Shortly after launching, the ship was chartered for the filming of The Adventurer in the Bay of Islands.
In late 1986, R. Tucker Thompson sailed to England via the South Pacific and the Panama Canal to join the First Fleet Re-enactment Voyage: a historical re-enactment for the Australian Bicentenary.
She left England for Australia in May 1987, and sailed with the fleet via Tenerife, Rio de Janeiro, Cape Town, Mauritius, and Fremantle before arriving in Sydney on Australia Day (26 January) 1988.

Russell Harris purchased Tod Thompson's shares in 1993.
The ship was then marketed and operated by Fullers Bay of Islands, providing day sails in the Bay of Islands.
In the winter, the ship provided a limited quantity of sail training voyages for young people deemed to be “at risk”.
In 1995, the vessel participated in the Nuclear Free Pacific protest flotilla.
In 2002, the ship was involved in the Sail Korea 2002 international regatta, and participated in the American Sail Training Association (ASTA) West Coast Tall Ships Challenge.
In 2003, Fullers decided to build their own sailing vessel and terminated the arrangement with R. Tucker Thompson, which continued to operate directly.
A second West Coast Challenge was participated in during 2005.

 
On 4 June 2006, Russell Harris gifted R. Tucker Thompson to the people of Te Tai Tokerau Northland.
In a symbolic event, the ship was sailed by Russell, his children and grandchildren from Opua to Russell Kororareka.
Schoolchildren from the schools in the Bay of Islands and the community, boarded the ship to sail the ship themselves back into the port of Opua as a new entity.
The ship is now operated as a not-for-profit trust with a mission of “Learning for Life through the Sea”.
Focus is on education experiences for all ages.
Day sails continue during summer providing adults the opportunity to experience tall ship sailing and these have been supplemented with additional youth trips and history trips.

R. Tucker Thompson could not participate in the ASTA West Coast Challenge in 2008, as July 2008 was her maintenance month.
Shortly after launching, the ship was chartered for the filming of The Adventurer in the Bay of Islands. In late 1986, R. Tucker Thompson sailed to England via the South Pacific and the Panama Canal to join the First Fleet Re-enactment Voyage: a historical re-enactment for the Australian Bicentenary. She left England for Australia in May 1987, and sailed with the fleet via Tenerife, Rio de Janeiro, Cape Town, Mauritius, and Fremantle before arriving in Sydney on Australia Day (26 January) 1988.
Russell Harris purchased Tod Thompson's shares in 1993. The ship was then marketed and operated by Fullers Bay of Islands, providing day sails in the Bay of Islands. In the winter, the ship provided a limited quantity of sail training voyages for young people deemed to be “at risk”. In 1995, the vessel participated in the Nuclear Free Pacific protest flotilla. In 2002, the ship was involved in the Sail Korea 2002 international regatta, and participated in the American Sail Training Association (ASTA) West Coast Tall Ships Challenge. In 2003, Fullers decided to build their own sailing vessel and terminated the arrangement with R. Tucker Thompson, which continued to operate directly. A second West Coast Challenge was participated in during 2005.
 
On 4 June 2006, Russell Harris gifted R. Tucker Thompson to the people of Te Tai Tokerau Northland. In a symbolic event, the ship was sailed by Russell, his children and grandchildren from Opua to Russell Kororareka. Schoolchildren from the schools in the Bay of Islands and the community, boarded the ship to sail the ship themselves back into the port of Opua as a new entity. The ship is now operated as a not-for-profit trust with a mission of “Learning for Life through the Sea”. Focus is on education experiences for all ages. Day sails continue during summer providing adults the opportunity to experience tall ship sailing and these have been supplemented with additional youth trips and history trips.
R. Tucker Thompson could not participate in the ASTA West Coast Challenge in 2008, as July 2008 was her maintenance month.
R. Tucker Thompson