Day 10 – Australia Day
Ahoy there everyone,A well deserved nights rest at anchor was had by all. I guarantee everyone onboard slept very soundly and for good reason, most were exhausted from Command Day. During the forenoon the ship was prepared for the Australia Day festivities with the ship weighing anchor at 1200 and proceeding alongside Fleet Base East to embark the Tall Ship race guests. All lines were then cast off and the ship made her way to the Bradleys Head starting line where the Australia Day Tall Ship race commenced at 1500. It was a highly competitive race in light winds with Southern Swan, Soren Larsen and Duyfken culminating with crossing the finish line in first place under the Harbour Bridge as the heavens opened up. The ship berthed at the Australian National Maritime Museum were our guests were farewelled and the Youth Crew conducted end of voyage talks, followed by climbing aloft and placing neat harbour furls in all three square sails. After a fantastic pizza dinner the crew climbed onboard HMAS VAMPIRE and watched the Australia Day fireworks in Cockle Bay. Once back onboard Young Endeavour the evening culminated with the Youth Crew presenting a slide show and song, capturing various memorable moments and experiences during the voyage. This gave everyone the opportunity to reflect on the past 10 days and their amazing once in a life time journey. The ships 24th birthday was then celebrated with a chocolate cake before the remainder of the evening was spent completing end of voyage questionnaires and letters to themselves, which are returned to each Youth Crew member six months after voyage completion. The ship will depart the Maritime Museum early tomorrow morning for a final passage around Port Jackson with the Youth Crew manning the yards before returning for a scheduled 1000 final berthing and farewell to our young adventurers. Until then it has been an honour and privilege to sail with the Youth and Staff Crew of Voyage 02/12. I wish them all the best for their future endeavours. For the final time. Yours Aye Captain Damien
Latitude/Longitude:
Conditions:
2300 alongside - weather scattered cloud, wind S 5 knots, swell nil, temperature 21 degrees, barometer 1017 hpa
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Thank you Tarvi, Kaeden and Matt for your narrative of today's events. Intentions are to remain at anchor in Hunters Bay, just off HMAS Penguin, home of the RAN Diving School, a place close to my heart, having spent many a day there under training as a young Officer! The plan is to weigh anchor and proceed to HMAS Waterhen, in Waverton, to pick up our Community Day Sailors from the Windgap Foundation and take them for a sail around the harbour for 3 hours. The Youth Crew will help us host our visitors and give them an experience of Young Endeavour. We will drop them back to Waverton and then proceed to anchor in the harbour where we will have a good view of the Bridge and the Opera House for the Youth Crew's last night onboard. Until tomorrow. Yours Aye, Captain Mike