Captain's Log

Sep-16

17 June 2016

Day 2 – Departed Moreton Bay

Hi Everyone,

Welcome to Day 2 of our Voyage. The Youth Crew awoke to a fine but overcast Tangalooma morning well rested after their first night onboard. Following an Early Morning Activity (EMA) and the normal large Young Endeavour â€˜Big Breakfastâ€™ the Youth Crew were mustered on the port side of the bridge and introduced to the traditional ceremony of colours (Raise the flags and proudly sing the National Anthem) which was followed by a short morning brief.

On completion, it was straight into first climbs of the foremast which were completed by 1130 with all watches successfully making it to the topsail yard which was a great effort. Lunch followed then everyone got stuck into cleaning stations ensuring that the ship was spotlessly clean and that a high standard of cleanliness has been set from the beginning of the voyage.

At 1330 we weighed anchor, departed our sheltered Tangalooma anchorage then commenced our long pilotage out of Moreton Bay via the North Eastern Channel. During this pilotage the Youth Crew spent time with their Watch Leaders learning deck safety and how to set and furl fore and aft sails.

By 1700 we had we were clear of Moreton Bay and normally at this stage would be ready to conduct our first set of tacks as a crew but due to lack of wind this activity has had to be postponed until tomorrow.

The time is now 2000 and the Youth Crew have settled into Watches overnight where they will take turns at helming the ship, keeping lookout and conducting hourly rounds ensuring that everything onboard is working correctly.

Given the current weather forecast for this weekend of heavy rain and strong winds on the QLD and NSW coast it is our intention is to make best speed to Harvey Bay so that we can find a sheltered anchorage for Sunday which is when the worst of the weather is due to pass over the QLD coast.

Currently we are located 12nm to the east of Mooloolaba motor sailing in light north easterly conditions.

Until tomorrow evening, take care.

Yours Aye

Captain Gav

Latitude/Longitude:

26 33 S / 153 22 e

Conditions:

Currently located 12nm to the east of Mooloolaba motor sailing in light NE conditions.Our current speed is 6.5kts and the temperature is 16 degrees.

AUTHOR: Commanding Officer STS Young Endeavour

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Good evening shipmates, After a well-earned quality night’s sleep at anchor in Hunters Bay, Sail Master Sara woke us with another of her soothing tunes to get us on deck for a quick early morning activity. After breakfast the staff crew weighed anchor and conducted the transit to HMAS Waterhen, at Waverton. We berthed there at 0900 and prepared to embark our guests for the Community Day Sail. At 1015 we cast off our berthing lines and departed with our 34 guests and commenced our 3 hour tour of the harbour. Our Community Day Sailors were a group 30 members and staff from the Windgap Foundation. We also embarked some defence personnel as well. We again passed under the Harbour Bridge and then proceeded into Rose Bay where we set some sails and commenced sailing back towards Waterhen. Whilst on the harbour our fantastic youth crew helped us host our Windgap special guests. They encouraged our guests to participate in setting the staysails and a square sail by helping to pull on the sheets and clewlines. The youth crew also helped Chef Ash to prepare and deliver the food to our guests on deck. At 1300, after 3 fun-packed hours on the harbour, we berthed back at the southern wharf at HMAS Waterhen. Once we had farewelled our guests it was time to commence our end-of-voyage activities and preparations. The staff crew managed to organise a visit to the RAN Ship MATV Sycamore, which is crewed by a mixture of civilians and Navy staff, is a multi-role aviation training vessel. The youth crew embarked with their watch leaders and were given a 45 minute tour of the ship by some of the Navy crew. On completion they returned onboard and Young Endeavour sailed and proceeded to our anchorage in Athol Bay, which affords a great view of the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House. During the transit to the anchorage the Youthies undertook their end-of-voyage chats, facilitated by their watch leaders, to examine if they had achieved everything in their full-value contracts they had completed at the start of the voyage. After the traditional last voyage dinner of home made pizzas, Sara gave the Youthies the Harbour Furl brief, who then donned their climbing harnesses and laid aloft to undertake the ‘Harbour Furl’ of the square sails to make them look immaculate for our ceremonial arrival at the end of the voyage tomorrow. Once that was completed, the youth crew then finished off their final outstanding Command Day tasks, which were planned for the last night onboard. These included the Voyage Slide Show compiled of photos taken by everyone. This was excellent and provided a touching reminder of what we had experienced and the beautiful coastlines and islands that we had visited during the voyage. The final activity of the day was the end-of-voyage administration, which for the youth crew included a feedback questionnaire asking for feedback on their experience of the voyage, as well as a letter for each crew member to write to themselves on their experiences during the voyage, which the Young Endeavour Youth Scheme will post to the youth crew in 6 months time. The aim of this is to help reinforce what the youth crew have learned about leadership, teamwork and about themselves from the experience of the voyage. Once these were completed the crew were encouraged to go to bed. The Ship will remain in Athol Bay overnight and weigh anchor and sail in the morning at 0900 and undertake the transit to HMAS Waterhen, where family and friends will meet the Ship on arrival at 1000. Until you hear from me tomorrow for the final instalment of Voyage 04/24. Yours aye, Captain Mike

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Day 2 – Departed Moreton Bay

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