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Tall Ship Challenge tests students

Published on June 13^th 2011, 3:54pm

The seven-day event saw six teams made up of two students from each participating secondary school competing in a closely run contest aboard the R.Tucker Thompson.

The lead changed several times during the voyage with Kaitaia College finishing a close second.

The adventure departed Marsden Cove on May 13, followed the east coast, stopping in Whangamumu before rounding Piercy Island (the Hole in the Rock) along the way, and arrived at Opua on May 19.

This is the second year the event has been held thanks to sponsorship from Northpower and Top Energy.

The sailing challenge aims to encourage safety in our future leaders.

Tasks during the voyage ranged from physical fitness to mental challenges, R.Tucker Thompson Sail Training Trust executive trustee Jane Hindle says.

“Not all of them were about physical fitness either,” she says. “There were plenty of mental challenges and ones that tested the creative ability of the sail trainees too.

“Apart from swimming round the ship every day, challenges such as spelling The Quick Brown Fox and creating the best dessert called for quite different skills. Spot bunk checks, rowing the `Queen’ round the ship with only a paddle and making baggywrinkles, not to mention regular visits from dolphins and a snorkelling trip out at the Poor Knights, all made for a memorable trip.“The six teams were from Okaihau College, Kaitaia College and Opononi Area School in the Far North and from Whangarei District – Bream Bay College, Whangarei Boys’ High School and Kamo High School.

In presenting the Tai Tokerau Tall Ship Challenge trophy, Top Energy general manager Steven James told the sail trainees they and their counterparts Northpower were delighted to sponsor the event which encouraged youngsters from the region to challenge themselves and develop their leadership potential.

- Whangarei Leader

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