The gift of a tall ship
On 4th June 2006, Russell Dixon Harris gifted the R.Tucker Thompson to the people of Te Tai Tokerau Northland.
In a symbolic event, the ship was sailed by Russell, his children and grandchildren from Opua to Russell Kororareka. There, schoolchildren from the schools in the Bay of Islands and the community, boarded the ship to sail the ship themselves back into the port of Opua as a new entity. Members of the sailing and boating community, through the assistance of Russell Radio who had been broadcasting news of the event for several weeks, had been encouraged to escort her back in her new role.
On the day, inclement weather with bitterly cold winds did not auger well, with rough water at Russell wharf. But as time came for the ship to depart on her journey, to be sailed by the young people, tamariki and rangatahi of the region, the winds dropped and the skies cleared.
After the young people had boarded the ship, Bishop Ben Te Haara carried out a blessing before casting off the lines.
Under the guidance of Taira Peters, another key instigator of the Tucker's sail training programmes, the young people set the sails and sailed the ship down the Veronica Channel, followed by a flottilla of sailing boats, launches and kayaks. Russell's grandaughter Aiden took the helm along with other young people on board. Russell led some of the group in practicing the Ballard of the R.Tucker T, a shanty written for the ship when she was launched.
As the ship approached a large crowd on Opua wharf, two Waka, the Whanau Moana paddled by both male and female paddlers, and the Rau-o-Karaka challenged the ship as she made her way towards the wharf. As the ship approached to tie the waka paddlers performed a stirring Haka on the dock. As she tied up, a kuia karanagaed the passengers from the ship onto the wharf.
Russell disembarked first followed by his family and friends and then the young people who had helped sail the ship into Opua. Waiting was large crowd with Kaumatua Kevin Prime, Rauma Kawiti, Kopa Tiepene and Willy Cash, representing Tangata Whenua and Far North Mayor Yvonne Sharp, new Trustees and wellwishers to welcome the ship in her new role.
After a number of speaches, Russell introduced the new Trustees before a brief shower necessitated a quick dash for cover at Opua Cruising Club. There, documents transferring the ownership of the ship were signed and witnessed, before everyone ajourned for afternoon tea.
