Departure from Auckland.

A wet morning, a drier and warmer afternoon and evening. Departure day. Before casting off our moorings, still some time to get everything ready. Safety talks and abandon ship drill happen at the same time when immigration procedures are sorted out and the ship’s diesel tanks are filled up. Then it is time to pull the gangway aboard and let go our lines. The beginning of our long sailing journey. First under engine and just the Topsails set, gradually Europa starts leaving behind New Zealand, the last lands discovered and settled by the seafarer Polynesian people. Her next destination is the Southernmost area of the Americas after crossing Cape Horn, legendary for its rough waters and foul weather. All the stretch of the South Pacific lays in front of us. At the Horn she will meet the Atlantic and Southern Ocean too. A mythical headland rounded for the first time 410 years ago, when the Dutch Merchant Captains Schouten and LeMaire sailed the open sea route South of the known lands of South America.

An easy start, though a busy day. Wind is light, sails unfurled. A good blast of the ship’s loud horn, we leave port. Soon after leaving, it is time already to pull on sheets and halyards, spreading Europa’s canvas to the light winds, bracing and adjusting the rig to the breeze. It all happens together with the last bits of sea-fastening and the start of the voyage crew familiarisations. Flat seas and calm weather, a good chance to start with the climbing instructions 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. During the rest of the day and before the watch system starts, lookout, steering and line handling familiarisations are done, interrupted a couple of times by some interesting wildlife sightings. First a tall dorsal fin is break the calm sea surface, a small pod of Orcas swam by at the distance. Later, a few blows are seen not far away, Humpback whales.

As we leave from Auckland a sail is spotted closing up. Soon the beautiful three-masted barquentine Spirit of New Zealand is next to the Europa, escorting our departure. Well known to us, this local 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 to develop their potential enduring the challenges of the seas.

The city skyline falls behind while the fair running breeze make shutting the engines off and sail away, heading to the open waters of the South Pacific.