Diary 4

Kia ora koutou,

Tomorrow you will head back to Auckland to complete your Inspiration Voyage, so you were determined to make the most of your last full day on the ship. There were plenty of challenging activities to tackle, starting with the morning swim. A chilly wind made the water seem less inviting, but you soon realised after taking the plunge that the water is still quite warm.

Q and A time

Before you could attempt your next challenge you had to fuel up on a cooked breakfast, complete your daily cleaning duties and take part in the web conference. You spoke with Papakōwhai School and listened to Tessa the cadet as she enthusiastically answered all their questions. Although there were lots of questions about sailing a lot of the answers Tessa gave are also useful for any outdoor activity. We are so lucky in Aotearoa to have access to such an amazing environment to explore. Tessa explained some of the routines and activities designed to enhance the wellbeing of participants. After listening to the web conference, we agreed that no matter what your challenge is you get the most satisfaction from completing tasks that aren’t easy. You can find out more by listening to the web conference.

Learning to sail a lugger

It was then time to brave the squalls of rain that passed over the ship and head out on a very different type of sailing boat. Groups went out with their buddies to sail the luggers. A lugger has a single sail and is fantastic fun to sail once you get the hang of it. You are so much closer to the water and can feel the boat respond as you set the sail and it catches the wind. The wind increased, and it was a great feeling to scoot across the water. When Tamati showed you how to control the sail and steer the boat, you could see why people get hooked on sailing. It was surprising how quickly the boat responded and how fast you could go if you angled the sails to catch the wind. The ambassadors enjoyed the feeling of salt spray on their bodies as the boat angled into the wind. Luggers are great boats to learn in and although they feel tippy it is quite hard to make them tip right over. You can watch the video to discover more.

Reaching great heights

After your sailing lessons you headed back to the ship for lunch. Your next challenge for the day was to climb the mast. Some trainees have been looking forward to this, while others have been dreading it. Before you could head up the rigging you needed to make sure you had warm clothing, shoes and a harness on. Ben Whittington showed you how to fit the harness and use the leashes. By clipping two leashes to a safety line you are able to move one and still stay connected so you are always safely attached while climbing. It took a while to climb the 27 metres to the top but the view was amazing! Gusts of wind and the odd shower of rain made if feel that much more exciting. You can imagine how hard it would be to climb the mast and help set sails when the boat is rolling around in rough seas. The ambassadors were reluctant to climb down because the view was so good. All the trainees were buzzing after rising to the challenge. Watch the video about this.

A sense of satisfaction

You have completed many challenges on this trip and it has been inspiring to see trainees overcome fears and barriers to achieve their goals. While talking to trainees at the end of the day, you gained a sense of how much they have learned about themselves during the trip. Trainees talked about the confidence they have developed and the friends they have made. You can watch the video to find out more about the highlights of the voyage.

I hope you have enjoyed the trip and it has helped ignite your spirit for more adventures. 

See you on another field trip soon,

Shelley the LEARNZ teacher.