Eco-friendly, classic sailing

Tropicbird Sailing has been launched as a new sailing cruise business from Avatiu Wharf, opposite the CITC main supermarket to the west of Avarua.
Owner, Beth Harrison, originally from England, is launching Sailing eco-cruises under the new ‘Tropicbird’ banner. Beth says ‘The first day I took the trimaran out on a sailing cruise with my new crew, a red-tailed tropicbird (Tavake) flew overhead and landed in the water nearby. I was so excited to see it and felt it was a great omen for the business’.
Beth will skipper the 36 foot trimaran ‘Tropicbird’ in its new cruise programme and explains; ‘I used the concept ‘Explore, Dream, Discover’ from Mark Twain’s famous quotation as a basis for the cruises – they are designed to give guests a new way of discovering and understanding Rarotonga; its geography, marine eco-system, environment and navigational history from a safe and stable sailing platform. Guests can do as much or as little as they like onboard – relax and take in the wonderful scenery, snorkel outside the reef or learn how to sail!
There are two cruises, the Discovery Cruise from 11.30am to 3pm which includes a light lunch (Adults $90, children under 15, $55).
The Sundowner Cruise from 4pm to 6.30pm includes snacks and a cocktail (Adults $70, children under 15, $40).
I’m so excited about the business – it is a wonderful way to combine a lifelong passion for sailing and environmental concerns into the new cruises in a fantastic and fascinating place! I would like to thank the Cook Islanders as I have been made so welcome and have had so much positive feedback and help from so many quarters in developing the refreshed business’.
Beth will be assisted by crew Numa Mackenzie.
Beth has extensive sailing experience and is a qualified DoT approved RYA Yacht master. She has formerly sailed through the Pacific aboard yacht deliveries as First Mate and aboard Tall ships STS Soren Larsen and STS Eye of the Wind, completing a near world circumnavigation from 1997 to 1999. She has sailed in the Caribbean, Newfoundland and around Cape Horn. More recently she has been a racing skipper and has managed yacht charters in Southern England. Beth always wished one day to own her own ‘blue water’ yacht and decided some years ago that she would call it ‘Tropicbird’ after all the beautiful tropicbirds she saw during her offshore sailing trips.
This is a dream come true and she is looking forward to getting a successful business underway with the focus on the environment and great customer service.
Last week the trimaran was used to teach Tereora College students on their own ‘Exploration and Discovery’ programme. They learned about wind awareness, sail handling and navigation aboard a multi-hull on the high seas as part of The Voyaging Society’s recent course at the school.
For further Information:
Contact: Beth Harrison – Owner/Skipper
Tel: 55225
Email: book@sailtropicbird.com
Web: www.sailtropicbird.com

Herald Issue 554 09 March
- Norm exposes Trio of Doom
- Briefs from PM’s media conference Tuesday
- Tourism Industry ponders $5 million draft strategy
- Norman George resigns from Cook Islands Party
- Letter of Resignation from CIP
- Norman selfish says Prime Minister