Full steam ahead for sailing project

An initiative to get youth out on the water, learning new nautical and leadership skills and how to function as part of a team, is almost ready to go.

Mission Adventure Trust has raised the total purchase price for the schooner Maggie with a major loan and numerous donations, and has also been gifted much of the cost of survey and planning approval. The Maggie is a replica of the old Chesapeake Bay oyster schooners and was built by Brian Owen of Sandspit.

Trustee Phil Van der Mespel from Algies Bay says the surveyors and planners are donating their time because they have been impressed with the project.

“They’ve seen what we are doing and they say their donation is an investment into New Zealand’s young people,” Phil says. “It has saved us about $25,000.”

The primary aim of the trust, which will take eight to 13 year olds on day and overnight trips from the Mahurangi into the Hauraki Gulf, is to develop in youngsters a sense of self worth and dignity.

“If we can show a kid he is significant and valued, when he is young, he won’t decide to go on to do drugs before realising he didn’t need to do that to feel valuable.”
Day trips visiting the small islands and overnight trips, focussing on history and ecology, are planned.

“The history side of it is close to my heart as my children are seventh generation Algies from Algies Bay and we have a great sense of connection with the history of this area,” Phil says.

The vision for the initiative has travelled to the wider community and attracted support from Auckland and Whangarei, and even around the world. Among the many requests Phil has received to crew on the Maggie, some have come from Scandinavia, the UK, USA and Canada.

“They picked up on it from our website. Some want to do it to get their skipper’s ticket and some just want to do it as an overseas working holiday experience.”
Another exciting development has been the formation of a loose network of traditional ship operators, including the Jane Gifford Trust, to assist each other in their projects to preserve the skills and technology of the traditional ships for future generations.

“We are thrilled with the success of the Jane Gifford, and we feel the two boats have complementary roles,” Phil says. “There are skills and seamanship on that vessel that could be lost for ever. The global interest in keeping the nautical heritage of bygone eras is increasing – it’s not irrelevant.”

Phil says the Maggie turned out to welcome the Jane as she relaunched on the Mahurangi in May. He hopes Maggie will also be in attendance at the Kowhai Festival in October, so that people can come aboard and have a look at her.

With the intention of being under sail early next year, the trust is seeking a marine electrician and marine engineer to help with the survey process. They also need to find sponsors or funding for equipment such as an inflatable outboard boat, life jackets, fire extinguishers and other safety gear.

They have produced a DVD, which they are happy to present to schools and service groups in the community. Information can also be found on their website, www.mission-adventure.org.nz. The trust is ready to start taking bookings for next year.

Owner Phil Van der Mespel with former owner Brian Owen at the helm on the Maggie.