The gifting ceremony on 4th June was a wondeful event. Despite some dreadful weather the previous night, the skies cleared just in time for friends, family and invited VIPs to enjoy the event. At midday the Tucker departed her home at Opua wharf arriving at a freezing Russell Wharf to be met by a group of young people, all of whom had been selected as representatives of the Schools, waka clubs or organisations.
Bishop Ben Te Haara conducted a blessing for the ship to acknowledge her transferrence from owner, Master and Builder Russell Harris across to her new entity, the R.Tucker Thompson Sail Training Trust. As the ship set off, two young children from Waikare School were the first to take the helm, with others taking their turn as the ship set sails and a course for Opua. Old graduates of previous Youth at Risk trips were on board with newcomers and Taira Peters, a key instigator of the youth trips in the 1990s was also on board showing the kids how to hoist the sails and coil down the lines.
As we approached Opua, two wakas came out to meet us, with a spine tingling challenge. As we turned the ship to tie up at the wharf, the young people from the wakas performed a fierce haka before we were welcomed to the wharf.
A formal powhiri from Kaumata representing the Tangata Whenua included speaches from Raumoa Kawiti and Kopa Tipenewas responded from the Tucker crew by Bishop Ben Te Haara, Rutene Gabel (another former youth trip graduate) and of course Russell Harris. The new owners, the Trustees from the R.Tucker Thompson Sail Training Trust were then invited up.
Trustees are: Kim Borgstrom, Ngahau Davies, John Duder, Russell Harris, Kate Martin, Ian Milestone and Mike Simm.
A quick but fierce shower interrupted proceedings, which continued at the Opua Cruising Club with a response from Her Worship Mayor Yvonne Sharp followed by the signing of the Deed of Trust.
Bishop Ben Te Haara conducted a blessing for the ship to acknowledge her transferrence from owner, Master and Builder Russell Harris across to her new entity, the R.Tucker Thompson Sail Training Trust. As the ship set off, two young children from Waikare School were the first to take the helm, with others taking their turn as the ship set sails and a course for Opua. Old graduates of previous Youth at Risk trips were on board with newcomers and Taira Peters, a key instigator of the youth trips in the 1990s was also on board showing the kids how to hoist the sails and coil down the lines.
As we approached Opua, two wakas came out to meet us, with a spine tingling challenge. As we turned the ship to tie up at the wharf, the young people from the wakas performed a fierce haka before we were welcomed to the wharf.
A formal powhiri from Kaumata representing the Tangata Whenua included speaches from Raumoa Kawiti and Kopa Tipenewas responded from the Tucker crew by Bishop Ben Te Haara, Rutene Gabel (another former youth trip graduate) and of course Russell Harris. The new owners, the Trustees from the R.Tucker Thompson Sail Training Trust were then invited up.
Trustees are: Kim Borgstrom, Ngahau Davies, John Duder, Russell Harris, Kate Martin, Ian Milestone and Mike Simm.
A quick but fierce shower interrupted proceedings, which continued at the Opua Cruising Club with a response from Her Worship Mayor Yvonne Sharp followed by the signing of the Deed of Trust.
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