Sail Training Ship Young Endeavour | Explore the Tall Ship

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SAIL TRAINING SHIP
Young Endeavour

STS Young Endeavour is a brigantine – a two-masted, square-rigged sailing ship – which was specially designed and purpose built to offer development programs for young Australians at sea.

Most of the young Australians who join a voyage in Young Endeavour have never sailed before, and very few have sailed a tall ship on the open ocean. It’s a whole new environment on board – a galley instead of a kitchen; berths instead of beds; a bow, a stern, and everything in between.

The ship regularly holds open days in ports around the country, but if you haven’t been able to visit, this page will help you understand what it’s really like on board Young Endeavour.

Sail Training Ship Young Endeavour

Built for Sail Training

Young Endeavour is a 44m brigantine – which means a two-masted sailing ship with a square-rigged foremast and a mainmast rigged fore and aft (check out the sail plan if you’d like to know more). The ship is steel hulled with aluminum masts and a teak deck, and is equipped with modern communication, navigation and safety equipment.

Sail Training Ship Young Endeavour

Maritime traditions

Young Endeavour is a modern ship, but her sail plan and rigging are a traditional design and we keep to many nautical traditions on board. We have morning ‘Colours’ and evening Sunset ceremonies, and ring the ship’s bell. Our crew will share many tales of life at sea on the square-riggers of old, as well as the origins of a few odd nautical phrases – two, six, heave!

Sail Training Ship Young Endeavour

Youth crew accommodation

Youth crew accommodation is at the front of the lower deck. At the beginning of your voyage you’ll be assigned a berth, or ‘rack’, in either the twelve berth cabin, one of the six berth cabins, or occasionally the three berth cabin. You’ll keep the same rack and locker throughout your voyage. Bring a sleeping bag and a pillowcase, and keep your belongings tidy and stowed safely against the movement of the ship.

Sail Training Ship Young Endeavour

The ship’s café

The ship’s café is a hub of activity on board Young Endeavour. Located in the centre of the lower deck, it’s where you’ll eat most of your meals, spend some of your downtime, and hear some of the staff crew briefings and lectures. There are some books and games on board, and you’re welcome to bring compact activities or a musical instrument that can withstand a few bumps.

Sail Training Ship Young Endeavour

The galley

Shhhh!! Young Endeavour’s chefs are one of our best kept secrets!! These amazing individuals prepare three meals a day and hearty snacks for the entire crew in our little galley, and offer a huge variety, including vegetarian, vegan and coeliac options. Each member of the youth crew will spend one day assisting the chef – from baking bread to cooking a Sunday roast!

Sail Training Ship Young Endeavour

The ship’s café

Sail Training Ship Young Endeavour

The engine room

There is a lot of machinery and equipment in Young Endeavour, and the engine room is at the heart of it. While we love to sail by the wind alone, we also appreciate electric lights, hot water, modern toilets, and some occasional assistance from our steel sails – turbocharged diesel engines and twin propellors. The ship’s engineer ensures everything runs smoothly on board.

Sail Training Ship Young Endeavour

Sail Training Ship Young Endeavour

Staff crew mess

Young Endeavour is crewed by an amazing team of Royal Australian Navy officers and sailors, known as the staff crew. These dedicated individuals are specially selected and trained to sail a square-rigged tall ship, and to deliver our youth development program.

When they’re not on deck or showing you the ropes you’ll find them in the staff crew accommodation – often working or relaxing in the staff crew mess.

Sail Training Ship Young Endeavour

The charthouse

The charthouse is the only enclosed deckhouse on Young Endeavour’s upper deck. It’s where you’ll find our navigation and communication equipment, including the paper charts where you’ll learn to fix a position and plot a course for the ship

Sail Training Ship Young Endeavour

The bridge

The bridge is our command centre. When the ship is at sea it’s where you’ll find the Officer of the Watch – the person responsible for navigation and the safety of the ship and crew. It’s also where you’ll assemble for morning brief, muster for duty as the Watch on Deck, keep lookout and take the helm (the ship’s steering wheel).

Don’t worry – you’ll learn the language once you step on board to join the crew!

Sail Training Ship Young Endeavour

Sail Training Ship Young Endeavour

Midships

The middle of the ship on the upper deck – midships – is where most activities take place during each voyage. It’s the largest area of deck so provides the most space for lectures, deck games and team building activities. It’s also where several sails are set from so it’s a busy part of the ship. It’s usually the first place you’ll step aboard too as it’s where you’ll cross the gangway!

Sail Training Ship Young Endeavour

The bowsprit

The middle of the ship on the upper deck – midships – is where most activities take place during each voyage. It’s the largest area of deck so provides the most space for lectures, deck games and team building activities. It’s also where several sails are set from so it’s a busy part of the ship. It’s usually the first place you’ll step aboard too as it’s where you’ll cross the gangway!

Sail Training Ship Young Endeavour

The masts and yards

Young Endeavour has two masts – the main mast and the foremast – and three yards – the horizontal spars on the foremast. The masts are a little over 30m high, and as members of the youth crew you’ll have the opportunity to climb both of them – to handle the sails and to enjoy the view! You’ll have lots of support, and if you don’t make it to the top during your first climb…or at all… that’s ok. Climbing the masts on Young Endeavour is one of the most rewarding but also the most challenging activities on board.

Snapshot of the ship

Operating for 30+ years

Brigantine rigged tall ship

Purpose built for sail training

44 metres long

Travels up 14 knots under sail

Two world voyages

14,000+ youth crew alumni

Modern navigation and safety equipment

Brigantine rigged tall ship

Operating for 30+ years

Purpose built for sail training

44 metres long

Travels up 14 knots under sail

Two world voyages

14,000+ youth crew alumni

Modern navigation and safety equipment

Where is Young Endeavour now?

Voyage V01/22 Hobart to Geelong

2024 Voyage Program underway

STS Young Endeavour finished 2023 in Hobart, having joined the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race Fleet as an event communications vessel.

Since then the ship has visited Geelong, Newcastle and Sydney, and is now undergoing maintenance in Sydney.

To find out more about our voyages, check out The Captain’s Log or take a virtual video tour below.

Follow the crew on Instagram!

Where is Young Endeavour now?

Voyage V01/22 Hobart to Geelong

Check out information on The Ship or take a virtual tour below.

Follow the crew on Instagram!

Where is Young Endeavour now?

Voyage V01/22 Hobart to Geelong

Check out information on The Ship or take a virtual tour below.

Follow the crew on Instagram!

Where is Young Endeavour now?

Voyage V12/21

Take a video tour of Young Endeavour

Play Video

Common Voyage Questions

Got Questions? Here are answers to the most common questions about Young Endeavour.

When do I apply to get on board?

Applications are normally taken all year.

For the best chance of getting a berth you should apply during the ballot. We normally open two ballots each year – typically from August through to the end of September, and from January through to the end of March.

Please apply on line or call 1800 020 444 if you need assistance.

Subscribe to our e-newsletter to be the first to hear about new voyage dates.

Do I need to know anything about sailing?

Not at all, we have taken young people to sea who have never seen the ocean before!

Youth Crew are supervised and supported by a professional Royal Australian Navy crew whose members have been carefully selected and trained to deliver the program and to ensure the highest standards of safety and care.

I am not yet 16 years old, when can I apply?

Our application system will let you apply for voyages that you will be aged 16 on, so you may be able to apply when you are 15 years and six months old for a voyage six months away.

I am over 23 years old but would love to sail on a tall ship. What can I do?

Check this link to find other tall ships for which you may be eligible to apply.

What do I have to do before I sail?

Firstly, apply. If you are drawn from the ballot you will be sent an offer which you can accept or refuse. If you accept you will be provided some forms to fill out and you will need to undertake a health check with a doctor of your choice. Your voyage fare must also be fully paid before you sail. You will also need to book travel and we strongly recommend that you arrange travel insurance for the voyage as well.

Can I apply for someone else?

This is not preferred as there are specific questions that we ask of applicants that they need to truthfully answer. We also communicate directly with applicants via the email address provided during application, so to save confusion or missed offers we recommend that the application be made directly by the young person wishing to participate.

I want to sail on a longer (or shorter) voyage.

Our Youth Development voyages are normally 11 days (10 nights) long. Sometimes there are longer voyages when we have to sail a little further between ports, this does not happen very often so you shouldn’t hold out for one – you may miss out completely.

Why is there a weight limit of 120kg?

The safety equipment of the ship is rated to a limit of 120kg. It is not possible to participate in the program if you are exceed that limit. For safety reasons, all participants are weighed on the first day of the voyage.

Since I applied my health situation has changed, what should I do?

Please update your application as soon as possible. Contact the office on 1800 020 444 if you need help.

Want to know more about our voyages?

Do you have a question that we haven't addressed here? Drop us an email or give us a call on 1800 020 444.

If you have any more questions, check out our FAQs page.

THE CREW

Find out more about our amazing team of
Royal Australian Navy staff crew.

READ THE CAPTAIN’S LOG

A daily account of each voyage, updated each evening by the Captain and youth crew.

NEW SHIP

A new sail training ship will be built to replace STS Young Endeavour.

2024 Voyages now available ⚓️