Captain's Log
26 May 2004

26-May-04

The past 24 hours has been very busy for the youth crew. Line handling and deck safety continued throughout the afternoon, however was interrupted with the arrival of HMAS MELVILLE in our vicinity. MELVILLE was conducting a training exercise, and closed YOUNG ENDEAVOUR for a simulated boarding. With MELVILLE approximately one mile on our port quarter, YOUNG ENDEAVOUR ran out a saluting cannon and prepared to fire a very ferocious ‘pop’ in their general direction. MELVILLE’s boarding party approached YOUNG ENDEAVOUR,however the sight of 24 wild youth crew and the couple of loud ‘bangs’ from the cannon was enough to deter MELVILLE’s boarding party, and YOUNG ENDEAVOUR was allowed to continue on her passage south.After a delicious dinner of Stroganoff, Tandori Chicken or Marinated Mussels prepared by chef Mac, the youth crew mustered on deck for tacking practice. ‘Tacking’ is the procedure employed to turn the ship through the wind, and on a ship of our size, all handsare required on deck for the evolution. The youth crew performed admirably successfully completing two tacks before crawling thankfully into their bunks for a well earned rest. Overnight light airs and changing winds gave the youth crew opportunity to practice setting and furling sails. The challenge for most distance sailed overnight in the watches was hotly contested with only 1400 yards seperating the three watches. This result is very close after a four hour watch under changing conditions.The magnificent sunrise has given way to a fantastic day today. Whilst there isn’t much wind, the calm ocean and blue skyhave everyone’s spirits high. XO Lisa provided an outline of the day’s activities, Navigator Stan provided the youth crew with a very artistic representation of the Ship’s track over the past 24 hours, Salty Seadog Jo (with some lovely assistants) explained the origin ofthe term ‘Heads’ and Engineer Rags collected a large collection of personal items from around the Ship. He returned these items, however the youth crew had to pay the piper for his troubles with a rousing rendition of ‘Row Row Row Your Boat’. A round of Rope Races under watchful Engineer Rags was won by White Watch – with a special mention to Shez who consumed two Wheet-Bix and then was able to whistle a tune in record time.The ship is presently making way towards Horseshoe Bay, Magnetic Island. This beautiful bay will be the scene of a sportsafternoon ashore, before a teak deck BBQ dinner and State of Origin Showdown tonight.Young Endeavour Fact File:YOUNG ENDEAVOUR has two solid brass saluting cannons, made by the Royal Ordinance Factory, England. These cannons fire blank cartridges and are used for ceremonial duties such as starting yacht races.Thought of the Day: ‘There is a tide in the affairs of men Which taken at the flood leads on to fortune; Omitted, all the voyage of their life Is bound in shallows and in miseries. On such a full sea are we now afloat, And we must take the current when it serves, Or lose our ventures.’ from ‘Julius Caesar’ by William ShakespeareYours Aye,Phil GadenLEUT, RANActing Commanding Officer

Latitude/Longitude:

18° 59' South / 146° 49' East

Conditions:

Wind light and variable. Weather fine.