Getting the R. Tucker Ready for Sail Training: Ernie’s Charity Day

This year, Ulti Group employees were given an additional day of paid leave and to spend that time with a charity of our choice.

Ernie Cottle, National Operations Manager, chose to spend his charity day getting the boat ready for the Youth Sail Training at R. Tucker Thompson Sail Training Trust in Opua Bay of Islands.

The R.Tucker Thompson Sail Training Trust runs life changing adventures, developing confidence, leadership and teamwork for young people aged between 13 and 18.The Trust delivers its programmes to students from the Northland region, an area of high need due to high unemployment, low average wages and low average educational achievement. Significant poverty exists in many areas and consequently students have very limited opportunity to access programmes of this nature. For this reason, the voyages make a big difference to the young people that are luckily enough to be included.

Check out Ernie’s experience for his Charity day, as helped with the cleaning and maintenance of the boat as it prepared for the next sailing season.

Ernie Cottle taking a selfie while cleaning the boat used for sail training.

Why did you choose the R.Tucker Thompson as the charity you wanted to support? I chose to support the R Tucker Thompson in Opua Bay of Islands. Reason being was they provide free sailing trips for the young people of Northland with the intention of helping their confidence, leadership, and teamwork skills. Such a worthy cause!How did your volunteering experience go? What did you do?The Tucker is an old style tall ship and each year requires a lot maintenance. My task was to clean the wooden interior floors, walls and ceiling of the ship.How did it make you feel being able to volunteer and give time to this charity?I am happy to know that I was supporting a good cause and a sense of pride in doing so.

Awesome stuff Ernie! We sure are proud of your service! 😊👌