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Meet Ben Whittington

Job: 

2nd Mate.

Job description: 

Navigation, communications, support 1st Mate in running the voyage programme, document editor and head draughtsman.

Work background: 

Worked as an architect for many years, then trained as a youth worker and sailor.

Favourite part of job: 

Working with young people.

Least favourite part of job: 

Getting up really early. 

A quick story about a job well done: 

During a beach clean I dug a tractor tyre out of the sand with a paua shell!

A (humorous) story about a job that went badly and what you learned: 

I once missed part of a message from Harbour Control and we ended up having to avoid a cargo ship while trying to pass under the Auckland Harbour Bridge. Lesson: listen to the whole sentence, not just the start.

Qualifications: 

SCO (Skipper Coastal and Offshore), BArch (Bachelor of Architecture), DipYW (Diploma of Youth Work).

Interests outside work: 

Reading, old movies, napping, woodwork, ropework, NZSL (sign language).


Ben is the 2nd Mate on the Spirit of New Zealand. Image Spirit of Adventure Trust.