Maritime Museum - Sailing on the Ted Ashby

Last updated on 21 August 2023

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A sail on the Ted Ashby in Auckland is 100% worth it

When both you and your best friend are single it’s easy to grab someone else for double passes, tickets or vouchers. When she was able to take a plus-one on a work trip to Waiheke island, I was her plus-one. When she got a couples weekend away to Great Barrier Island, she assumed that I would be going with her (probably later in the year – unless she finds herself a man between now and then). It was only natural that when I got two tickets for a Sailing trip on the harbour aboard the Ted Ashby, she would be my other half.

And so, with tickets in hand, we headed down to the docks in Auckland for our hour trip out on the water.

“The Ted Ashby is a ketch-rigged deck scow, typical of the fleet of scows that once operated in northern New Zealand waters” (from website)

And it’s sailed twice every day from the Maritime Museum down on the waterfront. The day we went was a stunner, and while I had wanted to book the previous time slot, the lady on the other end of the phone told me there was room on that sailing, however, there was a school group going to be going on that same time.

Needless to say, I changed the time. There were only 8 of us on the later sailing, which was much more enjoyable than I imagine 30-odd children would be.

The sailing boat was captained by an elderly gentleman, and his ~~pirates~~ crew were also all retired men who had been somehow involved in the marine most of their lives. It would have been really neat to be able to hear all their stories, but with only an hour, we really only got to speak to one or two.

The trip is a simple one – engines on to get out of the docks and into the harbour, and then sails up and a normal trip would take you right up to the Harbour Bridge. There was barely any wind that day though, and most of us had either been living in Auckland or had been here so many times that the Harbour Bridge wasn’t anything special. We sailed around for a little while, before heading back to the museum.

While it was a short trip – an hour – it was really fun, and if you’re an Auckland resident and want a break from the hustle and bustle, then it’s only $25 for an adult, $20 for a senior/student and $12 for a child. It’s a little more expensive if you’re not a resident, however, it is a fun trip out on the water. You may even get to do a little sailing yourself.

My only tip is to either watch or listen to the soundtrack of Pirates of the Caribbean before you go. And wear a really big hat. With a feather. You’ll thank me for it. Pirate.