Spirit of New Zealand Repower

Yanmar with Controllable Pitch Propeller a world first

The three-masted barquentine Spirit of New Zealand was commissioned in 1986, and since the retirement of the trusts previous yacht 'Adventure', has undertaken an annual programme of around 340 days at sea. She is believed to be probably the world's busiest youth ship. Subject to stringent, on-going maintenance surveys, refits and audits, Spirit of New Zealand is expected to be able to continue operating youth voyages until around 2020.
The Spirit of Adventure Trust which owns Spirit was established to provide the youth of New Zealand with access to a character development programme conducted in a maritime environment.
Her programme is conducted mostly out of her home port of Auckland into the Hauraki Gulf, but she makes occasional voyages to the Bay of Islands, the Bay of Plenty and beyond, around the East Cape to Wellington and the Marlborough Sounds area. Voyages southwards to Lyttelton, Port Chalmers, Bluff and Stewart Island are also scheduled from time to time, ensuring the ship's high public profile.
Funded since 1973 by income from voyage fees and member fees, supplemented by grants, donations, sponsorship and public donations, the operation is also heavily dependent on volunteers, mostly to assist the professional crews and provide short support on port visits.
In September 2010 'Spirit' commenced an 11 week refit in Whangarei New Zealand which included replacing the original 8L3 Gardner. Given that she had experienced two groundings and as a tall ship presents high windage in adverse conditions, a redesign of her propulsion system was essential.
Passionate about all things propulsion, Tony Whiting GM of Whiting Power Systems relished the opportunity to advise the trust on a solution that included the Yanmar 6AYM-STE (rated at 490 kW at 1900 rpm continuous) combined with Hundested VP9.5 (1700 mm diameter) Controllable pitch, four blade propeller. This combination is thought to be a world first for both manufacturer and distributor, and the resulting efficiency has resulted in reduced fuel burn while motoring or motor-sailing. Cruising speed is now 10 to 10.5 knots with a top speed of 12.8 knots whereas into a head wind the old Gardner would reach 4 knots with the best at 7 knots on a good day.

Photos courtesy of Fred Nicoll, Shipco

In addition to the propulsion package, Whiting Power has also supplied new Kobelt engine controls and a Cruisair Air Conditioning system. Realizing that during such an extensive project, the budget might not stretch to comforts such as Air Conditioning, Tony Whiting and his wife Margaret together with Dometic Enviromental USA generously donated equipment to the trust, identifying the improvement in the experience that these systems make, over a wide range of weather conditions.
The Team at Whiting Power Systems are very proud to support and be a supplier to such an inspirational organisation which encourages youth to respect and enjoy the sea as much as they do.
Grant Crawford.

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