The Spirit of Adventure Trust was set up in 1972 to provide young Kiwis with access to a character development programme conducted in a maritime environment.
Each year the ship sets sail 25 to 29 times and on board each voyage are the teenagers, who are selected from all over the country, with no two from the same school or knowing each other before the voyage.
Wellingtonian Graham Weakley, who volunteers for the trust, is our captain for our afternoon's harbour jaunt. He had been a "trainee" -- as the youths are dubbed while on a voyage -- on the original Spirit of Adventure ship, 32 years ago.
The Spirit of New Zealand was built in 1986 for $6.4 million.
"Her replacement value today is about $22 million," said Mr Weakley.
"So I always have two hands on the wheel -- just $11 million in each."
Mr Weakley said his motivation to work on the youth programmes was "the atmosphere and the kids' attitudes".
I meet another regular, Conrad McCaffrey, a nurse from Wairarapa Hospital's accident and emergency department.
When Mr McCaffrey is not working in Masterton he volunteers with the trust on youth voyages.
"It's not really a sailing training group, it's more about the development of individuals.
"It's about learning how to work in teams and living away from home -- away from their normal circumstances."
Mr McCaffrey said the teenagers gained self-resilience through challenging themselves throughout the trip.
"It's about learning about yourselves, working as a team and developing life skills.
"You see a lot of change in individuals in 10 days," he said.
Masterton resident Diane Lucas, aboard the ship, said her two daughters had enjoyed their Spirit of Adventure voyages, which they had done while students at Makoura College.
First mate Andy Whittaker meets all the Wairarapa guests in the aft cabin -- where meals are served -- saying trainees are taken away from phones, screens and other city influences.
"It's about getting back to nature and outdoor activities."
Trainees start each day at 6.30am with a swim in the sea, followed by breakfast, and then the ship was cleaned -- "every single day".
Different activities were scheduled for each day.
18-year-old Hannah McGill, from Upper Hutt, was a trainee last year and has since returned as a volunteer on the youth programmes.
She said her initial sailing helped her gain confidence and forced her to overcome her fear of heights.
It's 34m to the top of the mast and trainees, harnessed, are encouraged to climb to the tip.
"It seems really small, but it builds courage," said Hannah.
"It's about having to face something that you are afraid of, and then knowing you can do it."
The Spirit of New Zealand has two permanent crews, which alternate 10 days on and 10 days off.
Sue Shilling is a full-time cook, "or maritime chef", on the ship.
Ms Shilling, from Taupo, "grew up on the water" and prides herself on never getting seasick.
Each morning in her galley (kitchen) she bakes muffins and cooks a hot breakfast of eggs and french toast with bacon and banana to set the trainees up for the day.
A roast of chicken, lamb, beef or pork for evening meals in not unusual, despite the limited space in which Ms Shilling has to work.
She said 54 loaves of bread, 54 bottles of milk and 45kgs of flour saw her through each 10-day trip.
No space on board goes to waste with dry food stocks under every seat and floorboard in the aft cabin, which has tiered seating for meal times and for watching the occasional film.
Ms Shilling says Finding Nemo and Pirates of the Caribbean were often the top picks.
Patrick Scelly was a trainee on the Spirit of Adventure in 1985 and, the following year, he helped build the Spirit of New Zealand.
Since then, Mr Scelly, from Napier, has worked his way up the ranks to become the ship's engineer.
"It's not for the money. It's to see 40 individuals develop into one team," he said. "The self-confidence and the camaraderie is huge within the team."
Volunteer Hugo Kappes, from Hamilton, said his first experience on the tall ship was a three-day adult voyage, which pulled him "out of a dark place".
The part-time body double and movie extra said sending a teenager on the ship was the "best thing you could ever do for them".
"I love to see the way a child changes -- they are not the same person when they get off."
During the voyage, teenagers could overcome insecurities and gain the tools they needed to become a healthy adult, Mr Kappes said.
"You learn things you can't learn in school or from the computer."
I discover we're moving under sail, although it's only a minimum four out of a possible 14 sails to gently match a mild northerly breeze. Eastwood general manager Gary Allan said it had been the fourth year the company had taken selected clients on a bus trip "over the hill" and out on the ship.
"It's just a way to reward the customers and say thanks for their support and business."
Greytown residents Wendy Appelman and Jeanette Southey said the corporate sailing was a wonderful way for a company to show appreciation to its clients.
