Spirit of N.Z. now on the drawing board

Press, 3 December 1982, Page 14

Spirit of N.Z. now on the drawing board

The Spirit of New Zealand has begun to take form with the release of the first detailed drawings by its designers, Edward Ewbank and Don Brooke. The 42.6 m sail training brigantine was commissioned in June, by the Spirit of Adventure Trust, to join the 105 ft topsail schooner Spirit of Adventure in providing sail training and adventure opportunities for young New Zealanders. The traditionally graceful yet painstakingly functional newcomer will be an allKiwi undertaking — designed, funded, and built in New Zealand. No starting date for construction has been set but a vigorous nationwide fundraising campaign is gathering momentum and bringing that date closer.

-The campaign to date has been spearheaded by the Ceramco New Zealand skipper, Peter Blake, who, in the last three months, has travelled throughout the country introducing the project and detailing the Spirit of New Zealand Quest through which the youth of the country can help generate much of the finance needed to make -the Spirit dream come true.

The Quest was to have ended on February 18, but because of the massive demand for entries will continue until the end of May to allow more people to become involved without conflicting with the educational obligations of the last couple of months.

Ewbank and Brooke are eminently qualified to handle this prestigious commission. Captain Ewbank is a graduate of the Westlawn School of Yacht design in the United States, holds a diploma in shipbuilding and naval architecture from the British Institute of Engineering Technology, holds a master's foreign-going certificate of competency (U.K.), and is a member of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (U.S.), the N.E. Coast Institute of Engineers and Shipbuilders (U.K.), and the Institute of Nautical Surveyors (N.Z.). His design commissions and consultancies have included the general arrangement and steel hull structure of the replica of the Bounty, built in Whangarei, the general arrangement and major installations for the brigantine Ji Fung in Hong Kong, the hull design of the commodore’s barge for the Commodore Auckland, and the complete design of a fast survey boat, in aluminium, for the Bay of Plenty Harbour Board. Brooke is one of Auckland's best-known yachts-man-designers. As an amateur designer he produced champion 12-footers (Splash) and 18-footers (Jezebel) as well as the 34ft cruising yacht Dolphyn. His list of professional commissions is lengthy and impressive, and includes 15 steel sailing vessels of between 70ft and 92ft and one 110 ft steel schooner.

The chairman of the House Committee of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, Brooke introduced Kumeu Engineering as a steel yacht builder for export and then formed Export Yachts NZ, Ltd, also as a steel yacht builder for export. Both companies have earned in excess of $4 million in overseas funds. With the Spirit Quest properly under way, the fundraising team is concentrating much of its effort on recruiting what it terms the “ship’s company.” The business and commercial sectors are being invited to join this company as (a) governors; (b) fellows; or (c) members. Governors are those who contribute a cash gift of $15,000 or more. Contributors at this level may nominate one young person a year, for five years, to become a trainee on the Spirit of New Zealand. Fellows are those who contribute $7500 or more, while members are those who make a cash gift of $2500. All ship's company will be mentioned on a scroll of honour on board the vessel, will be presented with a ship’s plaque, invited to attend the launching, and be provided with the opportunity for a day sail on the new vessel. These contributions can be paid over a three-year term and are allowable as a taxation deduction within the terms of the Act.

So far. the ship’s company includes 8 governors and 11 members.