Kiwi sailors have another chance to redeem themselves, at the helm of one of seven tall sailing ships racing from Sydney to the Bay of Islands.
The Spirit of New Zealand set off from Sydney Harbour yesterday afternoon with vessels from Australia, Canada, Britain and the Netherlands on the first transtasman Tall Ships contest, which is due to end in Opua in six to nine days.
Its 39-member crew, all aged under 25, have been joined for the crossing by author Tessa Duder.
After the race, the fleet will sail into Auckland's Waitemata Harbour on Friday, October 25, for a tall ships festival over Labour Weekend hosted by the Voyage New Zealand Maritime Museum, when they will be open to the public on the following two days at Hobson, Queens and Princes Wharves.