Captain's Log

V07/15

11 July 2015

TRISTAN DA CUNHA

Hi Everyone,

Welcome to day 17 of our voyage. Well following a night of stormy weather we made it the isolated but spectacular island of Tristan Da Cunha just before 0800 this morning only to find that the weather was completely unsuitable for a safe anchorage (25-35kts of wind and a 2-3m swell). This was confirmed by the local authorities who confirmed that the Harbour Master had closed the small harbour to all vessels and that in these conditions their was not a safe anchorage anywhere around the island. As you can well imagine our World Voyagers were a little disappointed but they do understand that I would never endanger the ship or its crew and today it just wasnâ€™t safe to anchor.

Interestingly talking to the local authorities at Tristan Da Cunha they explained that their spring weather has been so bad that their small fishing fleet has only been out on two days fishing during the spring season.

Once we had taken some photographs and said our farewells to the Islanders over our VHF radio we alter our course back to the ENE, set a reduced sail plan and recommenced our passage to Cape Town.

Being a Saturday we have run a Saturday sea Routine which has given everyone the opportunity to catch up on some sleep they miss out on last night due to the bad weather.

Currently we are located 70nm to the ENE of Tristan Da Cunha sailing down wind under three squares and experiencing strong 20-25kt WSW winds with a large 3-4m SW swell.

Volunteering to write tonightâ€™s Captains Log is Rachael and Nicole from the newly formed â€˜Bae Watchâ€™ please enjoy!

Until tomorrow, take care.

Yours Aye
Captain Gav

Captainâ€™s log supplemental.

Saturday, 7 November 2015 marks the 17th day aboard the Young Endeavour for the crew of 07/15. Overnight all the fun started early with a â€˜squallâ€™ (sudden or violent wind) having â€˜Bae Watchâ€™ frantically setting the storm jib in 30+ knots of wind and heavy rain. If this wasnâ€™t enough fun for one night it was shortly followed by a surprise downpour in the starboard 6 berth when a port hole window decided it needed a rest and gave way, all over the sleeping inhabitants. Horto, Adam and Marcos were summoned to rescue 6 slightly soggy damsels in distress.

Once the excitement of the early morning activities died down we were woken to the sounds of â€œLand Hoyâ€ as Tristan de Cunha arose over the horizon. It was such a magical sight, with towering cliffs surrounding a small townsite nestled on the only patch of green countryside for miles. It was the setting from a movie and we were lucky enough to witness it. The sun was shining however the swell and wind direction meant that we were unable to approach the harbour or make anchor safely and unfortunately that meant no land visits today ïŒ However we made the most of being within spitting distance of the most isolated island in the world with an onslaught of happy snaps and GoPro videos. The bird watchers among us were thrilled with the avian displays including and array of Petral sub-species (Spectacled, Diving and Giant) as well as the local Tristan Albatross and Sub-Antarctic Skua. After a world voyage group photo with Tristan de Cunha as the back drop, it was all hands to tacking stations as we resumed our course for Cape Town. We set off heading north â€“ easterly with â€˜Potato Islandâ€™ slowly disappearing into the weather behind us.

The disappointment of not being able to stand on solid ground was significant however our consolation was a super Saturday sea routine! A quick happy hour was followed by relaxing for most of the crew. But lucky for Bae Watch, we got to deal with some more wet weather on our morning watch. Horto and Marcos continued to deal with the misbehaving porthole, whilst everyone else set in for a fun filled afternoon of excitement with David Attenborough documentaries.

Hopefully tonight the swell will die down and we wonâ€™t be sliding around in our nice and dry racks between watches. Tomorrow is a new day and also a Sunday Sea Routine and some expected sunny weather, so it looks like washing and siestas all day ïŠ We are all looking forward to more siestas ïŠ ïŠ

Liam asked us to mention him. So he says â€˜Hiâ€™.

Reminder to our readers to get on to our Movember cause, crazy moustaches everywhereâ€¦

Rachel & Nicole

Shoutouts:

Hey family! Hope all is well. Doing pretty good here, managed to get nice and wet last night when the port hole popped out! Bit of excitement and drama. Missing you lots, love Kate xxx

Hey Kellyâ€™s, we passed halfway today. Learning a lot still and looking forward to seeing Africa. See you soon â€“ Nicole.

Latitude/Longitude:

36 degrees 54 minutes South / 10 degrees 59 minutes West

Conditions:

Currently located 70nm ENE of Tristan Da Cunha and experiencing strong 20-25kt WSW winds with a large 3-4m SW swell. Our current speed is 6.5kts and the temperature is 11 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 9 – Command Day Part 2

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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

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