The Spirit of Adventure Trust celebrated its 50th anniversary by welcoming visitors from near and far to either reacquaint themselves with the vessel or as first-timers on board.
Established in 1972, the Spirit of Adventure Trust has taken tens of thousands of young Kiwis to sea on voyages of self-discovery, building their positive qualities and teaching them about integrity and leadership.
The trust’s mission remains relevant for Captain Andrea Haines.
"It’s just amazing that after 50 years, the Spirit of Adventure continues to teach young people resilience, to see them get those lightbulb moments and realise that they can do things that they never thought they could do," she said.
"We sailed from Auckland to Great Barrier Island and I remember not being able to shower for a week. But as I was a country girl from Tuatapere I didn’t mind it so much, while other girls from the city couldn’t handle it," she said.
Seeing the ship again sparked fond memories for Ms Forde and she encouraged her young sons to do the tour once they were old enough.
He has held the position of first mate and has been the ship’s chef since 2018.
As the elder statesman he said "the best thing is seeing the young people grow and build courage from their experience".
"There’s something about the magic of the Adventure — the voice of the sea speaks to your soul."
The ship was launched in late 1973. Its first youth voyage was in early 1974.
