MEND has launched a 45' (14 m) steel sailing vessel here in the Bay of Islands, New Zealand, that will offer outdoor education skills programmes in summer (November-May) along our beautiful Northalnd coast. Community groups, "at risk" children and travellers can join "Pacific MEND" for daysails, weekend sailing camps or longer coastal voyages, at reasonable charter rates.

In winter "Pacific MEND" will sail through the Pacific Islands as a floating resource base allowing our volunteers to assist disabled people living in remote parts. The vessel will carry donated wheelchairs and other physio aids, medicines, glasses and library books, and samples of new products such as the Waterloo vilage toilet. There will be accomodation for 10 crew and a small workshop on board.

Following formal requests from local disability organisations in Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, Vanuatu, Solomon and Kiribati, we will visit them and as partners look at setting up joint projects that are sustainable, community-based and help the poorest people. Projects need tob e followed up and monitored to ensure accountability and progress. Assistance of matching grants for these projects is then sought from the NZ Ministry of Foreigh Affairs through Overseas Development Aid.

This will be an opportunity for social/medical volunteers to sail and offer their skills and learn "the Pacific Island Way". There is an amazing wealth of cultures, music, antrhopology, marine biology, medicinal plants, etc. in the Pacific, and we hop to produce some video documentaries for television from each voyage to promote MEND's work and to raise funds for future voyages.

If you would like to sail on Pacific MEND in New Zealand, please do not hesitate to contact us by:
e-Mail: mend@voyager.co.nz or
write to: P.O. Box 94, Kerikeri, New Zealand.

 

Y.E.S! Youth Enjoying Sailing Programme

Kids and youth are invited to learn sailing, do some fishing, camping and water sports on the Northland coast and Hauraki Gulf this summer.

We would like to attract all NZ youth that have never been sailing and ask clubs such as Rotary and Lions, Hillary Commission to suport them! At risk kids specially will be welcome.

 

Ship Details:

length on deck	45' (14m)
beam	13'6'' (4.2m)
draft	6'6'' (2m)
weight	14.5 tonnes

Built of welded steel plate, Pacific MEND is surveyed and licenced to carry 12 passengers overnight or 25 passengers for day sailing. A certified skipper runs the vessel during charters. There are 4 double berth cabins and 4 single bunks with shower and toilet facilities onboard.

Sponsors who have kindly donated materials to the building of Pacfic MEND include: