Young writers win chance to meet captain
Five budding young sailors will meet the captain of the largest cruise ship to ever sail New Zealand waters after winning a Stuff competition.
The winners are Cade Gillies from Sunnynook, Mahalia McKenzie from Glendowie, Kaide Redwood from Mt Wellington, Chloe Luo from Parnell and Daniel Joe from St Heliers.
The competition was open to 11 to 12 year olds and required the maritime enthusiasts to submit 100 to 200 words on why they wanted to be a captain.
The entries were were judged on how creative and inspiring they were.
The winners will be taken on a grand tour of Ovation of the Seas the fourth largest cruise ship in the world - where captain Flemming Neilson, will teach them about what it takes to be a captain.
The 348 metre long vessel will moor in the Waitemata Harbour on February 8.
Redwood, 11, said his love for ships started with the Titanic.
‘‘I have five books on the Titanic and I have even given two speeches at school about her,’’ Redwood said.
Gillies, 11, said he watched cruise liners moor in Waitemata Harbour with binoculars from his dining room.
Luo, 11, said when she visited the water park an adult did a cannonball and water flew everywhere.
Luo said she wanted to ask the captain how much water would be displaced if Ovation of the Seas was dropped into the sea.
Mckenzie, 11, said she wanted to win so when she was a grandmother she could tell her grandchildren she got to meet the captain of a massive cruise ship.
‘‘I also have a question for the captain: What do you do when it is stormy and there are big waves?’’ Mckenzie said.
Michelle Joe is the mother of Daniel Joe and entered on his behalf because he was only 6 years-old.
Joe asked that despite Daniel’s age he be considered for the competition. Daniel was born with a life threatening metabolic liver condition, and has already had five operations.
‘‘Daniel loves cruise ships. We live in St Heliers and can see the ships go in and out - Daniel has a timetable printed out,’’ she said.
Read the wining letters at www.neighbourly.co.nz/publication/east-bays-courier.
‘‘What do you do when it is stormy and there are big waves?’’
Mahalia Mckenzie.