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Check the size of this scooner
I'm sure that is bigger than a pint. To our dear Nephews and Nieces,
Travels have been going well for Auntie Em and I, and now we are in New Zealand which is very very far away. So far away in fact that the sun shines here while you are still tucked up in bed.
The other day we got on a real pirate ship with ropes creaking and 3 big sails flapping. The ship's cook had scraggy hair, a scruffy beard and ran around shouting at people in his bare feet and jeans torn away at the knees but then he made us all a cup of tea and some very pleasant scones for breakfast so he must of been nice really. Soon after we left the port, Emma helped raise the main sail, she had to pull on a rope very hard to make sure that the sail went up quickley. When she had finished she was out of breath but the captain was pleased with her so didn't make her walk the plank (which is what happened to you if you were naughty). Soon strong winds rocked the boat and made the ship move quickley out to sea to find small islands and maybe
Rigin 'ell!
The things Emma does to get away from the SAGA brigade! some treasure.
The captain was a girl which some people thought was unusual for the captain of a pirate ship but she must of be very good at her job because she wasn't very old either. She spoke with a funny accent that sounded like a bit of Scottish, a bit of Irish and maybe some Australian or Kiwi (that is how they talk here in New Zealand).
The crew were concerned about other pirate ships that might want to take our ship so I climbed up the rigging to look out for them. Up and up I had to climb very high until all I could hear was the wind rushing by my face, making my hair flap around like a flag. I had to hold on very tight so as not to fall. I was so high up that everyone below on the ship looked like little ants scurrying around. The view was fantastic the turquiose colour of the sea drew a flat line across the horizon and small shapes of green that were islands could be seen in the distance, maybe there was treasure there. Emma was getting a stiff neck from looking at me
Swinging
Darn, I forgot my keys! sitting at the top of the main mast, so she too climbed up the rigging, almost as high as the clouds so she could sit next to me right at the top.
After a while we got close to an island, Emma and I climbed back down so we could help pulling more ropes so that the sail would come down. We dropped the ancor too so that the ship would not float away while we looked for some riches.
Most of the people got on a little boat to get to the shore but I decided to swim. I grabbed hold of a rope and swung off the deck of the ship and into the glassy clear water below. The water felt cold after being in the sun but still it was nice after being hot for so long. The swim to shore felt further than it looked and I was quite tired when I got to shore but it was a nice feeling to swim ashore.
Emma and I looked for treasure in the water and on the land. Up hill, down hill, on cliffs and in the sand, through seaweed, and under rocks. We
had to mind for sea monsters and mermaids so Emma carried a spear with 3 prongs on top so that she could scare them away.
Finally we found the treasure, a huge chest with lots of gold, so much so that it shone brightly as it relected the sun. The captain was pleased with us but she said to leave the treasure where we found it. Like many things in New Zealand it was important to leave things as you found them so everyone could enjoy its treasure too if they found them.
We all got back on the ship and had a lovely lunch back on board. Emma and I raised the anchor which was very heavy and it made our hands hurt from pulling the rope too hard. The captain was pleased with us so again, we didnt have to walk the plank. I climbed up the mast again to enjoy the wind and the view as we sailed in a wind that was even stronger than before.
We had both had a very very good day by the time we got back to port. We didn't see any sharks but I think that was beacuse the cook with the scraggy hair, a scruffy beard fired a cannon that made a loud bang that scared everything away.
Sending you all our love I will write to you again very soon
Matt & Emma xxx
The R.Tucker Thompson is a working replica of a Halibut schooner that has sailed around the world in addition to numerous Pacific voyages. As a not-for-profit charitable trust, proceeds from trips such as ours support youth sail training voyages that encourages a wide range of learning experiences for life that can be gained by sailing on board our tall ship.
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Lewis
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I took a printout of the pirate ship to school to show Mrs Jones and my friends.