Trust wins its fourth international award

To: All media – nationwide

From: Spirit of Adventure Trust communications

Date: 21 November 2011

Subject: Spirit of Adventure Trust wins its fourth international award

Spirit of Adventure Trust was delighted to receive news yesterday that Luke Galuszewski, 2nd mate on Spirit of New Zealand, has won the International Young Sail Trainer of the Year award, for sail trainers under the age of 25.

The announcement was made at the International Sail Training Conference in Toulon, France over the weekend. The conference was attended by Trust chairman Stephen Fisher who was honoured to accept the award on Luke’s behalf.

“This is an outstanding achievement for Luke. Especially because his nomination was up against sail training organisation nominations from around the world,” Trust chief executive Dean Lawrence said.

“His recognition is a testament to his hard work and the fine person that he is.”

Now 24, Luke became involved with the Trust after his trainee trip in 2004, joining the Voyagers Club for past trainees a few months later.

In 2007, Luke was selected to be a cadet, a two-year internship offered by the Trust to young people looking for a professional career at sea. Since then he has been appointed as a Mate and sailed in a professional capacity on many of the Trust’s regular 10-day youth development and 5-day special voyages.

Luke’s achieved a lot since his first voyage in 2004. He has risen to the challenge and was appointed Second Mate in 2009, occasionally sailing in 2011 as relief First Mate.

Mr Lawrence paid tribute to Luke, recognising him as one of the Trust’s outstanding success stories. “He has inspired thousands of trainees as a role model of hard work, persistence and ability to overcome challenges,” he said. “We are absolutely thrilled for him and would like to take this opportunity to congratulate him on his outstanding achievement.”

This award has capped off an amazing run of recognition for the Trust and Sail Training in New Zealand, with other international awards received in 2008 (Volunteer of the year), 2009 (Sail Training Organisation of the year) and 2010 (Sail Trainer of the year).

“We are just so proud that our youth development voyages have been recognised on the international stage for the fourth year running. Anyone considering taking part in our programme will be receiving the best instruction in an environment that can be incredibly challenging, yet safe and supportive,” Mr Lawrence said.

ENDS:

More information about Luke is available below:

Luke Galuszewski – professional appointments and history

Trainee history

• Became involved with the Trust after his trainee trip in 2004, joining the Voyagers Club for ex-trainees a few months later.

• As a member of the Voyagers Club in Auckland, he took part in many day sails, while pursuing other square-rig opportunities offered in Auckland by the National Maritime Museum and the Classic Yacht Association.

• The Voyagers Club also gave him the opportunity to serve as Auckland Area Contact and, as a member of the National Executive, take on the role of National Area Contact Coordinator. He helped organise various fund-raising events such as tree-planting and a Voyagers Ball, as well as finding Voyager volunteers for Spirit’s annual refit.

• Sailing as a buddy on the annual disabled voyage has, he says, been a particularly special experience.

• His last Voyager position was as Rosterer, working closely with the Spirit office to ensure that every 10-day voyage sailed with two Voyagers as Leading Hands. About this time, he moved from sailing as a Leading Hand to an adult volunteer’s Watch Assistant position, and then to his appointment as a Cadet.

Professional appointments

• Luke’s first professional appointment with the Trust was in March 2009 as Third Mate/Bosun.

• After only nineteen months, he was appointed to his current regular position of Second Mate/Navigator.

• Concurrently, he studied for maritime tickets, including the Inshore Launch Masters (ILM) in 2009 and various diplomas and proficiency certificates in Medical and Workplace First Aid, Basic Fire-fighting and Search and Rescue, radar and radio, power boat operation and Survival Craft and Rescue Boats.

• Most recently he gained the Basic STCW-95, and is currently studying for New Zealand Coastal Skipper and Ocean Yacht Masters, as well as Mechanical Engineering Certificate 6.

• He has actively furthered his youth leadership skills, completing Outward Bound’s 21-Day Classic Course in 2009 and winning selection in 2009 for the RYLA Youth Leadership course run by Auckland Rotary Clubs.

• Luke occasionally sails on the Voyager Maritime Museum of New Zealand vessels, the brigantine Breeze and scow replica Ted Ashby.

• Other aquatic interests include dinghy sailing, kayaking, snorkelling, and swimming.

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