Pae Tawhiti is a programme put together by ex Commodore, Ed Crook, and Wakatere Boating Club's operations manager Helena Sanderson, to provide kids who might not otherwise have the opportunity to do so, to go sailing. Pae Tawhiti, translates to "horizon in the distance" and was inspired by a programme run in Cape Town, known as the Little Optimist, which provides the opportunity for kids living in the townships to go sailing and to experience a world quite different to their day to day life.  Wakatere partnered with the Kingdom City church in Northcote, where the youth Pasteur Levi, organised a group of 12 early teenagers (aged 12 to 16) who were keen to have a go at sailing. The Wakatere Boating Club fundraisers had done a great job raising some funds to help support the programme, which was topped up with funding provided by club members. Keen to leave the expert coaches (Helena, Bree and Aaron) to run the sailing, Ed was in charge of victualling and running the galley, to make sure that the sailors were kept fed and watered for the day – morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea. 

An extraordinarily enthusiastic group arrived for the 9:30 start, with many experiencing Narrow Neck for the first time. Following a welcome and introduction to Wakatere Boating Club, Helena briefly explained how the sails work. Following this, the coaches organized a fun game to help learn the names of their trainee sailors. Next, came a boat rigging session, where the sailors learned how to put the Optis together and picked up some new knot-tying skills. It was then time to get changed and head out on the water. The smiles and enthusiasm were infectious. Through a combination of Ed raiding the stack of sailing gear amassed by his family over the years, and the club's voluminous lost property, we were able to kit out all of our sailors in something suitable for the brisk SW.