decks afterwards. This is where teamwork and leadership skills really develop, along with a sense of working for the good of the community to achieve a common goal.

After another lovely morning swim and once the chores around the ship were done, we launched the rafts and headed ashore to a lovely sandy beach.

There was quite a lot of rubbish washed up, so all the trainees got involved in a beach clean, collecting half a sack of plastic and rope. This is then sent to Sustainable Coastlines and logged as part of their citizen science project, which helps track sources of marine litter and support reduction efforts.

A pod of dolphins did a swim-by - what felt like a thank you for the trainees’ efforts.

After lunch, we set sail for Great Barrier Island, arriving after dark at Abercrombie.

We woke to a lovely still day for our first morning swim. After a bit of apprehension about the temperature of the water, it was discovered to be actually really nice at about 19 degrees.

The morning was filled with learning about the ship, safety, how to handle ropes, and climbing the rigging. After lunch, we put our new skills to use and set sail.

Our route took us along the Tāmaki Strait, through Waiheke Channel, and across the Firth of Thames to Te Kouma Head, where we have anchored for the night. The sails were being stowed as the sun set across the water - stunning!

Voyage 942 has begun!

Once all the trainees and stores were loaded onto the ship, we slipped the mooring lines, departed Princes Wharf, and motored out to Musick Point in the Tāmaki Strait.

We anchored there for the night and enjoyed a delicious meal of roast chicken followed by cake for dessert.

Along the way, the trainees started getting to know their peers and discovering things they have in common. We had a very peaceful night at anchor, ready for a full day of fun and learning for our second day onboard.