5 NM TO THE NORTH OF TOWNSHEND IS OF SHOALWATER BAY

PAST 24 HOURSIN OUR FIRST NIGHT UNDERWAY AT SEA, OUR YOUTH CREW EXPERIENCED SOME MORE SETTING AND FURLING OF SAILS, HOW TO STEER THE SHIP, AND HOW TO CONDUCT ROUNDS OF THE ENGINE ROOM AND OTHER COMPARTMENTS WITHIN THE SHIP. THEY ALSO HAD THEIR FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO LAY ALOFT WHILST UNDER WAY. GOOD PROGRESS WAS MADE TO THE NORTH OVERNIGHT AND WINDS HAVE BEEN FAVOURABLE, BACKING TO THE SOUTH WEST.WITH THE NEW DAY CAME SOME BRILLIANT SAILING CONDITIONS. NOT TOO MUCH SEA AND SWELL WITH SOME CONSISTENT WIND OF AROUND 10-15 KNOTS FROM THE SOUTH WEST. THIS PRESENTING A PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING THAT CANNOT OFTEN BE DONE IN STS YOUNG ENDEAVOUR, TO SET EVERY BIT OF CANVAS THE SHIP HAS. THAT’S RIGHT, OUR TEAM GOT BUSY SETTING EVERY SAIL AVAILIBLE TO MAXIMISE THE SPEED OF OUR TRANSIT TO THE NORTH. SO SOON AFTER LUNCH AND WITH MUCH EFFORT AND ENTHUSIASM THE SHIP WAS FINALLY SAILING ALONG WITH THE DRIFTER (YOUNG ENDEAVOUR’S VERSION OF A SPINNAKER), THE FORE STAYSAIL, STORM JIB, ALL THREE SQUARES, THE TOPGALLANT, TOPSAIL AND COURSE. THE FISHERMAN, TOPGALLANT STAYSAIL, MAIN STAYSAIL, MAIN GAFF TOPSAIL AND THE MAINSAIL. IN TOTAL, 11 SAILS AT ONCE WHICH WAS A FANTASTIC EFFORT AND THE SHIP LOOKED NOTHING LESS THAN MAGNIFICENT AS SHE CUT THROUGH THE WATER ACHIEVING GREATER THAN 8.5 KNOTS WITH 15 KNOTS OF WIND. HER SPLENDOUR WAS COMMENTED ON BY A PASSING SHIP.UNFORTUNATELY AS THE SHIP GOT UP NEAR THE PERCY ISLES GROUP THE WIND HAD VEERED A LITTLE AND WEEKENED. ALAS THE PERFECT CONDITONS HAD PASSED AND IT WAS TIME CLEW THE SQUARES. BUT THE EXPERIENCE OF BEING UNDER FULL SAIL WAS ONE THAT WILL NOT BE EASILY FORGOTTEN. AS WE CONTINUED OUR JOURNEY NORTH A VERY GOOD FRIEND OF MINE WHO WAS PREVIOUSLY THE COMMANDING OFFICER IN STS YOUNG ENDEAVOUR WAS IN THE VICINTY. IN HIS CURRENT ROLE AS THE COMMANDING OFFICER OF A LARGE AUSTRALIAN WARSHIP, HE THOUGHT IT WOULD ONLY BE RIGHT TO COME AND SAY G’DAY SO THAT THE YOUNG AUSTRALIANS EMBARKED COULD GET ANOTHER VERY UNIQUE EXPERIENCE. CAMERAS WERE OUT AND BUTTONS WERE CLICKING A PLENTY AS WE WERE PRIVILED TO GET UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH AN AUSTRALIAN WARSHIP, FILLED WITH THOSE SERVING OUR COUNTRY, AS THEYMANOEUVERED AROUND US AND PROCEEDED TO THEIR DUTIES.WITH STILL SOME MORE WORK TO DO IT WAS THEN TIME FOR SOME INSTRUCTION ON BASIC NAVIGATION BEFORE DINNER. ONCE DINNER HAD BEEN ENJOYED, IT WAS THEN TIME TO DO A TACK AND THEN A WEAR (TO TURN THE SHIP THROUGH THE WIND SO AS TO CHANGE THE DIRCTION THE SHIP IS SAILING) SO THAT ALL THE SKILLS LEARNT IN THESE FIRST COUPLE OF DAYS COULD BE CONSOLIDATED.YOUTH CREW REMAIN IN VERY HIGH SPIRITS AFTER A GREAT DAYS SAILING AND A SOLID DAYS WORK. OUR TEAM CONTINUES TO DEVELOP.NAUTICAL TERM OF THE DAYGALLEY: THE SHIPS KITCHEN WHERE BEC COOKS UP A STORM.YOURS AYEDION CURTISLIEUTENANT, RANCAPTAIN STS YOUNG ENDEAVOUR