Leaving a legacy...

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Forty one years ago today (2nd March 1976) Spirit of Adventure departed Marsden Wharf on her first trip to Whangarei, her new Certificate of Survey now allowing Restricted Home Trade Limits - North Cape to East Cape.      
I'd arrived at 6am as ring-in cook, to be met by a trainee in the passageway by the galley.  
'Are you the cook?' she asks.
'Yes,' I gulp, 'I guess I am.'        
"What are we having for breakfast then?" she asks.
I had no idea what food was even on the ship let alone what we were going to eat and when.
We muddled through, sailing to Great Barrier that morning.
My first tall ship voyage I must confess - I was seasick.
When someone suggested mince for dinner I nearly threw up on the deck.
However I was soon infected with the spirit of adventure and served as cook for many more trips.

Voyage 54 was also all girls - their theme song (sung to the Wombles tune) says it all:

Mr Lou Fisher donated this boat
Quincey and officers keep it afloat.
Hundred and Forty-five dollars we pay
To live on this ship for these ten days in May.
Sailing and motoring over the sea
The trainees on board of this schooner are we.
Taking and gybing and boxhauling too, 
Learning the things that seamen all do.
So far this song has been totally clean
Nothing like Blue Watch to make things obscene.
Best they all get a  new leader to make,
Everything easy, just a pi-ece of cake.

Well done and thank you Mr Lou Fisher for seeing your dream become a reality.
Thank you to the people who made it happen. 
And thank you to those who keep it happening to this day.       
You are creating a brilliant legacy...

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