Lion New Zealand, the 23m ocean race yacht the late Sir Peter Blake skippered to success in the 1984 Sydney to Hobart race and to second place in the 1985/86 Whitbread around-the-world sailing race, docked in Dunedin at the weekend on the second stop of a six-week national tour of nine New Zealand ports, to finish in Auckland on February 17.
The tour, organised by the Lion Maritime Development Charitable Trust, is to give people a chance to view the yacht, talk to the crew and raise the profile of the work of the trust, which promotes sailing and raises funds for maritime projects, including youth leadership and teamwork training programmes on the yacht.
Skipper Alistair Moore said Lion New Zealand took "a big team to operate . . . that's why it's good for that sort of team building".
It is 25 years since the yacht, a solid maxi-sloop designed and built to Sir Peter's specifications, last did a New Zealand tour.
And many of the dozens of Dunedin people who turned out the first time, returned again this time bringing their own families with them to have a look, trustee Tony Stevenson said.
Among the yacht's 15 crew is Sir Peter's daughter Sarah-Jane (26), who joined Lion New Zealand in June and was on board for her first Sydney to Hobart campaign last month.
Four young Dunedin people, Derek Eady, Rachel Oakley, Richard Hawkins and Daniel Meehan, will join the yacht when it sails for Akaroa tomorrow.
