15/3/2012

OCEAN RACE LEGEND INSPIRES NEW GENERATION

In the middle of the action at the Volvo Ocean Race Auckland stopover, an old legend of the race is taking out school children, and giving them a taste of sailing on a maxi yacht. Lion New Zealand, Sir Peter Blake’s 1985 Whitbread Around the World Race entry is sailing in and out of the Viaduct carrying school children and their teachers as part of the Volvo Ocean Race School’s programme.

For many children this is their first sailing experience, and for some their first time on a boat. Sailing past the Volvo boats getting ready for their next leg, the children are fascinated by tales of the history Sir Peter Blake and his teams and the round the world races. They get a chance on the grinders, and explore below decks checking out the sleeping conditions and finding out what life would have been like during the race. 500 plus kids from schools across the North Shore, West and South Auckland have taken part in the programme, and Lion New Zealand has been busy ensuring these young sailors have a great trip. 

Lion New Zealand is owned by the NZ Sailing Trust which exists to ensure Sir Peter Blake’s significant yachts are kept for the next generation, and used for sailing experiences that instil leadership and teamwork in partnership with schools and charities. They also see a vital role in bringing young people on board, and hopefully inspiring upcoming young sailors for the next racing teams, as part of keeping our maritime industry vibrant.