Purpose of the Project: To build and operate a working sail craft for:
- Low Energy, Zero Carbon Transport,
- Sail training and Education
- Boat-building and maintenance apprenticeships.
Most modern sailing focuses on sport, luxury or hobby/restoration. Coastal shipping and working sail, once important in our economy has been neglected for many decades. We live on an Island in a world where fossil fuel based transport costs are set to double and double again; a world where unnecessary carbon emissions have both an economic and environmental cost.
The Waiheke Working Sail project aims to re-invent coastal shipping for the 21st Century, by preserving and maintaining traditional sailing and building skills, by designing and building new resilient, economic vessels, and in doing so create work and enjoyment on the island.
It won’t be easy – but we intend to start here.
Excellent initiative, congratulations. It will be fun, also, going about this ancient and future activity. Thanks for posting our presentation at the Santa Cruz, California city council meeting. – Jan Lundberg