Millennium Voyagers Plan Historic Celebration
Auckland City Council - City Scene
The Sullivan family have decided not to have 'just another New Year's party' this year. Instead, three generations of the family will be on board their launch, The Diplomat at dawn on 1 January 2000, sailing in the Day One millennium flotilla.
Wendy Sullivan says her husband David and children Jack and Greer needed no persuading when she suggested the flotilla venture after picking up an information pamphlet at the local library.
"We knew we weren't going to get a babysitter, so we were looking for some way to do something different with the whole family' she says."Everybody immediately agreed it was a great idea."
The Diplomat, with the Sullivans on board, will join other launches off St Leonard's beach, Takapuna at 4.30am. Lining up behind the Royal New Zealand Navy vessel, Hinau, they will meet up with other sailing craft and waka as they depart from Narrowneck and Cheltenham.
The flotilla will arrive off Okahu Bay as the sun rises over Bastion Pt. A huge haka on the beach will welcome the fleet - and the new millennium.
Everyone is welcome to join the haka or the flotilla.