R. Tucker Thompson

08/06/2026

YTH2605 bringing it home in beautiful voice 😍

08/06/2026

In June 2006, 20 years ago, the Good Ship became tō tātou waka kaipuke o Te Taitokerau - our ship, your ship, Northland's ship. Since then, she has carried 3229 young people on 290 voyages. Today, we welcome home the 291st youth voyage.

40 years young, 20 years as a Charitable Trust serving Northland's community. That is pretty special.

Over the coming weeks we'll dig into our archives and share some of the classic photos, memories and stories to celebrate these twin milestones. And we invite you to do the same - if you've sailed aboard the Tucker, volunteered, supported, donated, crewed or just enjoyed us on the horizon, we'd love to hear your stories and see your photos.

Enjoy a beautiful memory of the handover captured below (thanks to Jane Hindle hauling out this gem!).

on 6 June 2006, the tall ship R. Tucker Thompson was transferred into a Charitable Trust.Tutu Productions came on board and captured that day for the Trust. Thank you very much Joe Rewhi.

03/06/2026

Go Terry! We’re so proud of your seamanship, tenacity and humour - still making us laugh from the middle of the Tasman. We’d fly you in teabags if we could, and we’ll certainly save you a beer. Fair winds, sailor!

30/05/2026

What an epic morning of boats of all shapes and sizes. Congratulations to everyone who got over the start line after months of planning (and possibly the odd sleepless night?!). When we send our rangatahi off on 7-day youth development voyages we always describe it as a journey of stages. The hardest stage? Getting on the ship that very first day, stepping across the threshold to adventure. So in our books, you have all already succeeded! Go well, sailors. We’re supporting you all and watching Terry Dunn - one of our own skippers - especially closely 😘💙

Thanks to Solo TransTasman Yacht Challenge Opua Cruising Club Bay of Islands Marina - Opua for making it such a beautiful day.

29/05/2026

Wāhine Māia handling the legendary morning swim team-style👌💙

20/05/2026

As night draws in and we wrap up another 7-day youth voyage full of creative, inspiring Northland rangatahi let’s reflect on some of the parts that that make us whole. We’re very close to celebrating 20 years of delivering our youth development programme as a charitable trust, so forgive us for being a bit contemplative…

The ship, always the ship, at the heart of everything we do. And everyone who cares for her.

Our lovely workspace perched right on the end of Opua wharf. Thank you Bay of Islands Marina - Opua for your sponsorship and support ⚓️

Our vehicle, thank you Northland Toyota. You have served us well navigating the east coast roads through stormy landslippy times with our fabulous Rav4 Hybrid.

…and a great many other individuals and organisations that, together, mean we are far greater than the sum of our parts. To you all, thank you.

Foundation North 💙
Top Energy NZ 🩵
Grassroots Trust 💚
Pub Charity Limited 🧡
Far North District Council 💛
Explore Group New Zealand 🖤
…and many more!

Here’s to learning for life through the sea in 2026!

18/05/2026

With low sunlight refracting through many a light scattered shower, turning raindrops into prisms, we are truly in rainbow season.

In the way we never tire of seeing dolphins, there’s something about a rainbow that holds its magic, long after we grow too old to believe in gleaming pots of gold and fairies dancing. This is how voyage YTH2603 started their weekend in the Cavalli Islands 🌈🦄🌦️

15/05/2026

The countdown is on for the 2026 Solo TransTasman Yacht Challenge, and Ōpua is set to come alive across race week, with live music, skipper meet-and-greets, and the official race start all happening right here in the Bay of Islands Marina.

📅 Event Schedule for spectators:

🎤 Saturday 23rd May | 6pm Andrew Fagan Time & Tides Show
📍 Opua Cruising Club ($15 entry)

⚓️ Sunday 24th May
11am–2pm Meet the Skippers Open Day
📍 Bay of Islands Marina Super Yacht Berth

6.30pm Social Evening – Ngāti Soul
📍 Opua Cruising Club

Come down and meet the skippers, explore the boats up close, and soak up the atmosphere with music on the wharf, food and drinks available, plus a Paihia Scouts sausage sizzle. In the evening, the Opua Cruising Club will have a must-attend social evening with Ngāti Soul!

🏁 Saturday 30th May | Race Start Day

The race begins at 12pm, with viewing from Opua Wharf, the Veronica Channel headlands, or the official watch party at Opua Cruising Club.
You can also jump aboard the R. Tucker Thompson Spectator Voyage for a front-row seat to the start. Seats are filling fast so get in quick! Expect commentary, music, food, drinks, and one unforgettable start-line atmosphere as the fleet heads off across the Tasman.

Boat owners are also encouraged to head out and follow the fleet departure safely. This is shaping up to be one of the biggest events on the Bay of Islands boating calendar. Come down and be part of it!

15/05/2026

YTH2603 departed yesterday under azure skies, destination Te Pahi islands for the night anchorage after a walk, games and some goal-setting at Hohi/Rangihoua. Tino pai! ⚓️🙌

12/05/2026

These trainees from Parent To Parent Northland / Parent to Parent experienced all four seasons each day they were out there! YTH2602 had just four days on the water, so this adventure was all about immersing them in nature and getting them comfortable hanging out in the rigging which, as the photos show, was not a problem! Also some hard mahi on the islands, preventing the kikuya from strangling the native plants with Project Island Song. Shout out to Sport Northland who supported us to deliver this voyage.