‘Now Is the Hour’ is a Maori farewell song. And seeing these young sailors on their Laser yachts reminded me of my youngest son – who, after racing his last Laser in NZ, took off overseas to find sailing work. Now, 19 years later, a sailor and a yachting coach he still is, and he has raced in many countries, even around the world in the 2011-2012 Volvo Race.

Here is NZ’s Dame Kiri Te Kanawa – “Now Is the Hour”




‘Now is the hour’ / 'Po Atarau' / ‘Haere ra’
Po atarau
E moea iho nei
E haere ana
Koe ki pamamao
Haere ra
Ka hoki mai ano
Ki i te tau
E tangi atu nei
Now is the hour,
when we must say goodbye
Soon you'll be sailing,
far across the sea.
While you're away,
Oh please remember me.
When you return,
you'll find me waiting here.