Recently Windborne has completed several offshore passages to the tropical Islands of Tonga and Fiji for the winter season providing adventure and excitement for the lucky crew. Much work has been done over the years to maintain Windborne to a high standard including re-fastening the entire hull with bronze. She is registered in the NZ survey system (MOSS) and complies with rigorous safety standards.
Your Captain & Skipper Avon Hansford has over 35 years of sailing experience and has a unique repertoire of sea stories, salty skin, and a sunny smile.
He has sailed the Mercury Islands and surrounding coastal regions extensively and knows all the pristine anchorages, best walks, and most interesting sites.
Avon’s co-pilot, shipmate and bo’sun is Mihaela.
Mihaela is Croatian but was born in Switzerland where she spent most of her life working in hospitality and tourism after gaining a master’s degree in Executive Hotel and Restaurant Management.
She arrived in NZ in 2008 as an English language student and worked and lived in Kuaotunu. She became a resident in 2013.
Windborne is a 1928 Topsail Schooner built in Porthleven England by Gilbert & Pascoe Boatbuilders. She was built for Doctor W.Frothingham Roach, a keen racer who named her Magnet. She raced as a Cutter in the 1928 Fastnet race and was re-rigged as a topsail schooner by 1930. She was hidden during WW2 to escape being taken by the British Admiralty for coastal patrol work. She turned up in the 60s in Canada under the name of Huegenot and then left for New Zealand about 1975 under the name of Windborne. Only now are we piecing together her lost history which includes a well-known folk singer wooing his wife to be, and recording songs on board.
