Spirit of Adventure
04 Dec
Recently, some Year 10 students went on the Spirit of Adventure experience. Here are some reflections from the students, with special thanks to those members of the community who helped them to fundraise to go on this.
AUROARA BUCKLETON
I went on Spirit of Adventure. As I am aware, many don’t know what this is, or what to expect if they went abroad, so I’ll share my experience. First of all, the Spirit of Adventure is a boat, one that sails around the Hauraki Gulf. Here you will be with thirty nine other kids, and up to sixteen crew members. You will learn how to sail, and various other skills. and also meet many new people.
On the first day we got a few safety briefs, and we also loaded on all the food that was going on the ship. Trust me, there was a lot. There were five schools total, two with ten kids, and three with five. We were also sorted into our four watches, which is a group of ten kids from the various other schools. You stick with this watch to do all your activities. Mine was Starboard A, or Starry A as it was sometimes called.
On the second day we got up at six thirty, and jumped in the water. It was chilly, but also good to wake you up. Then we were told what our schedule for the day was. We were sailing around Kawau island, with just our sails, not the engine. Each watch was assigned to a different part of the ship, and they were the ones to move and open the sails of that area.
For day three we had good weather, and went swimming, and also climbed up the thirty six meter tall mast! And we went out on the yards (which is the part where the sails hang from)! It was so fun!
On the fourth day we rowed from the boat to an island in the Hauraki Gulf, and then went on a small hike around the island. We even went over tide pools where we found crabs, and rockfish! I even picked up a small crab. The views were really pretty. Then we went swimming and rafting for fun in the bay of the island. I found a ton of sand dollars (Sea life) and also two starfish! My watch was on specials that day, so we prepped all the food for everyone. I was sick, and because they don’t want bugs to spread I didn’t really do anything in the galley (kitchen).
On the fifth day everyone was exchanging contact details, I have mine from my two friends. We sailed back to Auckland Harbour, and also went under Harbour Bridge. Then we unpacked everything, and said our goodbyes. Then it was over five hours of travel for my group.
KELSEY BENSEMANN
Spirit of Adventure is one of those once in a lifetime experiences. You get thrown on a sail boat with 40 strangers for 5 days jam packed full of activities and adventure. Whether it’s getting up at 6:30am, jumping off the boat for a swim or sailing around an island. It’s 5 days that once you’re there you never want to end. If you get on this boat with the mindset of making as many friends as possible and conquering everything that is thrown at you, you will have the most amazingest time ever. When I got on this boat with 35 other kids my age that I had never met, didn’t even know their names and then fast forward to the last day you are hugging and sad to be saying goodbye. I have made lifelong friends, got to experience things you just can’t on the Coast. So if you ever get the chance I would say grab it, because like I said it is one of those once in a lifetime opportunities.
