Staring of our voyage. Next Port, Falkland Islands.

A morning well spent alongside. Today we still had a few hours before departure to get all ready. Safety talks and drills finished, it was time then for climbing instructions. Better done soon at the beginning of the trip and even more fitting while in calm waters or like today, when the ship is still alongside. Offering like that the chance to get acquainted with our rig for a long journey like the one we have ahead of us, where sure will be loads of opportunities of going aloft, for maintenance, sail handling or simply to get good view from up high.

Once this was done, paperwork, immigration and customs sorted out, it was right before lunchtime when the gangway is pulled onboard and straight afterwards we let go our mooring lines.

Three blasts of Europa’s powerful horn set us on a course to leave Auckland Harbour behind and then to a sailing adventure across the whole of the South Pacific.

Escorting us since the start, the beautiful three-masted barquentine Spirit of New Zealand sets sail. She is also at the beginning of a voyage after a couple of days in port. The ship is believed to be the world’s busiest youth training ship, spending over 300 days per year at sea with diverse groups of young New Zealanders too develop their potential enduring the challenges of the seas.

Auckland skyline falls behind while fair running winds make for setting sail. We are all eager to climb aloft, unfurl and join down on deck to pull on sheets and halyards, spreading Europa’s canvas to the light winds. The engines become silent and we sail away from New Zealand, heading to the open waters of the South Pacific.