The Spirit of New Zealand left Auckland on Thursday 12th of May, with forty students on board from four schools all around New Zealand. Our team called themselves the ‘Southern Constellations’.
We sailed around the Hauraki Gulf, down to the Coromandel. While we sailed we also competed against three other teams for the Spirit Trophy. Competition was fierce with knot tying, rowing, quizzes, swimming, beach games and more; all earning us points.
We learned how to rig and set the sails, tack the boat, navigation and lots of deck scrubbing and cleaning.
On the last day as we sailed under the harbour bridge it was announced that the Southern Constellations had won the Spirit Trophy. We were overjoyed, as we had worked hard as a team throughout the competition. It was the trip of a lifetime, meeting new friends from all over New Zealand.
- Sailing and Outward Bound