Arrival in Raro

Everyone is enjoying some welcome R&R in Rarotonga after their record breaking ocean crossing - 13 days from New Zealand to Raro is pretty good going! However, Manton hasn't phoned home yet according to his Mum... if you are reading this, Manton "ET - Phone Home". We've had some dreadful weather in New Zealand this past fortnight with wave upon wave of Southerly weather fronts direct from the Antarctic, bringing snow and blizard conditions. Roads have been closed for several days in the middle of the North Island and some people in the South Island have been without power for nearly two weeks.

Which means that Geoff and I are really, really looking forward to heading up to meet the ship next Wednesday. We've had a change of plan for the journey home. We're going to leave Raro slightly earlier than planned, on 1st July which will give us time to head in to Nuie on the way home. According to their tourism website, there are only 90 guest beds on the island and usually more whales visiting that people. Sounds great!

We'll be in Nuie until the 7th July and then head in to Vavau at the North of the Tonga Islands. Trustee John Duder will be meeting us in Rarotonga for the voyage to Tonga, and Trustee Kate Martin will be meeting us in Vavau while John heads home. Trustee Box (Ian Milestone) however does have our work schedule mapped out for us while we are cruising in Tonga. 0700-1300 will be R&M (repairs & maintenance) to the ship and then R&R for the rest of the day. Russell's daughter Chloe and her friend will be meeting us in Rarotonga as well.

Nearly there

With 62 miles to go, everyone is well on board but really looking forward to reaching their destination. Fresh water, phone and internet access are high on the list of priorities! No doubt Russell will be on the phone before long and we look forward to hearing their voices again :-)

Of fudge, food and other things

Reports from the ship are that they had their first real gale a couple of days ago, on the 13th - or that's what I think. The satelite messages are 15c per character so we keep 'em real short, sometimes to the detriment of any sensible comprehension! The actual text reads "1st flyng fsh wale gale13th" so who knows!

However, Russell says that channel fever has set in (that's when everyone goes slightly crazy and gets grumpy) because there are only two days to go before they arrive. That said, apparently, Riley Joseph Conrad, aged 10, has been aloft (I could tell Russ's pride in this achievement), Aiden appears to be cooking fudge and young Tess has all the boys after her - must be all those showers she keeps taking. Tui's cooking has been absolutely magnificant, with some French flair thrown in by Jean Luc and Box has been making himself useful helping Russ, either doing his watch or breaking dishes during the gale. Not sure which.

To relieve the channel fever it seems that Prince Rarotonga and his cohorts have paid a visit to the ship, to judge the performance of the young people on this voyage. Anyone who has crossed the equator will have an idea of what will be going on.... No doubt I will receive a report later.

Meanwhile, I've finished the bit TRENZ show at Christchurch and Geoff and I will head back to the winterless North tonight.

Heading North

The ship has started heading north and apparently the temperature is warming up - wish I could say the same for Christchurch! Russell advises that at the present rate of progress, they have an ETA at Avarua of 2200 on 16th June (17th June NZST). They are motoring full speed. We'll ask the film company if they need us that early and perhaps if not, they can ease of Henry a bit. However arriving on a weekend presents its own challenges so perhaps better to be early than late!

The wind has turned against them now but it is nothing compared to what we are suffering here in NZ. With 50k+ gale force winds most of Auckland and Northland was without power for up to 4 hours this morning. Here in Christchurh we had snow and it is freezing. By comparison the ship is making steady progress motor sailing at 6 knots getting warmer by the day. Russell advises that they will turn North and set course for Rarotonga in another 2 days.

Dateline crossed!
Looks like they've crossed the dateline. We've been asked by the film company to be ahead of schedule if at all possible so as there is a big high with slight winds, they have Henry pumping. The good news is that Henry is well and no problems reported (regular Tucker followers will be recall last year's limp in to Hawaii!).

Today's message reports that Russell's son, Riley Joseph Conrad (aged 10) is a very able seaman - which must be of great joy to Russ. Aiden is apparently cooking chocolate biscuits (Kelly do you have a good family recipe?). The comment about Tess is that she has glamour. A challenge to decipher what Russ means by this, but with the earlier shower comment one can only guess that she might be trying to impress either Manton or Max :-) ... just joking all you mums reading this!

They are making good progress and hope to be in Rarotonga in good time to meet their schedule.

There's been quite a bit of traffic between the ship, the film company and myself today - probably because I've actually been around (rather than trapped in Kaikohe). The film company wanted to know the ETA and requirements for our arrival. Early days I know, but it looks like we are tracking well to meet our arrival on 20th, particularly with the dateline giving us an extra day.

Everyone is doing well. Apparently Tui is producing great food (although Max appears to be permanently hungry) and Sam is doing a great job as First Mate, Russell has awarded him a gold star already!

They were too busy eating fish to file their nightly sked with me so I had to nag and remind them. Obviously too much fun being had by all.

Geoff and I are off to the deep South tomorrow, down to TRENZ, the big tourism tradeshow at Christchurch. The temperatures down there will make us appreciate the warmth when we head up to Raro on the 27th. Normally it is Russ and myself doing a double act but with all the excitement of the ship gifting, plus the preparations for getting the ship offshore I am somewhat unprepared. Never mind, I'm sure I'll muddle through (I hope!)

We've found Manton....
Apparently Manton has a big grin on his face all the time - that's good as we wondered where he'd got to (thought he might have climbed the mast and hidden on the cross trees!). Jean-Luc has apparently got a singing box (squeeze box?) and is great company. The kids are a great pleasure to have on board and Russell says "it's a good little ship!".... so sounds like they are having fun.

Apparently they only switched Henry on tonight at 1930 as their speed had slowed right down and they need to keep to their schedule.

Tonight's update reports that everyone is well on board. Apparently Reilly (Russell's son aged 10) is getting fat, Aiden has had her first shower and Tess is turning into a little "Mum" on board, presumbably keeping everyone in line. Apparently the food is excellent - well done Tui - but Kate's boy, Max (6' 7" with obviously a lot of space to keep full) is still hungry all the time! No wind unfortunately so they will be sick and tired of hearing Henry droning along. But a happy ship and all is well.

Tonight's report from the ship is that all are well on board and it is a happy ship. Kids are doing just fine and to date there is no sea sickness!

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.